Enjoying the art of Art near Siouxland, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE

On a visit to the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NE south of Siouxland I spent a little time looking at facility itself and enjoying its architecture. At the same time I was also looking at color. And how it adds another dimension or feel to the museum.

Admiring art in the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Muted colors and the specially lit venue helps visitors to concentrate on the art hanging in the various galleries and not to think about anything beyond the room one is in and the joy of seeing some excellent pieces.

An entryway with a fountain adds to place and lends an elegance before you start the journey of seeing. As does the art installation of a Dale Chihuly piece that hangs in front of a large window. It’s nice to sit nearby and look and enjoy. Some days should be quiet days.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A Chihuly art piece hangs in the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Mosaic tile in the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Framing the Obvious in Siouxland and the Joslyn Museum, Omaha, NE

When out shooting sometimes I don’t really know what to expect until I see an image in front of me. During an outing with my Photo Safari class through the Lifelong Learning program at Western Iowa Tech Community College I was struck by some columns in downtown Sioux City.

in downtown Sioux City, Iowa Saturday Nov. 4, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

I never really noticed City Hall behind it until that night.

And during my trip to Council Bluffs and visiting the historic General Dodge House columns again caught my attention.

Columns line the porch of the Dodge House, former residence of one Gen. Greville M. Dodge, a Civil War Veteran and railroad builder who settled in Council Bluffs, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 4, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

As did a recent to to the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE. The architecture there in the building itself is as much a tribute to art and the art of building as are the works found within it. It was a good day to wander through the museum and enjoy the building and what it offers in and of itself.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Columns in the Joslyn Art Museum frame other building aspects in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Columns in the Joslyn Art Museum frame other building aspects in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Columns in the Joslyn Art Museum frame other building aspects in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Lights and Shadows in Siouxland plus effective composition, Omaha, NE

Sometimes when I am out and photographing I know I shoot too many images. It’s just easy to do with digital. In the film days I would shoot more judiciously because I didn’t want to process more than a couple rolls of film. Those days I primarily shot B&W. I would look a scene over and judge what I thought would give me the best result. Now, I shoot more liberally and decide when I look the pics on a large display monitor.

Fall color hangs on in Elmwood Park in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Do I like this crop, the tonality, the road veering away from the scene.

Fall colors hang on in Elmwood Park in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Or does this crop feel more intimate bringing the viewer into the image more quickly if at all. But then, I liked a third take.

Fall colors still appear in Elmwood Park in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

And pretty soon I have a dozen photos or more as I make slight variations.

But there are other times when I see and know what I like, especially shooting lights and shadows. I like the ying and yang of the images and their overall feel. And it’s nice to have choices when creating images.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

 

Afternoon sun creates a shadow in Elmwood Park in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

A tree retains its fall leaves in Elmwood Park in Omaha, NE Thursday Nov. 2, 2017. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga)

Finding Doorways in and out of Siouxland, Omaha, NE

During my visit to the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE, which is on the southern end of Siouxland, I find it great to walk around older constructed buildings. The archways and flooring and other touches that went into constructing buildings before “modern” architecture began popping up more and more I personally find intriguing. And this was something that struck me as I walked around the museum looking at beautiful artwork created centuries ago. The old saying I believe is, “When one door closes another one opens.” There is actually not many opening and closing doors in the museum, but as one walks around looking at the art, one knew a doorway would lead to another hall of filled with breathtaking pieces of art.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Doorways lead visitors to other areas of exploration at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Doorways lead visitors to other areas of exploration at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Doorways lead visitors to other areas of exploration at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Doorways lead visitors to other areas of exploration at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Doorways lead visitors to other areas of exploration at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying an Art Day outside of Siouxland, Omaha, NE

As much as I like driving about Siouxland and exploring all that it has to offer, it is sometimes nice to see the “larger world”. I made a trip with a friend down to Omaha, NE and did a little shopping and then spent time visiting the Joslyn Museum. It has quite a collection of art much of which from reading notes next to many pieces have been donated. Original work by Rembrandt, Monet, Pissarro, Twachtman, Grant Wood and many other painters. It also has a nice collection of early Italian art from the 15th century and later.

A fresco that was on canvas had a note of it being created in the early 1400’s. I was amazed, realizing that piece of work is holder than most buildings in the current United States. So it was humbling and refreshing to walk around in quiet to view these pieces and enjoy such a diverse offering of artwork so close at hand. It makes me realize I need to venture out more often and seek out these places as I travel about getting a worthwhile shot in the arm art fix.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A visitor capturing an image of a painting for further exploration at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Lighting helps the effect of viewing of art at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A visitor pauses in front of a painting at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Children learning about art while on a field trip at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Visitors walk through one of the galleries at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A couple uses technology to explore the art at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Visitors admiring art at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A piece of art dazzles visitors as they pass by it to enter the galleries at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)