Monday, October 5, 2009

The Onion Strikes


Today on The Onion, this article cracked me up so much I had to share it here.

"Hoping to boost attendance and broaden its base of supporters, the Metropolitan Museum of Art launched a new initiative this week that allows patrons, for the first time ever, to prod and scratch at the classic paintings in its revered collection."

"You can't grasp the brilliance of a great painting just by looking at it," said Phil Brehm, 32, who acknowledged that he hadn't set foot inside a museum since a mandatory field trip in high school. "To truly appreciate fine art, you need to be able to run your fingers over its surface and explore its range of textures."

"Or just rub your face all over it, like I do," Brehm added.

7 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

WHOAH...is that permitted? I would love to touch fine art, but those guards will cut your hands off at the Minneapolis Art Institute! Great post, Grace! Have a great evening. We are having chocolate and hazelnut tea tonight...how about you? Anita

LindenSidhe said...

I'm so proud to live where The Onion started. I was around back when The Onion was indie, man!

Meredith said...

LOL. You have no idea how much I want to stroke my favorite paintings in case some talent will rub off on me ;) I can be somewhat content I was allowed to told Burne-Jones sketchbook once.

Indeed the guards at the MIA have a fit if you get 10 inches away to point out a tiny figure in a landscape to you friends.

Unknown said...

HELP!
Sorry if this has nothing to do with this post, but I need help to find a particular preraphaelite painting: I don't remember the name of the artist nor of the painting, but, in my memory -- which could be flawed -- the painting features Lancelot, on the right, dressed in red, standing on stairs, and holding Guinevere's hand. Guinevere is dressed in blue and is standing in front of a door, on the step in front of Lancelot, and is turning his back on him.
Please if you know the name of the artist and the painting, I'd be very grateful if you could help me! I've been looking for this painting since yesterday and can't find it anywhere :(

Grace said...

Hi Truth Seeker,

Your description sounds like Meeting on the Turret Stairs by Frederick Burton:
http://www.illusionsgallery.com/turret-stairs.html


Is that it?

Unknown said...

Yes indeed!
In fact, practically just after I wrote this post, I stumbled upon that painting on google image (I put the keywords "Lancelot and Guinevere" in between quotes, and there it appeared!)
I LOVE that painting so much. I think it's one of the best pictural representations of true Love I've seen until now.

Thanks, and I like your blog!

Tess Avelland said...

Hello Truth Seeker,

In case you're interested, the painting you were seeking depicts Helellil and Hildebrand, two characters from a tragic Danish ballad.

http://www.artmagick.com/pictures/picture.aspx?id=5328&name=the-meeting-on-the-turret-stairs