A little taste of history, one morsel at a time.
Happy Friday! Today on Museum Bites we’re paying tribute to the selfie, old-world style. Before smartphones and selfie sticks, artists painstakingly crafted self-portraits. These vintage selfies were more than just vanity, they were an inexpensive and handy means of experimentation. Join me for a look at a few favorites on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. We begin with the Other Gertrude…
Today on Museum Bites we’re continuing our tour through the Art Institute of Chicago with a look at some badass women. This colorful cast includes a champion of women’s health, a defiant ruler, and a steadfast and devoted queen. Rebellious, revolutionary and revered, each took on the system in her own way. For a brief introduction, let’s begin by turning back the clock to ancient Rome…
Happy Friday! Today on Museum Bites we’re touring the Art Institute of Chicago. From patriotic panes to a swift ride through the Swiss countryside, we’ll sample a colorful and eclectic collection of artwork. We begin with a Ferris Bueller favorite…
Happy Friday! Today on Museum Bites we’re talking babies. Awww babies. We snuggle their soft pudgy bodies, coo at their sweet innocence, and trick them out in adorable little outfits. I’ve come across a wide variety of babies on my museum travels. Many are cute and cuddly, but just as many exhibits feature babies that are perplexing, fierce, and downright creepy. From little-man babies to genetically altered mutants, I’ve pulled together a collection of favorites. We begin with little-man Jesus…
Today on Museum Bites we’re kicking off the spring season with a celebration of bunnies. Whether he’s outwitting Elmer Fudd, going after the throats of silly medieval knights, or bringing us baskets of sweets, these long-eared hoppers are a furry delight. Join me for a brief look at bunnies who dance, bring luck, serve up soup, and so much more. We begin on the African savanna…
Today on Museum Bites we’re wrapping up our three-part series on bicycles with a tour through the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s (MIA) delightful display of bike art. The MIA teamed up with local bike aficionados, Handsome Cycles to craft three eye-catching bikes based on iconic works featured within their hallowed halls. Hop aboard for a fun ride through art and history. We begin in the French countryside…
Happy Friday! We’re picking up speed on Museum Bites as we continue our trip through bicycle history. Last week we hopped aboard heavy wooden prototypes and outrageous, big-wheeled contraptions. Today, we’ll test drive a variety of bikes and learn how the addition of spokes, chains, gears, whacky handlebars and my personal favorite, the banana seat helped morph the bicycle into the vehicle we know and love today. We begin in the 1880s…
Today on Museum Bites we’re taking a look at one of my favorite contraptions, the bicycle. In this first of a three-part series, we’ll pedal through the bicycle’s early days, when it was a brakeless, pedal-less, teeth-rattling ride. The bicycle has no single inventor, instead, this delightful vehicle came about through a series of clever and sometimes dangerous innovations. Despite eye rolls and outright jeering, these mavericks persevered. Without their hard work and tenacity, we wouldn’t know the bliss of cruising along a scenic path, the agony of pumping up a steep hill, and the thrill of zooming all the way back down. So hop aboard, adjust your helmet, and let’s pedal back to 19th century Germany…
Today on Museum Bites we’re wrapping up our tour of the Grand Rapids Public Museum with a trip through candy land!
