2011-07 Herbert F Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University

We visited the Herbert F Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.   The building was designeed by I.M.Pei.  He is a very famous contemporary arctitect who was born in China, but was educated and has lived in the US.  This building opened in 1973.  It is a very modern concrete structure.  On its own it is very unique and interesting, but is radically different that the surrounding buildings at Cornell.  This is an "Ivy League" school and has a beautiful campus with many classical buildings.  Here are a few examples;

These views show how the campus flows over and down the surrounding hillsides.

The campus overlooks Ithaca and Cayuga Lake.

This is a very fine museum with a variety of art works.  While there are many lovely paintings, I was primarily interested in all the ancient art objects from China, Egypt, Greece, Iran, etc. and their Pre-Columbian objects.  Here are just a few of the things that caught my attention:

China
2000-2200 BC
earthenware

China, Ming Dynasty
Porcelain
top 1506-1522
bottom early 17th century

Iran
Spouted vessel in the form of a stag
burnished earthenware
1000-550 BC

Pre-Columbian Art
Moche, Peru
Kneeling Warrior Effigy Vessel
400 BC - AD 100

Egyptian
380 - 342 BC
(about 12" tall)

Coin,
Gold aureus
portrait of Licinius
Emperor 308 - 322 AD

Southern Italy
Red-figure pelike
Orestes and Electra at the tomb of their father Agamemnon
410 - 380 BC

French
Two leaves from a Book of Hours
1460 - 1470 AD

Nepalese
Garunda Mask, 20th Century

Note that if you are interested in seeing more photos from this museum click on this link.  That will take you my library of photos kept in the online Picassa Web Albums. 

2011-05 Hagood Mill

We discovered Hagood Mill a couple years ago.  It is an 1845 Grist Mill and Folklife Center operated by the Pickens County (SC) Museum. We learned there is a monthly festival the 3rd Saturday of each month, so we made sure to go this May while staying at nearby Solitude Pointe.  We had a nice afternoon touring the exhibits and talking with the demonstrators. 

There was a military historical  exhibit by the SC State Guard (not the National Guard).

I enjoyed talking to and admiring the work of a man re-caning a chair.

This young man gave a great explanation of his Civil War reenactor uniform, guns, and a replica of a rare Confederate rapid fire cannon.

I was fascinated by the demonstration of a flint knapper as he showed how to make flint arrow heads, axe blades, etc.

This lady had the hottest job as she demonstrated cooking over the open fire in a cabin fireplace.

We love to see handmade quilts.  This always reminds us of the quilts made by my Mother and Grandmother.

All the time we were wandering around, we enjoyed some great country and bluegrass music performed by two different groups.

Another gentleman was dressed as one of the Revolutionary War "Over the Mountain Men" who defeated the British at the battle of Kings Mountain, (This is another interesting place to visit in the SC Upstate.)

 

We highly recommned a tour of Hagood Mill, especially on the 3rd Saturday of the month.

The next post will cover one more demonstrator we met just as we were leaving.

2011-05 Mr. Joda Snipes - Hagood Mill

Our final highlight at Hagood Mill was our time talking to Mr. Joda Snipes about his wood carvings.  We came upon Mr Snipes as he was beginning to put away his carvings, but he took time to answer our questions and entertain us with his stories and singing.  He was a great story teller.  We especailly enjoyed his story about his Santa Clause carving. (Click the play button to view.)

One of his specialties are hand carved "music spoons".  Here are a couple of short videos of Mr Snipes playing his spoons.

2010-05 Sheltoh House Museum of NC Handicrafts

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

We visited a delightful museum in Waynesville - The Shelton House Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts.  It resides in the Shelton House built in 1875 by Stephen Jehu Shelton.  The house contains art works, handicrafts, and furniture made predominantly  by North Carolinians.  Pieces date from the late 1800’s to the present.

We had an excellent tour conducted by Jackie, this lovely lady who became the curator several years ago after she retired. 

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Jackie explained that when she arrived everything was just placed on shelves with little organization.  She and a friend took everything down, washed much of it, and then placed it in groupings on the floor.  Then they carefully arranged everything into organized and attractive displays.  It was a real labor of love, and they have created an excellent museum - perhaps as well done as any we have visited.

We were surprised by the first room we visited.  It had many native Indian exhibits.  Local Cherokee baskets and other crafts were beautiful and would be expected in a museum honoring NC Craftsmen and women. 

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

The surprise was the number of Navajo and other western Indian artifacts. 

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

The reason is that Mr. Shelton’s son, William T. Shelton, was the very well regarded  first Superintendent on the Navajo Reservation.  After retirement he came back home to live in Waynesville.  Thus the museum has a number of beautiful Navajo and other western Indian baskets, rugs, jewelry, clothing and other artifacts.

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Rooms are open throughout the house with other wonderful art and crafts on display including:

Quilts:

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Pottery:

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Dolls:

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Beautiful stained glass:

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Wood-burning:

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Dollhouses with furniture

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Gorgeous hand carved wooden bowl

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Clay storage jugs

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

and milking churns:

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Furniture like this unique bed made by the craftsman who built the house:

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

Or this dining table and chairs. Also note the centerpiece of flowers made from tiny glass beads delicately strung together.

From 2010-05 NC Museum of Handcrafts at the Shelton House

This tour was a real treat, and we plan to go back with friends. It is a shame that more people do not visit. It is well worth your time if you are visiting Waynesville.