Category Archives: Museums

Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library opened in a donated storefront in the author’s hometown of Indianapolis in 2011. Over the years, the institution’s success as a tourist attraction and literary pilgrimage site made it obvious that the museum couldn’t … Continue reading →

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Art Floats

Posted on August 20, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Europe’s first floating art museum has finally launched on the River Seine in the heart of Paris. The much anticipated attraction is  conveniently situated near the Pont des Invalides. Focusing on contemporary urban art, Fluctuart offers three levels with a permanent collection, … Continue reading →

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Peepshow

Posted on August 10, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Icelanders have learned to cope with the scourge of overtourism with humor and aplomb. In the far northwestern town of Ísafjörður resident and museum curator Björg Elínar Sveinbjörnsdóttir recently capitalized on the nosiness of tourists who constantly peeked into the … Continue reading →

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Reading Cities

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

When I am planning my travels, I always spend time reading about the destinations. Those of you who follow TBTP know that I am devoted to old school travel guidebooks, but I also do my due diligence by reading both … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books, Europe, Maps, Museums, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Watching Operation Night Watch

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Rembrandt’s famous painting The Night Watch at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum is not my favorite work from the master, or my favorite painting in the great institution. However, every time that I’m in Amsterdam somehow I find myself in front of the iconic work … Continue reading →

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Literary Houses

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

I have been a huge fan of British artist Su Blackwell’s  work for many years. Many of her projects involve recycling books into works of art. I recently stumbled across a wonderful older project of her’s called “Literary Houses.” Blackwell … Continue reading →

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Fear and Loathing

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Most thoughtful folks here in North America are approaching the upcoming national election debacle with some degree of fear and loathing. So, it’s quite timely that the Speed Museum in Louisville, Kentucky is launching a special exhibition on their finest … Continue reading →

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La Sagesse

Posted on June 9, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

La Sagesse (1940-1941). Tamara de Lempicka (Polish, 1898-1980). Oil on panel. La Sagesse, or “Wisdom,” takes its inspiration from the Old Masters, all the while exuding Lempicka’s signature style. The layout and type of figure in this painting bring to … Continue reading →

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Poster House

Posted on June 1, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

New Yorkers and tourists too can now visit a new museum entirely dedicated to the art of posters.The Poster House, located in Manhattan’s Chelsea district and which features an identity designed by Pentagram’s Paula Scher, will be the first museum of its … Continue reading →

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We Sing The Body Electric

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Today is Walt Whitman’s 200th birthday . This offers an important opportunity to reassess his tremendous contributions to American life and literature at a time when our country is so polarized. The University of Pennsylvania Libraries and the Pew Center … Continue reading →

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