Craft and Folk Art Museum

When it comes to any art other than photography, I am an artistic nincampoop; I’m shocked anyone can paint or sketch so realistically. That goes triple for glass-sculpting, as I was there to see the exhibit Il Vetro Veneziano: Contemporary Venetian Glass.

But here’s the deal: maybe because I’m a photographer, my visual memory is stunted, so I can’t remember any of the art. I’m sure I’d remember it if I saw it again, but because of this, I can’t describe it, other than saying there were some truly beautiful pieces, including some I’d love to have at home, and I don’t say that very often at all. For instance, in that huge art warehouse across the street from this museum, LACMA, there’s only one piece of art I want--the Remington sculpture of the broncobuster. But there were at least half a dozen here I would gladly display.

And here’s the kicker: no photography allowed! This caused me to take off half a star; hey, I take that personally! {Another half star off for this being the only exhibition at the time.} I found the video about glass-making more memorable a few days later, and I’m sure I could buy that somewhere.

I do have to give kudos to the designer of the place, for taking such a small space and filling it so well, especially architecturally. The stairway itself is impressive, as well as the views of the two mini-courtyards. And when I passed the second floor--just an empty room being worked on--I was able to appreciate how beautifully designed the exhibit space was around the glass work on the third floor. And on the ground floor the gift shop, while small, was quite pleasant to go through. I don’t know if there’s more exhibit space on higher floors, because from the moment I stepped in I was told the glass exhibit was the only current one in the whole place, but I think this museum has the potential to be something great. It isn’t yet, though.