The fine arts elevate the mind, but they are difficult to take in when you have a 9-month old. I can hear the fusses and "ba-ba's!" echoing in the contemplative silence of the art museum, see the actors on stage distracted by the crying in the middle of aisle H, and sense the disapproval of the concert attendees when mom wrestles with baby in the middle of Concerto No. 9.
Still, it is part of our civic duty to nurture a rich interior life--and Indreni cannot solely derive this from watching The Fashion Show or reading Slate online. Not even from listening to NPR or delving into literature. No, these media may inform or instruct/entertain and educate, but not necessarily elevate.
I'd been beginning to worry about ADD...ART Deficit Disorder since Himal was born. So today, when the 'rents offered to watch Himal, and Qu'Esposo was stranded in southern Missouri due to some tornado storm, I made a break for the Haggerty. Not only is it free, but the museum building is a work of art itself--plus its current exhibit features 10 WI artists and parking is relatively easy compared to the MAM, UWM, or 3rd Ward gallery environs.
In the silence of the museum, I could breathe and linger...again, something that hasn't been occuring much lately. The exhibits ranged from the unsettling, such as Xiaohong Zhang's and George Williams,' to whimsically disconcerting (Anne Kingsbury's). I copied down Kingsbury's line, "When Day by Day Became Ever After." And the transformation took place. In 45 minutes, I felt like myself again. The dust and cobwebs clouding my mind were swept out.
Every time I think I know my city (and I do think of Milw as MY city!), it surprises me yet again with its hidden joys. I took some time to stroll around the Marquette campus, never having realized before how beautiful the grounds are in spring, with flowering crab apple trees and tulips in profusion, and architecture that I really should have been appreciating all along. Then, to my amazement I approached a tiny medieval chapel that mentally transported me to the Anglo-Saxon countryside. I couldn't believe it was authentic, but walking inside I found out that it is the St Joan of Arc Chapel, which was built in 15th-century France, destroyed in WWI, and transported in pieces to the Marquette Campus in 1964.
Are you kidding me?!?!!!! I just stepped into a 15th century French chapel!!!!! In the middle of downtown Milwaukee!!!!!!!
BONUS!!!!!!!!
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