I am in love with an art museum: that museum would be the whimsical Denver Art Museum.
Spotting it from blocks away (and even from my hotel room window) I knew that I was going to enjoy the place.
The sharp, soaring, angular lines of glass and titanium that jut in every direction and the nonsensical geometric lines, were impossible to ignore. It was like a beacon, calling my name and daring me to come and see what was inside.
Dare: accepted.
The colossal structure is only half of the Denver Art Museum – the other (more demure) half is across a pedestrian walkway – and houses the modern and contemporary art collections.
I initially went to the museum for a tour of a special Yves Saint Laurent exhibit, courtesy of Visit Denver, as a pre-TBEX treat. Lucky me, I mixed up the time of the tour and arrived early.
This allowed me to wander through the YSL exhibit at my own pace and still have time to see more of the museum.
With dim lighting, spot lit pieces and a re-creation of the designer’s Paris studio, the exhibit transported me into YSL’s world.
Image via Denver Art Museum
As a long-time fan of YSL’s more irreverent and bold collections, I was thrilled to see many of them on display.
Image via Denver Art Museum
There was also and impressive room dedicated to YSL’s internationally influenced collections, based on traditional clothing from Morocco, Russia, Japan, Spain and India.
Image via Denver Art Museum
While the exhibit was wonderfully curated and much larger than I had expected, the rest of the museum was waiting.
Image via Denver Art Museum
Every floor, every corner, revealed something new. Sharp angles, sloping planes and unexpected dead ends turned the normal museum experience on its head.
People often say that you ‘can get lost in art,’ but here you actually can!
What’s more, the stark, erratic, sweeping white walls and superb lighting provided a perfect backdrop for the collection on display.
In that environment, I really did feel like I was a part of the art; that I was in the art. It was one of the most exciting and enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had in a museum.
And then (just as I was about reach Nirvana) I was approached by a security guard. “We’re closing in five minutes miss, time to make your way downstairs,” he cooed.
Tears may have formed in my eyes. I felt like I had only just arrived – there was so much more to see!
I begrudgingly made my way down the stairs, but got distracted, by the stairs! (I mean, what place has stairs that can stop you in your tracks!?)
I stood there, gawking and snapping photos until yet another security guy prodded me to the door.
Outside, I sat on a bench and just stared at the museum’s façade. I was beyond impressed and regretted not arriving earlier in the day.
I already thought I’d like to come back to Denver at some point, but after running out of time in the museum, I know that I will; if only to get lost in the art.
Note: My visit to the Denver Art Museum was made possible by Visit Denver.
Contributed by Kelly Paras, who writes about her global adventures (and misadventures) at flipflopcaravan. You can also find her on twitter @flipflopcaravan.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
