“Twister Again” by Alice Aycock
I’m late with my post because yesterday was a busy day out in the community. First was book club, where we discussed Chapter 2 of Women Who Run with the Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola-Estes. Chapter 2 is deconstructing the Bluebeard Myth and how it applies to women being exploited by others but also how they sabotage themselves with the “bluebeard complex” that resides within them.
After book club, a friend of mine that I met back when I was volunteering at the cat shelter in Grand Rapids after I retired in 2018 took a drive to the art museum. She and I have met up multiple times for fun things since then. We headed in “cold,” with cold defined as not knowing what exhibits were going on. We did go through the permanent collection galleries and also through an exhibit entitled, “Crossroads: Intersections of Black Family Culture,” described on the MMA website as:
an interdisciplinary exhibition that explores the cultural significance of Black family dynamics in the Americas. In response to forced separations and disrupted biological ties, Black communities developed unique family structures centered on communal relationships, extended networks, and collective responsibility. This emphasis on mutual support, interconnectedness, and shared responsibility serves as both a survival strategy and a form of resistance against systemic devaluation.
Organized by the Muskegon Museum of Art in partnership with co-curators Sydney G. James, Scheherazade Washington-Parrish, and Juana Williams, this exhibition is comprised of the artworks of 19 artists from the Detroit area, who were invited to make artworks speaking to the Black family and their communities. The show will include painting, mixed media, photography, and textile based artworks.
I remember one of the last times I went to the MMA they had a gallery for Bennett Prize that was all female artists and thinking now how wonderful is this. Some of the paintings I took pics of yesterday I forgot to get the info on them so I had to hunt them down. The next painting search led me to a press release dated 6/10/22 that included the painting:
The Muskegon Museum of Art will soon be home to one of the only museums in the world to have a permanent space dedicated solely to the work of women artists, thanks to gifts totaling $12 million from two of the country’s leading art collectors.
More than 150 works of art – painted by women in the figurative realist style – have been given to the Muskegon Museum of Art by art collectors and champions of gender equality, Steven Alan Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt.
One painting stood out for me of many standouts, “Sofia 1” by Roberta Coni.
This next one is not part of the Bennett-Schmidt donated artwork, but I thought it was lovely:
Tao-Talk 
Thanks for the visit! Glad your museum is ignoring the MAGA exclusionary push.
I really like 6he twister. (K)
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K, you are very welcome. I think our museum may be going in the opposite direction <3
I think it (twister) fits right into Michigan weather. The docent took time to tell us that it is made of steel and aluminum and can withstand 150 mph winds. He also said he has some neat lighting on it at night and encouraged a drive by to see it (which I plan to do!)
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Post a photo when you do.
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Love the “Sending up my Timber” picture….that is great.
I agree with you on Young Woman with a Rose. What a beautiful girl.
I like anything Art Deco…I thought that style was great in the 30s and now.
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The Sending Up… is so much prettier in person. It sparkles! I tried to get a pic showing it but not easy. You make a good point on the 2nd one. This is a *girl* not a young woman. Yes, I’ve been wanting to check out the art deco one for awhile. With the comics one the docent said they have an original Adam West Batman costume AND a full-sized Batmobile!
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Nice post. A bit of friendship, a bit of culture, a bit of reflection, a lot of interest and consequent pleasure. This is the stuff dreams can be made of if we don’t let them be taken for granted. I enjoyed me day out with you two.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, “Someone.”
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I’m glad you had a wonderful time with your friend.
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Thanks much, Sadje, I did :)
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You’re most welcome 😍😍😍
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What a wonderful museum! I go regularly to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and almost never come back disappointed.
Why feel guilty about the lobster burger? ;-)
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I bet MMFA is a beauty. Is that where you saw the “live” VanGogh thing?
Abt lobster burger, I don’t eat beef as a habit, but my friend wanted to go to this little hamburger joint, so I checked online to see if there were other options and saw grilled cheese, so I said ok. When we ordered there was a notice of a new “lobster burger” on the counter. I thought yes, here is something new to try! so I ordered it. The place was piling up with people waiting for their orders. When our names were called we picked up our orders and went back to the table. When I opened the foil wrapped burger it looked and smelled delicious! All it took was one bite to realize that underneath the generous lobster was a … hamburger! Totally shocked me, but oh it tasted good. I could have sat there and picked it apart and threw hamburger away and made a mess, or I could have waited another half hour after ordering a grilled cheese, so I said fuggit, I’m eating the burger and made my apologies to the cow it came from. Sorry that’s probably way more information than you wanted, but there it is :)
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It is. Just saw the Richard Avedon Immortal and also the Kent Monkman’s “History is Painted by the Victors” – brilliant. https://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/exhibitions/kent-monkman/
OK. As a habit but not out of a hard-core belief. But I do understand that it should have been indicated that it came with. That said, I have no such compunction so I am sure it was delish ;-) Once does not make you evil. Give yourself a break, k?
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Monkman’s work is beautiful and speaks to so many things.
Dale it is a hard-core belief that I violate from time to time, which makes me a hypocrite. I feel guilty about it, but accept it as being the way it is at the same time. I don’t see myself as evil as much as weak. Thanks for trying to make me feel better.
I know by some of the pics of things you have cooked that you “have no such compunction” which is cool. And yes, it was SO good!
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It’s wild to see. The canvases are HUGE.
I understand, Lisa. Nah. You are not weak. You believe in something but know the world will keep turning should you step off once and again.
Yeah. I am a complete omnivore. But I often make vegetarian meals, too
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Dale, as quality as our museum is, there aren’t many huge canvases in it. I wonder why. There have been a couple of new acquisitions that are fairly big but not huge.
Thanks for saying what you say. It eases the guilt.
I’ve seen your vegetarian meals. YUM!
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I have to say, when you one day make your way up to Montreal, it will be my pleasure to introduce you to our museums. The MMFA has five pavilions. :)
I think we are often way to harsh on ourselves and self-flagellation is just not something I agree with :)
Mmmm… I do love food.
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<3 <3 <3
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💞💞💞
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I just realised I did not respond regarding the Van Gogh Immersive – I did see it but at another venue. There is also a very cool Virtual Reality French Impressionists event going on at the venue I saw the Van Gogh at. So much fun.
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Nice, Dale. You’re in a great cultural hub there.
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To be frank, I choose to go out into the cultural hub. My sisters never do. Nor do many of my friends. I truly love it.
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Same with my fam. Maybe we were cuckoo eggs dropped into our family nests? I love it also. I know you’d love Meijer Gardens.
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I’m good with that!
I don’t doubt I would!
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<3
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💞
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Nce that you had a fun outing! A lobster burger? OH my! I couldn’t eat lobster! I’m glad you did enjoy it though. I’m not a fan of seafood at all!
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CA, yes we did :)
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