May 14

Salem

In keeping with the traditions of the trip, it was rainy day.  Thus, it was a good day for indoor art & culture.  Thus, Rose and & Dick dropped us here, a place we have enjoyed on previous trips . . .

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem is a successor to the East India Marine Society, established in 1799.  The museum holds one of the major collections of Asian art in the US.  Its total holdings include about 1.3 million pieces, as well as twenty-two historic buildings.  The Peabody Essex ranks among the top 20 art museums in the US by measures including gallery space and endowment.  Once the Advancement Campaign is complete and the newly expanded museum opens in 2019, PEM will rank in the top 10 North American art museums in terms of gallery square footage, operating budget and endowment.  The PEM has more than 840,000 works of art and culture featuring maritime art and history; American art; Asian, Oceanic, and African art; Asian export art; two large libraries with over 400,000 books, manuscripts.  (Wikipedia)

[First, see the movie . . . ]

[Then wander out into the halls again and act like tourists.]

[This looks like a place for an overview shot.]

[The Super’s photo she took for FB . . . OK, the photo was taken by her tablet!]

[Into the art exhibits, browse at your own speeds . . . ]

[The Biddies added for perspective.  Wow, what vases!]

[I circled the room and ended back with these guys again.]

[A large room for figureheads.  (Though tempted, I won’t go there.)]

[What the h*** is it?]

[While perusing these rooms, there was a statuesque Asian woman in a long black dress who was posing in various places throughout for someone who appeared to be a professional photographer.  But there were also three small children with them – a family?  Anyway, she was quite striking, but I figured it would be bad form to try to take her picture.]

One of New Zealand’s cultural success stories over the past 28 years is the spectacular World of WearableArt® or WOW®. At the core of WOW® is an international design competition that attracts hundreds of entries from all over the world. The annual Awards Show presents the finalist garments in a theatrical extravaganza that collides at the intersection of fashion and art.

[At least The Biddies seemed as bewildered as me.]

[Now the following 10 WOW photos were taken by the Super.  They may make an interesting psychological study on how different sexes view the same exhibit . . . or maybe not?]

[Really, I haven’t a clue.]

[And now back to my stuff.  This house will be “addressed” when we get to the bottom of this page.]

[A tough bareback ride.]

[The multi layers of PEM]

[And two from the Super, of me with the whole lunar in my hands!]

[Me again . . . I think I could be a fan.]

[And a final two from the Super.]

[Me again, I have no idea but it was cool.]

[Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old Chinese house, was brought to America and re-erected at the Peabody Essex Museum.  Yin Yu Tang was formerly located in the small rural village of Huang Cun, in the hills of Xiuning County in the Huizhou region of Anhui Province. Huang Cun is approximately 250 miles southwest of Shanghai.  Though the exact date of its construction has not yet been determined, it appears that the house was built by the 28th or 29th generation of the family at the turn of the 18th century. Since the present living family members are of the 34th through the 36th generation, the house was probably built 175 to 200 years ago.  (pem.org)]

[Excited, but exhausted by, our tour of the world of art, we returned to our hosts’ abode where Dick reintroduced The Biddies to the fine art of cribbage and wine.]

[Ever the gracious hostess, if somewhat camera shy, Rosie returns to the kitchen to make sure all our wants and needs are tended to.]

[Good-bye for the day from the Super’s tablet.]

It’s not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.  ~  Marilyn Monroe

Up Next:  Even more Salem.