I think Leap Day is the perfect opportunity to do something out of the norm. Today I participated in our Security Appreciation Day at the Museum. For one hour, I was one of many who volunteered so that our security officers could enjoy a special luncheon.
My post was in one of the contemporary galleries in the Bloch Building. It is one of my favorite galleries for both the art and the architecture (see picture). These two adjoining galleries contain works of art by Radcliffe Baily, Kerry James Marshall and Deborah Butterfield, just to name a few.
Not that I was eavesdropping, but it was quite interesting to listen to the visitors as they spent time in the galleries. One man claimed he used to be "best friends" with Caroll Dunham. Another group of women were discussing the architecture and comparing it favorably with the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and the De Young Museum in San Francisco.
A couple of group tours passed through. One of the docents spoke about Art Part by Elizabeth Murray. She explained that when Murray created this painting, she didn't have a studio space so she painted on multiple, smaller canvases. The docent also shared that Murray had been going through a divorce at the time and that she felt this work of art was symbolic for putting the pieces of her life back together.
What might have been the most interesting part was speaking with the Museum officer who was posted in the gallery next to me. He is originally from Armenia and has been at the Museum for 12 years. We talked a lot about the current presidential campaigns and how they are very different from European countries.
The hour went by surprisingly fast. My only regret is that I definitely wore the wrong shoes. When I was done, I took the first opportunity to put my feet up and enjoy a bowl of my favorite soup in the Museum Cafe.