Nasher Sculpture Center
Chris and I walked all over downtown to get to this Building. Needless to say we didn’t know exactly where it was, so we parked on the east end of downtown. When we got to the building, we immediately noticed how comfortable the air conditioning was in the middle of 101 degree downtown heat. We browsed the gift shop where I found a Book that I wanted to purchase, but didn’t feel like forking out 160 dollars. It was worth it though. We entered into the light filled hallway greeted by security people everywhere. This was expected, but a little daunting as well. It makes you feel as though they think that you are going to deface the artwork. I was immediately drawn to their collection of Pablo Picasso works. He has always been a favorite artist of mine, and I’m always glad to see his work in person. It always feels like I’ve seen a lost friend after a long journey. His sculptural pieces don’t really interest me as much as his impressionist paintings. I love the juxtaposition of faces and bodies. It seems so simplistic or easy to do, but you have to understand that Picasso was a master painter and drawer. He could realistically delineate anything that he wanted to. In a sense, it actually becomes harder to simplify an image or thing into its most basic elements. The Barrel Vaults again showed up in the structure. This glass roof element drew in a lot of natural light. I though that it might have been a bit too much for my taste. I found the outdoor amphitheatre and water feature on the east and west facades to be the most intriguing architectural elements in the design. The patterns of hard soft, hard soft, with the concrete and grass drew my attention over to the amphitheatre. I had to sit on the steps, and I found it very comfortable. It was still very hot out and I couldn’t stand to be outside much more.