Blog @ the Nelson-Atkins

After Holl was chosen but before construction began, some of his notes and concept drawings were displayed. I vaguely recall one drawing that included a string of word-contrast ideas-perceptions, ending with "feather-stone;" and including a sketch of the spine concept.

Is this image available online? I had thought at the time that this drawing would be most interesting to experience after construction was complete.

And in a completely if crassly mercantile comment, it would make a nice poster or t-shirt, too.

Dear Michael,

The sketches by Steven Holl are lovely. It is amazing how many of them really do convey the reality of the Bloch Building. The sketchbooks of the six final architects were on view in 1999.

To be crassly mercantilish, the sketch is available in the Museum Store in a set of notecards and also in the book "Stone and Feather."

I used to bring my children to the Nelson on a regular basis back in the '60s, and there were certain pieces of which I was very fond.

I am tutoring a young girl currently and brought her to the Nelson in March and again last Sunday, because we had been studying ancient history together so she would do well in her school studies. I wanted her to see the ancient artifacts, which, of course, were not on display in March.

I did want her to see those items I so enjoyed seeing, but, they were not available, and I'm wondering what happened to them.

I expected to see the bust of Hammurabi Sunday, but, it was nowhere to be seen among the ancient artifacts. Inasmuch as I have a photo of it which was published in a history text I own, I assume that was a very important piece.

The other items included the Caravaggio, which I learned about; but also a china chandelier which used to hang in a small "greenish" room on the entry-level floor which was filled with miniature portraits. (I saw a few of those, but not nearly as many as before, and the chandelier, which was absolutely unique in my experience, was not on display anywhere that I went in the museum. It was the chandelier I wanted her to see.) The other item was an elephant tusk that had been carved into thousands of tiny figures which were held together like lace by the uncarved part of the ivory, so it retained the original shape of the tusk. I always marveled at the workmanship of the artist who carved it.

Can you tell me where those items are?

Hi Mary-
Thank you for your continued interest in and support of the Nelson-Atkins! I'm sorry that you did not find all of the objects you were seeking, and I'll try to address your question as clearly as possible!

The Nelson-Atkins has a very large collection--33,500 objects--and many of the objects are sensitive to light and other elements. So, the Museum rotates objects displayed in galleries to both display the immense scope of art owned as well as to protect that art and give it some resting time.

The Nelson-Atkins does own a Hammurabi bust--of the Ancient Near East from the 18th century. As you noted, it is currently not on view. Unfortunately, I do not know when it will be rotated next.

The gorgeous Caravaggio is on loan for a fabulous Italian exhibition, but will return this summer.

The chandelier you described sounds like the Nelson-Atkins' 1815 Dresden, Germany, Porcelain chandelier, which is currently off view.

You're right that the number of miniatures displayed is smaller, but the miniatures are also more thematically organized as well as regularly rotated in Gallery P27.

I'm not sure which object matches your description of the tusk. Several engraved tusks are part of the African collection, but the object you describe sounds a bit like Jakob Auer's 18th century sculpture 'Fall of the Rebel Angels,' which can be viewed on the Nelson-Atkins webpage here: http://www.nelson-atkins.org/art/CollectionDatabase.cfm?id=2502&theme=Euro

Please visit again! I hope you are able to find other objects that are compelling and memorable!