Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

I went to Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City today.

It was a trip of searching for inner soul, that's what I would call.
And half way strolling from one hall to another, I quickly realised that I should have come here much earlier, and I would definitely make another trip back there.

I have spent most of the time in the lobby and the plaza level. At the lobby was mainly showing those modern arts, some of which are pretty nice. At the plaza level, I was on the wing, where most European arts were exhibited. I spent a long time walking from one painting to another in the Plaza level, and was thrilled by the details and thoughts of the artists. Some of which nearly made me cried.

I wouldn't say the collection in Nelson-Atkins were the finest, or have a strong theme, but it is a very friendly collection for fresh entry level audiences, as well as having a few unique ones to cater for those who would appreciate them.

The European section stirred a strong emotion to me, because I have only recently starting to understand art, and the transformation of art over the centuries, by starting my violin.

Pardon my indifference to the art studies, but I somehow find it amusing, to see people depicting the artists vision, or trying to classify the artist's drawing. All you may know, it could because the artist was suffering from bad eye sight, and was trying to draw what he saw, hence impressionist.

I also felt rather disappointed at myself, that I should have exploited my stay in UK more, and explore more on the fine arts there. Because some of the museum that I visited during my stay there, housed some real good and famous arts. Also, I was so close to France, yet didn't cross the channel enough to visit it. I shouldn't have watched my spending so tightly, but then again, I guess the grapes take its time to turn into the wine, so I shouldn't feel too sour about it.

There was this thing called Grand Tour existed in the ancient Europe time (can't remember the time frame), where those rich English families would send their young chaps out of the house, mainly to Europe, to study, explore, learn the society and get some connections for their future path. And these young chaps would collect arts along their trips, and some of them were shown in the museum today.

Looking at some of the bizzare things they have collected, I would imagine myself as the craftman trying to sell them stuffs like that. I also thought, their existance would have been some money source for the young artists too. Judging the age these young English chaps went overseas, I wouldn't be surprised by their taste of arts, it is kinda like an old sister looking at her teenage brother's rock album collections.

In a way, I guess I could understand the meaning and the impact of the Grand Tour. Because it is also what I have been going through too, except the fact that I didn't purchase those huge art pieces for my collections. I can't help to wonder, where would I stand, given what I have today, in the past, among these Grand Tour young English chaps?

Would I be the one that scuffing under the Englishmen arrogance? Or would I be the one that draw satirical painting of them, and get them to purchase it?

After finishing half of Plaza level, I decided that I had had enough of European influences, and was very curious about the 2nd level exhibition. On the map, it shows Chinese, Japanese, and other Asians art exhibitions.

I went straight to the Japanese section in 2nd level, was rather disappointed by the little collection. But was surprised to find a rather melancholy artist, who would draw huge painting and write something when his friend sent him rice, while he was meditating in the temple in the hill. The Japanese writing wasn't like today, most of them are still Kanji, so you could more or less know what is written there.

The Chinese ones are rather over rated, though some of the things made me feel as if I had fell into the time machine. Most of the drawings and sculptures, you could see that it is from private collections. The descriptions on the drawings and caligraphies were pretty brief -- unless you know Chinese. Being able to read what is written on the scrolls, doubled the feelings you had from just appreciating it as a display item. I guess one would feel the same, when one get to read a fraction of private letter, hand written by someone famous, say Lincoln. The intense feeling from reading off the real writing, carries beyond the thick display glass, it feels almost like the person is alive again. I mentioned this long time ago, when me and my friend went down to London to see the China Three Emperors' Exhibition.

The Chinese sculpture were mainly taken from the roof of some caves, some building door fragment etc. It made you wonder, what kind of history has these sculptures been through? After standing there for centuries, overseeing the rise and fall of various clans, and one day, a bunch of crazy greedy knowledgable people come by, chipped it out from its home, sell it and ship it across the oceans and put it in an aircond. room, with temperature monitoring systems sitting next to it.

It is also sad, to think that one would be able to see more authentic Chinese arts overseas, than in China. Though the guilt still lies on those who robbed these fine collections from China in the history, but I sometimes can't help but think the other way. If it weren't because of these so-called-robbers, Chinese arts won't survive until today. And I am talking about those authentic ones -- I can't appal more towards the piracy and forgery of the ancient Chinese arts these days.

The South Asian collections were mainly the Indian gods, which I had already seen a lot of them in India. Again, the feeling is the same as what I had towards the Chinese ones.

When I was leaving, there was a wedding in the museum. I have heard it in UK before, people would choose to have wedding banquet in the museum or library, because the setting in these places are generally grand and spacious. And it is also a side income for the organisation too. I wonder if my wedding in the future could be taken place in such grand venues?

My next trip there, would be to complete the tour by visiting the American arts, the Egyptians' and the remaining European ones.

American Feel Good Factor

I was in a local party yesterday, it was great.

And I had some rather interesting discussions with my colleague -- the one who helped me purchased the car. Let's call him Mr. Techno, cause he loves high horsepower, guns, high tech gizmo etc.

One of the interesting discussions were like this:

We were offered too much food, that when the dessert was served, the host kinda forced us each took one piece (small piece, like half an egg size).

Mr. Techno diminished the dessert in one bite. I was struggling with small bites...

Mr. Techno, "If you don't want to eat it, just throw it away."

Vinegar, "No, I am not going to throw it away, what a waste. I find that Americans is pretty wasteful sometimes."

Mr. Techno, "Well, if we aren't rich, we won't be able to help others."

I was puzzled by the statement. After a few exchange of conversation, it seems apparent, that Mr. Techno's idea is only rich can afford to waste, and only waste could help boost economy, hence helping the poor.

To me, rich isn't quantitative, it is qualitative. I would say that I am rich now, because I have a healthy body, and I could help others with a healthy body and mind. I don't need to give a lot of money to help. Things like spending some time with the patients, to me, that's a way of helping without costing money.

I don't understand how the American (I won't put plural here, because I hope it is just Mr. Techno's point of view), could relate waste to being rich. It is like having one credit card to pay off another credit card. On the surface, you look gorgeous, buying all those shiny new clothes, but in the pocket, there isn't anything. I wonder how would that glorious surface made one feel so good?

Pick up line

Went to a nearby grocery to get some emergency milk and Nutella just now. Checked out at this counter, which I am quite sure the cashier is new, and he looks like a high school kid/college freshman. Anyway, I had the following conversation with the young chap...

Cashier, "Do you have a xxx (the supermarket name)..." (asking for the supermarket reward card)
Me,"No." (used to shop there too often until I know what the cashier would normally ask.)
I saw the amount on the display, and was digging into the wallet... then I heard the cashier asked, "Do you have a phone number?"
I thought he was repeating the reward card question, and I blurt "No" instantly, without listening properly what he actually said... then I raised my head from digging into the wallet, and asked, "Pardon?"

He repeated, "Do you have a phone number?"
OK, this time I heard properly, smiled and replied, "No."

He gave me the change, and greeted "Have a nice day."
"You too." and I left.

I thought no one would be interested in a messy, plain, almost ugly girl like me. Whether or not he was just asking for fun, I sure am flattered now. :)

Jogging

I have picked up jogging not long after arriving in Kansas. Thanks to the German colleague -- he showed me the jogging path which is near the apartment complex. I totally embarrassed myself when we went out jogging the first (and also the last) time.

Since then, I tell myself, I would jog 2 times a week, after work. I managed to stick onto my plan most of the time, and thinking if I should increase to 3 times?

Well, physically there isn't much change for me, as my weight has always been rather constant since young. But mentally, jogging helps me to concentrate better. I guess that's because I don't have good stamina, so I need to really focus on my breathing and my pace.

It takes up about 2 hours each jog, because I am slow, and need to stop pretty often to catch up with my breath. I tend to give myself short targets to achieve, e.g. run from this bridge to the next bridge; or from this sign board to the cherry tree after the turn... etc. And when I manage to achieve the targets, I usually just let myself rest by walking.

I have found another reward to myself recently...

You see, spring is here, summer is around the corner, flowers are out, and in some places where sunshines are better, berries starts popping out. Most of them are blackberries. The wild ones doesn't look as plum and juicy as those you bought from the supermarkets, but it tastes much sweeter. I like to set my targets to the blackberry bushes, and stop there pluck a few and munch along.

I could see some raspberries are blooming. I guess when summer comes, those cherry trees would be all dangling with wild cherries. hahahaha... I guess may be that's why my weight couldn't get down huh?

I also saw some baby hares hopping around, they are so new, they didn't know how to respond when seeing a stranger, e.g. me, right next to them. I really wish to bring them back as a pet.