Dallas Museums – Art, Science, and the Sixth Floor

What would you do on a trip to Dallas?

We were there recently for a conference and had a few days to explore the city. After my research, these places were near the top of my list and since they were close to our hotel, were easy to visit. (If we ever go back, I’ll pick up the others we missed, the Arboretum and Fair Park. There’s never enough time.)

Dallas Museum of Art

I like art museums and this one was not only highly rated but also in walking distance of our hotel (as was the entire Arts District, one of the largest in the country.)

There was a lot to see from around the world, but I tend to favor European and American art. I’ll share a few of my favorites starting with portraits.

I loved this one for its vivid color and exquisite detail.

Next up is a very melancholy clown.

Followed by this gentleman who could tell many stories if only he could speak; maybe he is speaking.

Degas was intrigued with ballet dancers.

Is this a portrait? A bit scrambled, but here he is anyway, so I can show you a Picasso.

On to landscapes. The first is one of Church’s large paintings, inspired by his trip to the Labrador and Newfoundland coastal area. Considered the top painting in the museum. Beautiful, but not my favorite.

I preferred these small paintings of the American West by Alfred Jacob Miller, landscapes I would love to enter, from the 1850’s.

Smaller still are the tiny paintings below, each the size of a bookmark or postcard. I’d never seen such before.

Finally, there’s something foreboding about this lighthouse on the hill.

Nasher Sculpture Museum

Though small when compared to the Dallas Museum of Art, I enjoyed the sculptures at Nasher inside and out.

I loved the brilliant blue sculpture below, by Anish Kapoor, known for the ‘Bean’ (Cloud Gate) in Chicago.

It was a beautiful day to walk in the sculpture garden.

I recognized Henry Moore’s Vertebrae. There’s one in Seattle next door to the first place I worked downtown. I like it better in this garden setting.

These folks seem downtrodden during – Rush Hour – sculpted by George Segal.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

No science museum worth its salt can be without dinosaur bones, connected or not. Perot had plenty (yes, that Perot and if you know, you know,) including a special exhibit on Tyrannosaurus Rex. T-rex has only been found in the U.S. and Canada, but other species of tyrannosaurs have been found around the world.

There was much else to see in the museum, but I loved the collection of minerals the best.

“Minerology describes several scientific disciplines that study the physical properties, formations and applications of minerals. Over 5,700 minerals have been identified to date, with more added yearly.”

I start with two rare pieces of gold on display.

“The largest piece – dubbed the Dragon’s Lair – tips the scales at 63 pounds making it one of the largest specimens to come out of the richest gold finds in Australia.. Its smaller companion – known as the Ausrox Nugget – weighs in at a whopping 51.29 pounds and is about the size of a basketball.” Peoplenewspapers.com

The Eyes of Africa was another star in the gallery.

Here’s an assortment of colorful beauties, more than I care to name. Just enjoy them anyway.

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza

It was Nov. 22, 1963, 60 years ago.

I don’t have words to describe this place, nor why we were drawn to visit. But it’s part of our history and drawn we were. The museum takes you to the very window where the shots were fired that terrible day, and describes the events leading up to it, and those that followed. For some, it’s a chapter that remains open to conspiracy theories. The museum explores these too.

I’ll conclude with the words JFK planned to speak that fateful day.

“We in this country, in this generation, are – by destiny rather than choice – the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength.”

~ Susanne