Welcome to Houston Dear Vincent!
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Three things you need to know before you go:
The Exhibit
Van Gogh’s paintings are some of the most recognizable works of art in the world, and now thanks to a partnership with the Vincent Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, more than 50 masterpieces of the acclaimed artist arrive at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. I had the opportunity to attend the media preview of this exhibit, and I’m thrilled to share my experience with all of you.
Gary Tinterow, the museum’s director, shared with all the media preview attendees what I thought was a very interesting reflection.
“Why Vincent Van Gogh has lasted in the memory and imagination of the history of mankind, and continues to do so? He has lasted in our imagination because he’s one of the few artists that had honesty, authenticity, and sincerity thanks to his overwhelming desire to communicate with mankind through his art.”
After listening to the museum’s director explanation, I think most of the attendees were transported to their personal and unforgettable first encounter with one of Van Gogh’s painting, and how it remained impregnated in their memories forever, well, at least I did.
My first real life interaction with Vincent Van Gogh’s work, was through Starry Night. A dark blue sky filled with bright stars created by thousands of thick yellow paint strokes, producing a living and dense world over a still town. A mix of colors and textures that captivated me on the spot and became my favorite painting ever since.
Starry Night shows how Van Gogh returns to those dark colors of his early work as a result of a severe depression and the constant hallucinations he suffered. When I found out he created this painting as a product of his sole imagination while being hospitalized, it made me love it even more.
Now, thanks to this magnificent exhibit in Houston that focuses mainly on his early work, I add Impasse des Deux frères, to my list of Van Gogh’s favorites, which shows a beautiful scene of a stroll through the incomparable Montmartre art district in Paris during the years he lived with his beloved brother, Theo.
“Iris is one of the most important masterpieces of the exhibit, which in spite of its cheerful colors, it unarguably reflects death through a bouquet of enigmatic flowers fainting one by one”. A very accurate analysis by Dena Woodall, museum’s curator, which makes even more sense after discovering that he created this painting while staying at the Saint-Rémy nursing home, inspired by the institution’s gardens.
It’s incredible that more than a hundred years after his death, Vincent Van Gogh continues to create new and unforgettable experiences in people, no matter which museum or city in the world his work is portrayed in.
Welcome to Houston Dear Vincent!
The Interactive Space
In addition to the wonderful exhibit, you can’t miss the interactive space created by the Dolores Kohl Education Foundation called “Van Gogh Up Close”.
A beautiful room filled with activities for kids and adults in which I had lots of fun drawing sunflowers, irises, and almond blooms, as well as becoming part of his famous paintings by sitting on one of the chairs at his acclaimed room in Arles. I even pretended to have coffee at the well-known terrace of Van Gogh’s “Café Terrace at night.”
Thanks to the Museum of Fine Arts for a wonderful and fun morning. Of course, I couldn't leave without visiting the gift shop that has a wonderful collection of books, mouse pads, umbrellas, and all kinds of souvenirs from the Amsterdam Museum gift shop.
Tickets
Tickets are $17 usd for adults, $10 usd for kids 13 to 18 years old, and free for kids under 12.
Tips to enjoy the exhibit for free:
Each Bank of America cardholder gets one free general admission to the MFAH as part of the Museums on Us customer benefit program, applicable to the first full weekend of every month.
For more information visit the Museum’s website:
Marzo 10, 2019 – Junio 27, 2019
