This weekend, Jim and I crossed the state line into Missouri to visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which was hosting Heartland: The Photographs of Terry Evans. Evans grew up in Kansas City and studied at the University of Kansas. Her portraits are beautiful, but I was most moved by her amazing photographs of the prairie. It’s very difficult to capture the movement, shape, and texture of grassland, but her photographs are full of depth and energy. Her portraits and landscapes from Matfield Green, Kansas, truly capture the spirit of the Flint Hills.
Heartland: The Photographs of Terry Evans is on display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art through January 20, 2013.
With an hour to spare after touring the exhibit, we dashed through the halls to see some of our favorite pieces. We were disappointed to discover that our absolute favorite painting, Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness by Caravaggio, is on loan to the Los Angeles County Museum (lucky LA!). But many of my other favorites, ancient pieces that have fascinated me since my middle school class visited the museum to see the ancient Greek sculptures after reading Homer’s Odyssey, were still on display.
Looking up at the natural light in Kirkwood Hall.
Winged Genie Fertilizing a Date Tree, 884-860 B.C.E. , at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Detail.
Ancient Greek pottery at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
The Muse Sarcophagus at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Diana Staresinic-Deane 
Sounds like a fun trip! I love going through galleries and exhibits, it’s so relaxing! And I just wanted to say I love the new look on your blog. It’s much spacier and so pretty.
First, thanks for the comment about the new layout. With the new book coming out, I needed room to expand with more complex menu options, and I do a lot more with photographs than I did when I was first starting out.
Second, if you haven’t made your way to the Nelson-Atkins, you should – you’d love it! It is also one of the most affordable museums to visit. Thanks to their endowments, the only cost is for parking ($5 a car) and any special exhibits. But the regular collection, which is huge, is completely free. A true example of accessible art.
I enjoy visiting the Nelson, as does my wife. My son, on the other hand, has to practically be dragged kicking and screaming. To his 11 year old mind, there’s nothing worse than walking around a museum looking at art. Every once in a while, we’ve gotten him interested in a specific item, or group. Recently, we brought him there to look at some of the Egyptian and other ancient pieces. He did enjoy that, but wanted to leave immediately after visiting that room. Someday, I’ll be able to go and spend a whole afternoon there again.
It’s funny. When I was a kid, I looked forward to being an adult so I could “do what I want.” Now that I’m an adult, I look forward to my son being older so that I can once again, “do what I want.” 😀
I’ve always loved the ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian stuff, as well as religious art and architecture from the Middle Ages. It has only been in recent years that I’ve learned to appreciate modern art, textiles and glassware.
At least the Nelson-Atkins is big enough that pretty much everyone can find SOMETHING engaging. I’m waiting for my niece and nephews to be old enough so that we can go. 🙂