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Finding Menil

MENIL MUSEUM

Hiding in Plain Sight, the Menil Collection feature in the December issue reveals one of my favorite “hideaways” from the holiday frenzy when I visit family in Houston. Luckily, my brother Louis lives within a short driving distance, making the Menil a frequent museum haunt, plus admission is free.

I look forward to strolling through the Surrealist and Modern Art sections, and also visiting some of my favorites in the collection, such as Jasper Johns’ Gray Alphabet (if you’re not familiar with this work, the title says it all) and the Sumerian statue of Eannatum, Prince of Lagash in the Antiquities room, the piece I affectionately call “Chauncey Gardner” as it bears a resemblance to the Peter Sellers character in the film Being There.

However, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that there are areas of the Menil which I’ve never explored, such as the Cy Twombly or Dan Flavin galleries, vibrantly depicted in December’s feature. On my next visit, I’ll make time to experience it. And I’ll be sure to ride the red swing on the museum grounds, another “installation” I’ve never noticed.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 at 10:39 am and is filed under Jane Stops Here, Talk About TH, TH Staff Picks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 Responses to “Finding Menil”

  1. Jammie Jennings Says:
    November 30th, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    Don’t miss the Byzantine Chapel on the Menil Campus. Carve out a least 20 minutes to meditate beneath quiet antiquity nestled in a modern and breathtaking chapel. You will enjoy some of the most sublime minutes you will ever spend outside of the Rothko Chapel.

  2. Lois M. Rodriguez Says:
    December 3rd, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    I’m embarrassed to say that I am a native Houstonian and have never been to the Byzantine Chapel. I will make a point to do that this weekend on my visit back to H-town.

  3. Jane Wu Says:
    December 3rd, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    Thanks, Jammie for mentioning the Byzantine Chapel.  I actually visited the chapel for the first time two years ago, when I ran into my former graphic design professor in the Menil museum.  He took me on a quick tour of the Byzantine, and I was blown away by the juxtaposition of stained glass frescoes in a relatively modern setting.  The Rothko Chapel is an interesting contrast to the Byzantine, with its somber, more meditative space.