The Art of Transformation
While living in Paris, I dedicated drizzly days to exploring the city’s many art museums. Beyond the world-famous Louvre, I wandered the sculpture garden at the former atelier of Auguste Renoir, searched side streets for the small museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso, and traversed the slopes of Montmartre until I found the Salvador Dali museum tucked off a main square.
My favorite was undoubtedly Musee d’Orsay, with its Impressionist collection as bright and airy as the museum’s stately central arcade. No matter my mood when I went in, I couldn’t help but smile as I stared at pieces like Claude Monet’s “La Rue Montorgueil in Paris.”
Art has a transformative quality. It transports us, whether to another time, an exotic location on the map or the remote terrain of our hearts and souls.
Below, we explore how some locals are using art to transform conversations. And, we bring you a roundup of noteworthy exhibits across the Southeast to mark on your calendar for any drizzly days yet to come.