Today’s Author
Name
Jen Sheppeard
Current Location
New York City suburbs
Drink of Choice
Winter drink: anything with bourbon; Summer drink: anything with tequila
Favourite Film
Reality Bites
Where Other Members Can Find You
@jensheppeard or @shep.jpg on Instagram
If you’ve travelled to or lived in major cities in the US, you have probably been to one of our huge museums. Perhaps you’ve channelled Blair Waldorf on the steps of the Met in New York or stared at Seurat like Ferris Bueller at the Art Institute of Chicago. You’ve walked with the Brahmins of Boston through the MFA and basked in the glow of oil money at the Getty in LA. But to be a true trendsetter, one must take the road less travelled (just do so in proper footwear). The next time you find yourself seeking an artistic adventure, look no further than these unexpected but exceptional locations.
Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, NY – For an outdoor art experience, Storm King Art Center is just a short train ride from Manhattan. This outdoor museum sits on 500 acres in the Hudson Valley, an area so picturesque that landscape artists like Thomas Cole, Asher Durand, and Frederic Church flocked there to paint it, ultimately creating the Hudson River School. But I digress. Just walking the grounds of Storm King is an experience unto itself, but the art is also phenomenal. It’s largely modern and contemporary, featuring predominantly sculpture in different media. You can also find earthworks, drawings, and photography. Fall is the busiest time of year, so don your best pumpkin spice look and have a visit.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR – Arkansas, are you kidding? I know, I know, I thought the same. But being the corporate headquarters of Walmart has its perks. So, what is Crystal Bridges? Think the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice but on American soil. The museum was founded by Alice Walton of THE Waltons to celebrate American art in a setting that also celebrates the nature that surrounds it. The architecture of the site is amazing and meant to mimic the curves of a hill to reflect the surrounding Ozarks. It wouldn’t be a problem if you never went inside – the property boasts 5 miles of trails. But if you do choose to go inside the galleries you may find yourself in front of a Baldessari, a Basquiat, or a Calder.
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY – Go to Wyoming to live out your wildest Yellowstone fantasy (every woman needs a Rip in her life, no?) but stay for the Museum of Wildlife Art. The concept of this museum is pretty unique in that it’s dedicated to the representation of wild animals from around the world, from BCE to the present. While the commonality is wildlife, the artists represented come from a very diverse range of styles from Audubon to O’Keefe to even Warhol. Take in views of the Tetons while you wander the sculpture trail or admire the building itself, designed by Colorado architects and using Idaho Quartzite to fit seamlessly into the landscape. If winter in Jackson Hole has become too pedestrian, this nearby museum is worth the offseason excursion.
Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle, WA – Because The Rhubarb Society crowd is maybe not one for tossing fish. This colorful house of glass was created to celebrate the work of Washington Native and artist Dale Chihuly. Learning from the masters in glass in Venice, he brought a wealth of skill back to the States that grew into his own art practice, a school of glass that he co-founded at Washington State University, and this exhibition space in the heart of Seattle. Visitors can enter a glasshouse that features a 100-foot sculpture, smaller galleries that display 40 years’ worth of it, and a theater that shows viewers videos of Chihuly’s creative process. And yes, yes, if you absolutely must be a tourist, it’s literally a minute walk to the Space Needle.
