What we’re about
A community for those with strong interest in the visual arts and architecture (including painting, sculpture, garden design, interior design, silver, ceramics, textiles, jewelry...) The 40+ is for maturity and responsibility, so if you are younger but seriously interested in the subject, feel free to join. Seniors are encouraged to join. We will visit art exhibits at local museums and talk informally afterwards at a nearby restaurant over appetizers & drinks or a meal. For those who can travel, there are splendid opportunities to visit culturally rich destinations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with the flexibility and freedom of independent travel (not commercial tours). I know that one can appreciate and enjoy art and architecture of different eras and styles, even if one knows nothing or little about them. Our sharing after exhibits would be impressions and thoughts, as well as any knowledge or understanding. This group is set as a private group in Meetup, so most information is visible only to group members. Joining the group is free; there are no dues.
My academic background and interests are in European, Asian, and Middle Eastern art, say from antiquity to World War II. I do not have a background in contemporary art, and if somebody is interested in doing programming on modern art in the group, I am happy to meet and discuss. Group members can also do meetups in the group--if there is an exhibit at a museum or an art show at a gallery that you would like to visit with other members, please contact me in advance.
Since the pandemic, I have noticed that significant art exhibits, such as large exhibits of French, Russian, or Indian art, that used to come to the major museums in Seattle and Portland are rare or absent. So meetups to view exhibits will be spaced apart, so I am looking for group members whose interest is continuing and will attend meetups even if these are infrequent. Important touring exhibits tend to come to major museums on the East Coast and sometimes to California. In the future, we can travel to these, but for now, I am focusing on overseas trips, as the art and architecture that one can experience in these destinations are truly magnificent.
I organize one or more overseas trips a year that are rich in visual arts and architecture. I tell people that the focus is on art and architecture, gardens and landscape, and food and wine. (Of course, not everything is available in every country.) This is independent travel, not commercial tours, so there is no fee, and there is more flexibility and freedom than being on a tour. I can provide information and guidance on all aspects of the trip, so it's much easier than trying to research and organize on your own. You can determine the cost level by choice of airfare, lodging, etc. Even in Europe, admission prices to palaces and museums are remarkably reasonable, compared to here. Group members who are able to travel can join these trips, or overlap in the locations, and do some sightseeing and meals together, and some independently. If you are interested in travel, please write to me through Meetup to discuss and find out what trips are being planned, as there are more than what's shown here.
Here are examples of two recent trips:
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand: this vacation showcased a very atmospheric riverside French colonial town; four historical parks with evocative ruins, including the world famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia; one of Asia's best national museums; two house museums with lovely collections of sculpture, painting, ceramics, and textiles; charming historic temples, including the Emerald Buddha temple in Thailand; and five performances of richly costumed traditional dance.
A future trip to Eastern Europe will include the palaces, museums, and churches of cosmopolitan Vienna and the charming hillside town of Salzburg, Mozart's hometown. Budapest has many architectural gems, including perhaps the world's most beautiful and meaningful parliament interior, "the world's most beautiful cafe," thermal baths from Ottoman-Empire and Art Deco periods, and an attractive castle in a city park.
Following are future destinations. These are among the culturally richest destinations on the planet, and most are return trips, so I have some familiarity with the terrain. France (Palace of Versailles, castles of the Loire Valley), Italy, England, Portugal, Spain (the Alhambra), Czech Republic, Morocco, Egypt, north India (the Taj Mahal), south India, China, Japan, Laos, Thailand...