Cleveland

Cleveland Arcade.

We went to Cleveland to see the Kusama show at the Cleveland Museum of Art. We stayed around to do some sightseeing. Cleveland has some great things to see and do!

Of course we had to spend some time exploring the rest of CMA. The museum has an astonishing collection, making it truly world class. We hadn't seen its new building before, and it's quite impressive. It's a must for anyone interested in art or history. I took pictures of random things that I especially loved. 

"Close-mouthed Guardian King (Niō, Uungyō)", 1200s, Japan.
"His closed mouth intones the sound un, and symbolizes the end, or death."

"Giant Toothpaste Tube", Claes Olenburg. 

"Water Lilies", Claude Monet. One of the museum's most famous works. Of course there's a bench in front of it so you can sit and contemplate it.

Detail of "Water Lillies" by Claude Monet.

"Saluting Protective Spirit", 883-859 BC, from the Assyrian city of Nimrud (Iraq).
A plaque explains that this came from a temple, destroyed in ancient times and buried for 24 centuries.

"Feline-handled Incense Burner", 100 AD, Iran.

"Bateman Amphora", 530 BC, Greece.

"Boar Vessel", 600-500 BC, Etruscan, Ceramic. This object is really famous so we were thrilled to be in its presence. Need proof? Do an image search for "Boar Vessel, 600-500 BC, Etruscan, Ceramic". See?

"Wolf Head", AD 1-100, Rome.

"Portrait of a Man", 27 BC- 14 AD, Rome.

"Statuette of Bes", 525-30 BC, Egypt.

"Fragment of Inlay headdress", 1353-1295 BC, Egypt. The Egyptians, like
many other ancient people, colored their statues and reliefs, but the pigments
rarely survive the march of time. This little ceramic piece was a really vivid blue.

"Funerary Portrait of a Man", 138-192 AD, from Egypt during the time of the
Roman empire. This portrait was painted directly onto the linen wrappings of the man's mummy. 

"Headdress", early 1900s, Ejagham people of Nigeria.

"Bush Buffalo Mask", early-mid 1900s, Burkina Faso.

"Face Mask", early 1900s, Guinea Coast, Ivory Coast or Liberia, Wè people.

Parts of "Apollo Sauroktonos (Apollo the Lizard Slayer",
attributed to Praxiteles, Greek, 400-330 BC. 

Most of "Apollo Sauroktonos (Apollo the Lizard Slayer",
attributed to Praxiteles, Greek, 400-330 BC. 
The  famous Roman author Pliny the Elder described
this statue in his writings. The museum must have been delighted
when it was discovered that they had the original, and that the
hand and lizard belonged to it as well. The lizard represents
Python, his arch enemy.

Detail of "Color Test 210 "(9 permutations)", Spencer Finch. The 9 light boxes that
incorporate this piece hang together in a dim hall, where they are quite dramatic.

Detail of "Color Test 210 "(9 permutations)", Spencer Finch. 

Detail of "Color Test 210 "(9 permutations)", Spencer Finch. 

Cleveland Arcade.

We made a point of visiting the Cleveland Arcade, one of Cleveland's grandest buildings, because we definitely wanted our son to see it. The arcade is magnificently restored and has room for many shops and restaurants, but it's at a really low point in its long life with very few tenants. If you worked downtown, it used to be a great place to stop and grab a bite to eat, or to do some shopping. Now it's mainly used by the hotel next door as a  venue for weddings. But fortunately it is still open for visitors. 

Fifth Street Arcades.

Just steps away and across Euclid Avenue are the adjoining Fifth Street Arcades, They are also fully restored, and refreshingly packed with tenants. 

I was wondering...does Pittsburgh have an arcade building? Yes, indeed! It's the Union Trust Building, which recently completed a $100 million renovation. 

Another jewel in Cleveland is the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. It's not huge, but it's mighty. Since we were last in Cleveland, it's exhibits have been updated and they are better than ever.

A glyptodon from the Pleistocene Epoch. They were giant armadillo kin.

Mosasaur, late Cretaceous.

Bushbaby.

Lucy, the famous human ancestor.

Lucy in the flesh!

A neato Silurian diorama.

Trilobites from the Cambrian found in Pennsylvania.

The museum has an outdoor exhibit of live critters, including Meeko, a cool albino raccoon who completely fascinated my son Jasper.

Balto the hero sled dog. Balto has a marvelous story!

Isn't this an awesome diorama?

Cleveland has tasty food! Sadly the storied West Side Market was closed the day we visited. But we thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful German meal at Das Schnitzel Haus, and had the flatbread to die for at Jaipur Junction (as well as much more super tasty Indian dishes). Seriously, it's totally worth going there just for the flatbread.