Gruyères: The HR Giger Museum

 Museum HR Giger : Gruyères, CH

In addition to being famous for cheese and double cream, Gruyères is also well-known for being the home of the HR Giger Museum. Giger is best known for his work on the movie Aliens. This museum pays homage to his career and his private collection. It is, to say the least, bizarre. Photography isn't allowed inside the museum, so these are all exterior shots. Kitty-corner to the museum is the Giger Bar. The last photo is from inside the bar.

Detail on the Exterior : Museum HR Giger : Gruyères, CH

A tipple... : Giger Bar : Gruyères, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/11

Release Ai Wei Wei

 As seen on the Tate Modern : London, UK

Friend Penny Andrea said we had to go to the Tate Modern to see the building, enjoy the views, and have afternoon tea, so that's what we did. (Note: We didn't have time for the art. Next trip.) The Tate is housed in what was once an electric plant. On the outside, there is a sign demanding the freedom of Chinese dissident artist Ai Wei Wei. (Ironically, a few days after this photo was taken, Mr. Ai was freed. He had no comments for the press, who had followed and reported his incarceration and release.)

Tate Stack : London, UK

Celebrate Your Ability, Give Priority : Inside the Tate Modern : London, UK

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Ariana

Statuary : Ariana Museum : Geneva, CH

When you have guests in town, it's a great excuse to see things you otherwise wouldn't. Maya and Rachel came to my work one afternoon and, in addition to a tour they took of the United Nations Palais, we went up on the roof of my workplace and enjoyed views of Geneva, the Jura, the lake, and the US Mission. We also ate lunch at the Ariana Museum, which was fun and tasty. This photo features a statue on the roof of the Ariana. I shot it through a gap between two umbrellas on the terrace where we ate lunch.



Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Musée des Beaux-Arts

Pain of Content : Musée des Beaux-Arts : Lyon, FR

Housed in what was formerly the Abbey of Saint Peter, the Musée des Beaux-Arts is Lyon's modern art museum. We didn't go inside, but we did visit the sculpture garden in the courtyard of this 18th century building. The garden is home to what was/is likely a rather large Rodin. Unfortunately, it wasn't in place when we visited. I love photographing arches and colonnades and this courtyard was surrounded by a beauty. What intrigued me with this one was the writing over the door at the end. First, it's in English and second, what could be behind that door? (Click on the image to enlarge.) As for the sculpture below, I forgot to write down the name and artist, but as today is Friday, I'm calling it "TGIF"! Anyway--visit my Picasa Web Albums to see a few more pictures of this space, located just across the street from the Fontaine Bartholdi in the Place des Terreaux.

TGIF : Musée des Beaux-Arts : Lyon, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 2/10

Inside/Out

Inside/Out :  Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

I took way too many pictures both outside and inside the Louvre. Rather than regale you with a lengthy photo essay, here's one shot from inside the entrance looking out. And the rest are here (exteriors) and here (interiors).*

* Most of my photo sets from Paris include pictures I took in January as well as ones I took when I visited for the first time back in August.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Musée du Louvre

Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

Our second day in Paris, my sister and I went to Notre Dame and Musée du Louvre. If you've never been to Paris, this museum, like so many things in the City of Lights, is enormous! If, in the two hours we were there, we saw even one-one hundreth of what the Louvre has to offer, I'd be stunned. That said, we did see a lot of statuary, sculpture, French and Flemish art, stained glass, tapestries, and royal treasures that were c'est magnifique!

We arrived just as they turned on the lights on the Louvre. The detail in the buildings is stunning : 

Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

One thing that struck both of us is, so often people poo-poo the collections in museums in the United States, and particularly within the Smithsonian and National Gallery systems in Washington, D.C. The fact is, though, there's a lot of high-quality art to be seen in the U.S. The difference between U.S. collections and European collections is quantity. The vast amount of art just in Paris alone boggles the mind. That said, though, the U.S. collections aren't too shabby. Okay, I'm climbing off my soap box! LOL!

Friday night at the museum : Musée du Louvre : Paris, FR

If you've been to Paris and if you're an American and you'd like to support the efforts of the Louvre and exchanges between the U.S. and France, consider making a contribution through American Friends of the Louvre.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

2 Things Challenge: Merge / Diverge

Diverge : The Louvre Museum and I.M. Pei Pyramid : Paris, FR

This week's 2 Things Challenge is Merge / Diverge. Last weekend, I was in Paris, the City of Lights, with my sister. We had pretty busy days that started early and ended late. The first night we were in Paris, we saw the Eiffel Tower. The second night, we were at the Louvre Museum. For this week's challenge, I give you the merging lattice work of the Eiffel Tower and the diverging lines of the fountain at the Louvre.

Merge : Gustav Eiffel's Tower : Paris, FR

Want to join in the fun? There's a new challenge every week and anyone can join. Visit 2 Things Challenge where next week's two words are Native / Exotic.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/09 and 1/10

Modestes II

Viewing Modestes : Geneva, CH

This photo captures a group of women during a docent-led tour of the exhibit Modestes: Portraits et Histoires de Femmes au Moyen-Orient.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

Modestes

Modest: Portraits and Stories of Women in the Middle East :
Alexander Boulet, Photographer : Geneva, CH

Currently, there is a temporary exhibit of photos by the late photojournalist Alexandra Boulat on display at the Museum of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent titled Modestes: Portraits et Histoires de Femmes au Moyen-Orient. It features photos of women in the Muslim world and is quite interesting. If you live in or near Geneva, be sure to check it out. It's free.

Modest: Portraits and Stories of Women in the Middle East :
Alexander Boulet, Photographer : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

The Petrified II

Scenes Outside a Cafe : MICR : Geneva, CH

Just a couple more shots of Carl Bucher's sculpture in the courtyard of the Museum of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent.

Petrified : MICR : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

Academie Nationale de Musique

Poesie Lyrique : Paris Opera : Paris, FR

Just a few pictures of the Academie Nationale de Musique, also known as the Paris Opera. Unfortunately, we didn't get off the tour bus and go in. Based on photos I've seen online, we missed out on something beautiful. Next trip, I guess!

Reflective Notes : Paris Opera : Paris, FR

In 1896, one of the opera's grand chandeliers fell from the ceiling and killed a person. The event, coupled with the opera's vast underground, inspired author Gaston Leroux who penned a famous little piece called Le Fantôme de l'Opéra.

Deaf and Busted : Paris Opera : Paris, FR

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Musée Metropolitan

Montmartre Metro : Paris, FR

I'm making a bit of a stretch with the title and paying homage to Paris as a city of world-renowned museums and art and an equally well-known transit system, the Paris Metro. Today's photos feature art that can only be enjoyed if you're willing to climb the stairs from the depths of Paris' deepest Metro station to the exit up top at Montmartre. If we'd taken the elevator, we would have missed these. Fortunately (??), the elevator was closed for maintenance, so we had to hoof it. I'm glad we had no choice.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09

Rüstung u. Robe

Rüstung u. Robe : Museum Tinguely : Basel, CH

The real reason for visiting the Museum Tinguely (and spending CHF 15 on a ticket!) was to see the special exhibit, Rüstung und Robe (Armour and Evening Dress). The armor is from the Imperial War Museum in Graz, Austria, and the evening gowns were designed by Roberto Capucci of Italy.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Museum Tinguely : Tinguely's Stuff

Push a foot pedal and this hand waves :
Museum Tinguely : Basel, CH

The Museum Jean Tinguely is named for Baseler Jean Tinguely. Apparently his art is about rusty junk and Christmas light bulbs and lots of banging and clanging. Can't say I was overly awed by his work, but it was fun for something different.

The rest of the Shiny face : Museum Tingeuly : Basel, CH

Attention Cele: Here's the rest of what was just a slice in Sunday's Two Things Challenge. (See above and see below for more of Tinguely's work.)

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Museum Tinguely : Sculpture Garden

Macro Rust : Artist Unknown : Museum Tinguely : Basel, CH

Returning to Basel: we went to the Museum Jean Tinguely. The sculpture garden featured several pieces, most created by Tinguely and others by his second wife and artist, Niki de Saint Phalle.

Busty Rainbow :  Niki de Saint Phalle : Museum Tinguely : Basel, CH

Anyway--here are pictures from the sculpture garden on the west side of the Tinguely. The slideshow below features a few more pictures from the outside.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Two Things Challeng: Rusty/Shiny

Shiny : At the Museum Tinguely : Basel, CH

This week's Two Things Photo Challenge was Rusty / Shiny. Here are my interpretations, as photographed at the Museum Tinguely in Basel, Switzerland. I'll be doing one or two more posts about this museum tomorrow and Tuesday.

Rusty : At the Museum Tinguely : Basel, CH

To see how others interpreted this challenge or to join in the fun, go here. Next week's challenge is Yellow / Brick.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Miniskirts are Back...

Miniskirts Are Back : Private Gallery : Basel, CH

Walking home from dinner the other night, we walked past this gallery just below Diana and Scott's apartment. These two pieces were being featured. I thought they were fun!

LOVE YOU : Private Gallery : Basel, CH

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09