Tuesday, November 12, 2019

MUSEUM OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA - PART 1


We got an invite from our son to join him in Winchester on Friday last week.  We spent some time with him and then had an hour to wander around by ourselves before we met up again.  
We weren't too far from the museum and as Gregg had not been there, I asked him if he would like to go.  As it turned out and by the time we got there, we barely had half an hour.  However, we enjoyed what we did see.  

We started off on the second floor and I could see large paintings in one area.  I could see they were colorful and whimsical, something I am always drawn to.  I suggested Gregg go the exhibit right next to this one so that we could both see areas we knew we would be interested in.  I caught up with him soon after.  

I am sharing a few of the paintings I saw, with an explanation below each one. The artist is Bill Rutherford.  You can learn about him here.  They are very large, floor to ceiling, and yes very whimsical, definitely outside of the box so to speak.

You can enlarge each photo to see better detail, especially of the one with the writing.  They help to figure out what you are actually looking at.  

I tried to tidy this explanation by straightening the writing.  I took a lot of them in a hurry so they may be a bit cattywampus.  The words should be okay to read though when enlarged.




























There were several more paintings but I will stop for now.  If you are in the area and are interested, this exhibit will be on display until January 12th, 2020.
I always try to take photos of information next to each painting.  It came in very useful as I did not have time to read every one on this short visit.  
I found Gregg in the rooms designed in the old style of things. 

My favorite area was where the doll houses are shown.  I could have spent another hour in that exhibit.  Some were very simple and others very elegant.  I will have a post sharing these exhibits another time.

 I can't say enough good things about The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.  From what we saw, the exhibits are fun to browse around, and the staff are very friendly and helpful.  We will definitely be going back when we have more time.  Admission at the time of writing this up is $8.00 each.


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24 comments:

  1. LindaNovember 12, 2019 at 2:00 AM

    And on Wednesdays, you can get in free! We have an annual pass though. My husband loves the gardens, and I try to see all the traveling exhibits.

    Last week my favorite professor gave a talk on the Bill Rutherford paintings and how they relate to the Civil War. It was very interesting and Mr. Rutherford was there! He answered some questions that Prof. Noyalas could not answer.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:13 PM

      Thank you for letting me know that Linda. I am also looking forward to going back to see the gardens. I would have enjoyed the talk on Bill Rutherford too.

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  2. ValerieNovember 12, 2019 at 4:31 AM

    Interesting and colourful. The paintings are brilliant. I hope you do go again so that we can see more.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:14 PM

      Thank you Valerie. We will go again sometime :)

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  3. Francisco Manuel Carrajola OliveiraNovember 12, 2019 at 5:12 AM

    Muito interessante este museu e aproveito para desejar e uma boa semana.

    Andarilhar
    Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
    O prazer dos livros

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:16 PM

      Muito obrigado. Desejo-lhe uma boa semana continuada :)

      Delete
  4. eileeninmdNovember 12, 2019 at 7:16 AM

    Hello, what a neat museum. I like the art work, it is whimsical. We road past a sign for this museum recently. I have never been there, I will put it on my bucket list. Have a great day and week ahead.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:17 PM

      Glad you enjoyed it Eileen. You have a great day and week also :)

      Delete
  5. ChristineNovember 12, 2019 at 9:27 AM

    I love doll houses, thanks for sharing your short visit.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:18 PM

      Thank you Christine, you're very welcome. My next post on the museum will be of the dolls houses :)

      Delete
  6. RedNovember 12, 2019 at 10:07 AM

    Whimsical is a good description of the paintings. I would like them.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:19 PM

      I'm glad Red, they're not everyone's cup of tea I know.

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  7. MadSnapperNovember 12, 2019 at 10:09 AM

    I would have gone with Gregg, I do LOVE that kitchen and that is my THING. whimsy is not my thing, but this guy is really, really talented. wow! the one I like the best is the rabbit on the fox, I think it is a fox... I like to take photos of the signs with art also... read at leisure.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:20 PM

      Hi Sandra, yes you would have enjoyed the other areas and I will be sharing them soon.

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  8. Ginny HartzlerNovember 12, 2019 at 10:16 AM

    We don't live too far from this place, I did not know about it. This artist is so clever! I had thought at first that the magician looked a lot like J.F.K.! Hmmm...wonder if he had been under the influence of some of that laudinum when painting ...

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:21 PM

      Hi Ginny, the only reason I know about this museum is that I have a friend who lives there. We went ages ago but at that time a group of us used to meet up in their café, and by the time we had finished, it was too late to look around the museum :) Now the café has closed I believe.

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  9. Great-Granny GrandmaNovember 12, 2019 at 2:36 PM

    Love the way you posted the information about the photos next to them. This looks like a very interesting exhibit, and by the sound of things, that museum is not too far from where I live. Reading this post makes me want to visit.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 5:22 PM

      I'm glad you enjoyed that :) I can't take it all in at the time and always take photos so that I can read them at my leisure. In this case we barely had time to look at the paintings. I hope you get there some time.

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  10. Titus John WhiteNovember 12, 2019 at 2:47 PM

    Hi Denise
    What a magical place to visit, the art work appears very extrovert and amusing, my sort of place to visit, super post,
    All the best,
    John

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 12, 2019 at 10:14 PM

      Hi John, thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed it. All the best to you too :)

      Delete
  11. Linda PNovember 13, 2019 at 4:05 PM

    It's good that there's something of interest for everyone in a museum and I would have spent time looking at the dolls houses and the old time kitchens.

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    1. DeniseinVANovember 13, 2019 at 5:38 PM

      Thank you Linda, the dolls houses really appealed to me also, and yes the old kitchens.

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  12. William KendallNovember 13, 2019 at 7:42 PM

    Fascinating and vivid!

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