Amarillo Museum of Art & Starbucks Host Third Thursday

I discovered the Third Thursday of the month event at our local museum of Art by accident, in a travel guide for Amarillo. My husband & I are new here still, so we have been little by little searching out the scene, as it were, looking for cheap, fun things to do.
I love museums--usually enjoying the varied types of art, & sculptures--& although I may not appreciate all forms of art on the same levels as their creators, I have great respect for creativity & what it produces.

The Amarillo Museum of Art is located with Amarillo College, making it easy to find. We took a bus there, on the 17th, to see what this free event was all about. My husband is a trooper, as he went along with me, not being interested in the type of art being showcased, or the live music being offered. But that's what love is, right?!

The event is hosted by Starbucks coffee, & runs from around 6-9pm. Every month it is a different theme, & every month the museum offers new gallery showcases (as well as the permanent ones), live music, refreshments, & a hands-on art lab themed around that month's art style.
This month the theme was "Abstract Expressionist". Which is neither my husband's nor my own cup of tea. But I was excited because of the opportunity to see the art, & the museum as a whole, & hear the live music!
On-line the website says you may take flash-less photos, but inside that night I was told no (by both the guard & a clear sign at the entrance), so I could only chart my journey with my pen & notepad--I must've looked like a sleuth combing a crime scene, running around with my little pad & pen!

We arrived a bit early, entering the museum on the 2nd floor. We were greeted by a kind woman who explained what was going to be taking place, & showed us where to sign in.

There was a film entitled "Painters Painting: The New York Art Scene 1940-70" being shown at both 7pm & 8pm. We didn't get to watch it because A. it looked slightly boring, & there was too much to see, & B. We got distracted by the hands-on project.

There was a table set up on the first floor, where a bunch of home-made cookies & free Starbucks coffee was offered throughout the night, as well as lemonade. Considering how much a cup of Starbucks coffee costs-it is a generous offer! There was also a coffee tasting by Starbucks Coffee company at 7:30--which we missed, so I am not sure exactly what that entails (I will find out next time).

Ongoing throughout the night, along with the refreshments, was a live band--The Jim Laughlin Quartet, which played in the center of the room, & which could be heard clearly all the way up to the third floor, due to the open space & balconies. I enjoyed the live music, as they were very talented, & played a variety of jazz tunes--from versions of show-tunes, to some Latin-sounding jazz. It was a lovely background to everything. There were chairs set up in a semi-circle-as well as several tables with chairs-for the jazz enthusiasts, & many people seemed to spend the whole night just in front of the soothing music.

My favorite part of my Third Thursday experience, & what I am sure is the secret reason why I went, was the hands-on project, in the Art Lab on the first floor. It was supposed to be an Abstract Expressionist painting project, & was open all evening. People could go in, & pick a station & sit, & there were boxes of (what I believe are) 12"x12" boards, & assorted colored tissue paper, & paper plates with glue & tempura paint, all around the tables, which were set around half of the room, facing the instructors, who were always on hand to help you & get you started, & who had painted a couple of starters to show you what the main idea was. However, the good thing was they didn't force you to follow the project header--which was to paint an Abstract portrait.
The project was fun--we got to cover our boards with brown art paper, & then glue various layers & colors of tissue paper on them, & we were supposed to then paint over the colored tissue paper an abstract of ourselves. People of all ages--some serious artists, some with their children, some just there to learn to use a new art technique--like myself.

As for the art itself...The museum had on loan from a local Church, St. Mary's--3 giant colorful quilts depicting Mary, the Mother of Christ, Jesus Himself, & a middle one that incorporated several local priests, & lore, etc. They reached from behind the jazz band all the way up to the second floor, & were very vibrant. I am not sure whether they went with the theme or not, but being a devout Catholic, I appreciated them.

The 2nd floor, where we entered, had a gallery displaying a collection of heliogravure/photogravure type art by Georges Rouault entitled "Miserere et Guerre", meaning "have mercy & war", depicting darkly etched (charcoal, I believe) paintings of various scenes of Christ's life, of the poor & destitute, as well as odd looking clowns. I didn't care for these dark abstracts, but they took a lot of work.

The giant Abstract Expressionism paintings of Grace Hartigan, were also on display. They were mostly oil on linen. They were a remarkable contrast to Georges, being large & colorful & brighter scenes of literature as opposed to poverty & oppression. I liked her painting "Titania", from a character in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

There was also a collection of old black & white photos from the 40's era, by Martin Schreiber, entitled "The Last of a Breed-Working Cowboys", that were definitely Texas themed, showing old cowhands & ranchers doing what they do best.

The 3rd floor of the museum houses their permanent collection of various pieces from India, etc., ranging from 12th century B.C., through about 300-500A.D. Mostly carvings of sandstone donated by various individuals, they are remarkable to behold. A door fragment from India (c. 10th/11th century), was a personal favorite--the carvings & detail were lovely to behold. As was a headless Buddha statue (c. 2nd century), made of mottled red sandstone-the color was lovely. All in all, if you enjoy the ancient treasures museums usually offer, you would enjoy seeing this collection.

Down on the 1st floor the displays of Abstract Expressionism art varied from painted wood to the regular oil on canvas, but there was something for everyone-even those of us who aren't crazy about the abstract movement.

I really liked several, including Mack Sterwart's "Flight For Motion" (oil/canvas), which was a multi squared painting of various whites, oranges, & bright yellows; Hyde Solomon's "Mountain Haze" (oil/canvas), which was a lovely mix of blues/greens/purples that really did remind me of what it was supposed to be; Warren Davis' "Untitled" (oil/canvas)--this one reminded me immediately of Goldenrod-as though someone had taken the flower & crushed it all over the canvas; Nelda Sheets' "Iris" (oil/board)--was an amazing painting that standing right in front of, looked a lot more like an abstract dripping of paint, but the farther back you stepped, the more you could see was a lovely flower she'd painted with purples & blues & whites & greens;
Needless to say, the colors & styles both were varied & exceptional.

All in all, the experience of the Third Thursday was wonderful, & fun, & insightful all at once. I really am looking forward to August's Third Thursday, & encourage anyone visiting the Amarillo area to check out the museum--especially if you're there on the 3rd Thursday--there is something for everyone!