McNay Art Museum
If you asked me why I love the McNay Art Museum, I would say, “Let me count the ways.”
The McNay Art Museum has been a part of my life since I was fifteen years old living in San Antonio, and my first real boyfriend took me there one Sunday before an afternoon of horseback riding. I fell in love with the building, the art, the grounds. I’ll always remember the first time seeing El Greco’s Head of Christ. It was a revelation. Ethereal. Stark. Beautiful. Painful. I think I grew up a lot that day when a mere boy introduced me to a world beyond school and books and — yes — boys.
I broke up with that boy, but ever after I drug each young man I dated to the McNay Art Museum at one time or another. At the edge of adulthood, I moved away from San Antonio; however I continue to come back to the McNay again and again, introducing friends and relatives to its magic. When we found ourselves living in the Texas Hill Country several years ago, I became a member of the museum. I believe the McNay is part of who I am—who I want to be. It is always there to console–to entertain. To teach. To charm.
After Hours – Member Only Tours
Tonight, we are here for an after-hours member only tour of their new exhibition, American Dreams: Classic Cars and Postwar Paintings which is on display through May 19, 2019. I feel fortunate to be here for two reasons. First, space is limited, and you have to sign up—early. Second, traffic in San Antonio is terrible, especially if you are traveling down a busy street, where two of three lanes are being torn up. I feel like we were living a nightmare trying to get from Cured’s happy hour to the McNay on time. I must remember city life at rush hour is a very different life than the one we currently live.
But, we are here—with only seconds to spare.
American Dreams: Classic Cars and Postwar Paintings
Walking into the temporary exhibition gallery, located adjacent to the entrance and catty-corner from the gift shop, my first impression is—glitz. Glamour. Then I think Easter eggs. Cotton candy. An artist’s palette. Soft. Strong. Gleaming.
Because our group is instructed to begin at the end of the exhibit, before we make
The car referred to is a shiny silver bullet of a car—a 1963 Corvette. Our docent stops in her tracks and says, “Tell us about it.”
“It was really fast,” is the reply. There is a soft chuckle from all of us, and then we learn more.
Tucker
Eventually, we wind up in front of a rare 1948 Tucker Torpedo—one of only 51 Tuckers ever made. A car with a third eye, that rotates. With interchangeable seats just in case the driver’s side seat experiences too much wear. A car with a motor that can be lifted out, replaced with a loaner, and worked on while the owner continues with his or her daily life. A car ahead of its time. A dream quashed.
There is a myriad of cars. We learn about them all. Many are convertibles. The individuals that owned these are my kind of people–I think. I love a convertible for its ability to put me in the middle of nature. I wonder if the owners of these cars felt the same way.
We stop beside a 50’s era Cadillac that has taillights that look like they could maim and kill—the equivalent of a woman’s stiletto heel. The car is so long, it has problems keeping its middle from sagging.
Michael pulls me away from the group to show me a 1957 Chevy, telling me, “This is the model car that Gibby drove when he had that wreck. Look at the dashboard.”
It looks like impenetrable steel.
He continues, “I left boot prints in that dash when we crashed. I couldn’t walk for weeks.”
I honestly don’t see how he survived to retirement.
Cars & Art
You might wonder how these automobiles belong in an art museum and what they have to do with the art hanging on the walls, till you look up. Down. And then spin around. Suddenly you understand the job of a curator. The very contemporary and bold art enhance the cars and vice versa. And the automobiles, even without the paintings, are sculptural art. Dreams. Large jewels meant to knock your socks off. Functional Art.
And this is one of the many million reasons I love the McNay Art Museum. Its member-only tours. The ability of this place, these events, to make me take a second look, maybe a third. Forcing me to delve beyond what I see.
Other Member Tours
In January I was lucky enough to take part in the McNay’s first After Hours Member Tour which was all about portraits. That tour, that lecture taught me more than anything to look beyond, to get to know, to examine the art gracing gallery walls.
There was a charcoal painting by a San Antonio artist that I dismissed as a photograph–a stunning photograph–but a photograph. Even when I got nose to nose with the painting, it was so well executed, that it was difficult to tell. Finally, the very subtle, soft edges gave it away. I wish I could remember the name of the artist, but it eludes me.
I was forced to think about the vacant blue eyes of many of Modigliani’s subjects. And I discover that a portrait can be more than a painting or photograph of eyes, nose, and mouth. It can be objects and words and dates that comprise the life of a subject. At home, I delved into the life of Marsden Hartley and the artist Robert Indiana who took his work, honoring the original artist Hartley, and recreated his art in a stylized format. The entire evening was fascinating.
I can’t wait to be fascinated again.
Visit the McNay
The McNay is open Wednesday through Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Click on the link above to see closing times, holiday hours, admission fees, etc.
Become a Member
So why am I telling you this? There won’t be room for me on future tours! But I love the McNay, and I want the rest of the world to love the McNay too, and there are numerous benefits to being a member. Check out the link below to find out more.
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