Tag Archives: museum

Inside The Pompidou Collections in Paris

As promised, here is a glimpse at some of the artwork within the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. The collections are vast, so this is just a tiny snippet from a few galleries plus a few shots from a current special exhibition.

Any of the smaller versions of photographs will expand if you click on them and you will be able to see more detail.

The current special exhibit is devoted to the life and work of the artist and designer Eileen Gray. We have been admirers of her work for quite a long time and until we sold off all of our furniture in Australia prior to our 2-1/2 year round-the-world jaunt, we had one of those glass and chrome side tables that you see pictured in the museum shop photo.

The lines to purchase tickets at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

A photographic portrait of designer & artist Eileen Gray

Examples of the forward-thinking tables and chairs designed by Eileen Gray in the 1920s-1940s which are still relevant in today’s contemporary decor.

Curved leather divan designed by Eileen Gray in the 1920s

Authorized reproductions of Eileen Gray design pieces which are for sale in the shop at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

And here is a tiny selection of some items in the permanent collection inside the Pompidou.

A red metal man sculpture by Olivier Mourgue

Hanging neon sculpture at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

A selection of colourful paintings with sexual themes

A huge punched metal sculpture that practically fills a room inside the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

A very large hanging sculpture named Fruits de la Passion

Pompidou Photo Essay — Part 2

Here we go with a continuation of the Pompidou photo essay!

Did you ever wonder what the inside of the Pompidou looked like? Or what all of those clear plastic tubes on the exterior of the structure were for? These photos should answer some of that.

The vast interior lobby of the Centre Pompidou

Walkway through one of the clear plastic tunnels at the Pompidou

Even the elevators between the exhibit floors go through the clear plastic tubes on the outside of the building!

View of the Parisian landscape from the VERY top of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

Come back soon for MORE from the Pompidou including pieces of artwork inside!

Perfectly Wonderful Pompidou

We simply adore Paris and from past experience I know that staying in just the right place makes all of the difference in how much you enjoy your visit. Our very small but simply wonderful apartment in the Marais which I had sourced from airbnb enhanced our brief citybreak in Paris on several levels. The neighbourhood was wonderful and a mere few blocks from our front door was the Centre Pompidou.

A few hours after our arrival in Paris, we strolled through a misty rain down the street at dusk and past the Pompidou. It is an astonishingly odd building and it continues to be controversial. Many people snicker at the exterior facade and the brightly coloured ‘plumbing pipes’ that look like nothing else in the neighbourhood. It grew on me!

Centre Pompidou at dusk

Close-up of Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

Then we walked around to an open plaza in back and took photos of the wonderful sculptural objects in the Stravinsky Fountain.

Stravinsky Fountain next to the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

Moving elements within the Stravinsky Fountain next to the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France

Next up — photos of the inside of this vast museum and some of the wonderful artwork in the collections.

Quayside & Baltic Mill Contemporary Art Centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne UK

The temperatures are still distinctly wintery and the air was full of rain and delicate snow flurries on Sunday. But one of the places on our things-to-do list for Newcastle was a visit to the Baltic Mill Contemporary Art Centre. We also wanted a chance to see the architecture of the buildings and bridges along the Quayside since we had heard so many positive things about that area.

We drove to the closest Park-and-Ride area for the Metro and just sat and watched the stations go by as we travelled from one part of Newcastle into the heart of the city.

On board the Metro in Newcastle Upon Tyne UK

Gateshead Station for the Metro in Newcastle Upon Tyne

Emerging at the Gateshead Station, we took the escalators up the surface and braved a very cold and blustery walk past the lovely Tyne Bridge which looks like a miniature of the Sydney Harbour Bridge because it was built by English firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd, of Middlesbrough, the same contractors who built the many-times-larger bridge in Australia.

Tyne Bridge in Newcastle Upon Tyne UK

15 minutes of walking-against-the-wind later, we arrived at the The Sage Gateshead, a spectacularly funky and shiny and contemporary building that houses everything from concert halls to music studios to cafes and gift shops and more. The place was buzzing with activity on that cold winter day as people mixed and mingled, ate and drank, relaxed in the warmth. Just take a look at all of the upcoming events by clicking on the link above.

The Sage Gateshead centre for the arts and music on the Quayside in Newcastle Upon Tyne UK

Walking through the building to the east facade entry, we saw the re-purposed historical building that houses the Baltic Mill Contemporary Art Centre. in the near distance and traversed the levels of stairs down toward the waterfront setting.

Baltic Mill Contemporary Art Centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne UK

We had such high hopes — truly — but our favourite parts of this museum ended up being the cafe and the gift shop — and that’s a sad statement. We knew full well that this was a small museum and could not be compared to the many major urban museums we have seen all over Europe for the last 2-1/2 years. But we certainly had expected more and both left feeling quite disappointed by the visit. The exhibits currently on offer were simply bland and odd and, in several cases, quite dated — not in a good way. I wasn’t allowed to take any photos inside so I can’t let you judge for yourselves. For us, it was all too-little and too-uncritically-examined and we both had a sense of been-there-seen-that a long time ago. Ah well — at least the admission was free!

The best thing about the Baltic Mill for us was the viewing platform on the 5th level which has simply splendid look-outs over the Quayside area and the juxtaposition of old bridge, new bridge, old buildings, new buildings and all tied up with the pretty ribbon of the Tyne snaking its watery way through the middle.

View of Quayside in Newcastle Upon Tyne from viewing platform at Baltic Mill Contemporary Art Centre with Sage Gatehead, Tyne Bridge, and Millennium Bridge.

Come back soon for more photos and articles about Newcastle including one on the small but elegant Laing Art Gallery.

You Can Knit What?

Funny photo of the day today — Knit Kits seen in the window of a museum gift shop in Barcelona, Spain. I’ve seen knitted teapot cozies before, but never a knitted bike seat! And knitted cuffs for your wellies?

Ah well — something for everyone, eh?

Knitting project in kit form in a Barcelona, Spain museum shop

Architectural Photos of CCCB Museum in Barcelona

This is a mixed bag of both black and white and colour photography today. These photos give you a brief glimpse of the architecture of the lovely CCCB museum in Barcelona.

Some of the more angular shots were better presented in black and white. For visual punch, I love bright blue-sky days. But more and more often lately I seem to be defaulting back to black and white which returns me to my early days in journalism and blissful hours spent in the darkroom.

Enjoy!

Entrance sign at CCCB museum in Barcelona, Spain

Man passing though courtyard entry arch into the CCCB contemporary art museum in Barcelona, Spain with St. Geoge & the Dragon sculpture overhead on building facade.

A St. George & the Dragon sculpture above the archway entry into the CCCB museum in Barcelona, Spain.

Entry-exit ramp at the Barcelona, Spain museum CCCB.

Old meets new in the two buildings housing the CCCB museum of contemporary art.

The crisp geometric angles of the interior lobby in the CCCB museum of contemporary art and culture in Barcelona, Spain.

Escalator to upper galleries at the Barcelona, Spain contemporary museum CCCB.

Vintage Posters In Barcelona, Spain

Today’s photos are vintage posters that were on exhibit at the CCCB in Barcelona.

Vintage “Teatro Nuevo” poster in Barcelona, Spain on display at the CCCB museum

Vintage “Kiss Me” poster in Barcelona, Spain on display at the CCCB museum

Vintage “Kosmopolis” poster in Barcelona, Spain on display at the CCCB museum

Vintage “Joy Joy” poster in Barcelona, Spain on display at the CCCB museum

This is a stunning museum both inside and out. I will post additional photos tomorrow to show you how striking the architecture of the building is. The clean lines and uncomplicated rooms make it a brilliantly open and airy space to exhibit artwork.

A Wanderful Life

The Neverending Journey