When dear old Dad and his wife visited and announced they quote "did not need to be entertained" and wanted to see anything, they got dragged around to see the stuff I liked, however, I let them pick the movies. My Dad complained that I insist on symbolism and meaning and it gets dreadfully obtuse seeing movies with me. I am not that much of a film purist, I blame an ex who was a film student for my tastes. I blame ex-boyfriends for quite a bit on the theory that they are no longer around to defend themselves because they wisely married appropriate and well balanced women who can do useful things. I no claim to be well balanced, I do not claim to do useful things other than work. Life is too short for functionality I always say.
I was pretty excited to learn than an exhibit of George Rodrigue was coming to town thanks to the Dixon gallery. Who among us does not like the Blue Dog? Mr. Rodrigue employs a large army of hungry saber toothed lawyers who scour around for unauthorized appropriation of his images so pictures inside the exhibit were a no go. The gift shop manager informed me that there are no Blue Dog t-shirts or posters because he has decided to leave that for his children and grand children to market. I was however able to get a few pictures that were authorized because they were not direct works by him but inspired by. The Dixon also boasts a lovely garden that was a haven against the oppressive heat. I danced around dripping with sweat while Dad and Blanca fanned themselves under foliage cover on a bench to get a few choice shots of the garden. I tend to get absorbed in my surroundings.
Hugo Norton Dixon and Margaret Oates Dixon once owned the stately home and surroundings, they were not surprisingly wealthy, and well respected community philanthropists, who bequeathed a foundation that allowed their home to be a museum. The permanent collection consists mainly of impressionists, not my absolute favorite but still something to behold in the context of a gorgeous home.
Off to the garden....
The fountain was rather popular, all the visitors speculated about whether anybody else would object to a dip. It was surrounded on the corners by these rather whimsical characters.
I thought they were reminiscent of characters from a children's story and the kids were all attracted to them. One little girl has a nice little conversation with them and gave them names.
The garden itself was small, the surroundings invoked a little garden of eden atmosphere as the bushes buffeted the sound of passing traffic and a very slight breeze whispered about.
If I had any deep thoughts this would have been the moment to collect them. Instead, I simply pretended I was in another world where children talked to statues and uncluttered their imaginations with the free flow of nothing but peace and and skipping.
This stature was the center piece guardian...
The guardian had a protégé at the exit...
The ever popular Blue Dog, a non-copy write version...
Inside of the gallery lobby the Blue Dog had a friend....
The exhibit was interesting because some of Rodrigue's "Cajun" paintings were also on display, he is about more than just the Blue Dog.
During that same week we also went downtown, man, Beale Street looks different during the day...
I have already posted at diary about the Memphis Zoo, but I just loved this one of the young tiger cooling himself off. He was actually playful that day despite the heat, the other two tigers not so much. Resourceful fellow isn't he?
Every city has small treasures that often get missed or forgotten, find some near you and enjoy.