Saturday, April 26, 2008

Maori Painting

The Waitomo Hotel shares its Guest Room Museum art in its lobby. Found in New Zealand's north island (photo left), the hotel prominently displays in their lobby a painting that caught my eye. "The First Discovery of the Gloworm Grotto By Fred Mace & Tane Tinorau December 28, 1887" not only had a comprehensive title, but the images conveyed a deeply unifying moment between two disparate and often competing cultures. English surveyor Fred Mace and Maori local leader Tane Tinorau together explored the local Waitomo Caves for the now famous gloworm discovery. After witnessing my lack of photography skill to capture my own discovery, the woman at the front desk asked if I liked the painting. After I confirmed this, she informed me Tane was her great, great grandfather (photo right), and the land where the current hotel sits was owned by him. I am so happy I wandered into their Guest Room Museum, with her great, great grandfather continuing to oversee all who stay there.
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The Guest Room's Window: Art Travels

Keep checking the Guest Room Window for art adventures outside the house.

LONG ISLAND: Nassau County Museum of Art's OpArt exhibit features 1960's paintings with optical designs that create fluctuating spatial depth (with potential for retinal after-images, without a hangover). If the OpArt's abundance of geometric form and color is too much, the adjacent Tee Ridder Miniatures museum brings your retina down to scale. "Tee" was a fine arts miniaturist who created over 100 miniature rooms with period precision, many on display here. Nassaumuseum.com gives more info.

WYOMING: Dad's art interest began with American firearms art. If you start your art journey there, one of the most comprehensive American firearms collection is at Buffalo Bill Historic Center in Wyoming; you can check out their searchable digital firearms collection at http://www.bbhc.org/collections/BBHC/index_CFM.cfm.