I'm back from Fort Worth, Texas where I was attending a library conference. This is a mural in Sundance Square in Downtown Fort Worth, a really lovely area where I walked every evening window shopping and just enjoying the nice weather (I expected it to be really hot, but it was unseasonably cool--meaning it wasn't in the 90s every day).
That's the upside of my trip. The downside is that Friday-ish I was hit by a stomach bug from which I have unfortunately not yet recovered. Thankfully I was able to attend my class with no problem as it took place earlier in the week. I managed to attend all the conference sessions I wanted to, but traveling home on Saturday was absolutely miserable. It is no fun flying when you are feeling nauseous.
Best not to dwell on that. I have a few photos to share, though. I'll be catching up on comments and emails in the next few days. And hopefully the gurgling in my stomach will cease very soon and I can get back to my bookish posts as I have several books I want to write about.
I got a kick out of this guy. Considering how many stores selling cowboy gear I saw in their downtown, he fit right in with the area.
Thanks to Iliana for suggesting I visit the local museums in Fort Worth. They were indeed amazing and so worth seeking out. I didn't have a lot of free time so had to choose carefully what I could go see. In their Cultural District are several museums very close together. This (above) is the Kimball Art Museum. The building was designed by Louis I. Kahn, and I think the space is really gorgeous. It's very light and airy and very inviting. The sculpture above is by Joan Miró called "Woman Addressing the Public". Isn't she great?
The Amon Carter Museum of American Art is amazing, too. I could have spent a whole day there, though the gallery is not overly large. They have a wonderful collection of art, however. The main exhibit, which I was so happy to see, was Art and Appetite: American Painting, Culture and Cuisine. It was fascinating to see the juxtaposition of so many different paintings over the centuries and see how food is viewed and what it means from both artistic and sociological perspectives. I walked through the exhibit three times! Unfortunately photography was not allowed in the exhibit, so the photos above are from their galleries of permanent art.
And last but not least is the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, which I wish I had had more time to spend looking around. I was introduced, however, to a new-to-me artist, David Bates, who I now need to read more about. There is a pond outside the museum and I also saw a raft (is that the proper term for a group?) of ducks--the momma and her newborn ducklings, which was somehow very fitting (and way too cute).
Despite bringing home an unwanted bug, it was a good experience and I had a mostly really good time in Fort Worth. And I shouldn't have, but I did . . . are you curious if I brought home books? Dare you ask? Of course. I'll save those for tomorrow.