High Museum of Art

Art is something that brings us together. It makes us stop and think, viewing the world from someone else's perspective. It gives us something to experience together and talk about, delving into deep topics that don't normally surface at the dinner table. 

What would the world be without art?

Thankfully, we don't have to think about that in Atlanta. The whole city is filled with art, from sculptures along the Beltline to murals in Clarkston. But there is one place where the concentration of art is high - the High Museum of Art. 

Started as the Atlanta Art Association in 1905, the High Museum has grown to include expansive collections of contemporary and "old" art. Whereas you may go to some art museums that specialize in one era or one civilization, the High Museum contains a bit of everything. And a good bit at that. While walking between floors of the gorgeous Stent Family Wing (which is so beautiful and modern, it was used during filming of the Divergent film series), you go from one floor full of European masterpieces (including three Monet pieces) to a floor containing American works and furniture. Another floor takes you across to the Wieland Pavilion, where you see contemporary pieces that sometimes puzzle you but always make you think. 

In addition to the permanent collections, many of which continue to expand as more pieces are aquired, the High also houses temporary exhibits. In the past, I have seen works by Titian and a sketchbook of Leonardo da Vinci, as well as the Gates of Paradise which are normally in their home of Florence, Italy. For several years, the High had a rotating collection from the Louvre, a museum of which they have a unique partnership related to a tragic accident in 1962 that involved many arts patrons of Atlanta while they were visiting the Louvre in Paris. The exhibits from the Louvre introduced me to some pieces related to the Hapsburg dynasty, which later helped me understand the history as I traveled Austria and Germany. 

This past Sunday, I visited the High during one of their "Second Sundays" - a day when admission is free to the public between 1 - 4 pm. I was amazed by the temporary exhibits: "Paul Graham: The Whiteness of the Whale" and a collection of vessels by Magdalene Odundo. 

In the Whiteness of the Whale, Graham took pictures of the same spot on a sidewalk or street, but seconds apart. In sets of 2-5 pictures, he captured the people of the city and the small changes that can occur in a matter of seconds. A street transforms from appearing like a homeless alley to a blue-collar pedestrian way in a moment, all through the one eye of a camera. A spot where a Middle Eastern man in a turban passes is passed within moments by a Jew in a traditional cap. By capturing these moments, Graham shows us a different perspective of life. It was a fascinating exhibit that caused you to stop and really look at a moment differently. 

The vessels by Odundo were fascinating, especially because there was a documentary about her playing in a side room that really explained where her inspirations come from. One of her main inspirations is the human body; she said that many people use that as a reference in art, and that her vessels capture how the human body is a vessel. The female body is the ultimate vessel, able to contain human life. As we speak, we are also vessels of words and thoughts. Her pottery did an amazing job of communicating that vision. 

The High Museum of Art brings people together to see the world through different eyes. It is also a wonderful place to take photographs (just ask the guards about rules on flash photography in particular exhibits). As a student, it is a great place to explore and refresh yourself to the possibility of new and innovative ideas. Take advantage of the many free admission days and enjoy the art of Atlanta.