Museums - Lili on the Loose

15 05, 2017

Museum Monday: Panthère de Cartier

By Lili|May 15th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: bracelet, Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, broach, cartier, Colorado, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, diamonds, Duchess of Windsor, North America, panther, USA|0 Comments

The Denver Art Museum had an exhibit called Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century which I was lucky enough to see in its last few days. In 1914 Cartier starting using the panther in their advertising, and came out with their first panther inspired pieces. Then in 1917, Louis Cartier gave friend Jeanne Toussaint a panther cigarette case. This was the first piece to actually depict a full panther, not just parts as inspiration. In 1918, Toussaint joined the company as a designer and frequently came up with panther-inspired designs, earning the nickname “La Panthére" partly for her bold designs and strong personality. She eventually became

1 05, 2017

Museum Monday: These Are the Droids You’re Looking For

By Lili|May 1st, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, costume, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, Droids, North America, Ralph McQuarrie, Robots, Star Wars, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, USA|0 Comments

While the Star Wars: Power of Costume exhibit has now left Denver, I did want to share some of the great Droids that were shown in celebration of May the 4th Be With You later this week. Droids are a critical piece that helped give the feel of this futuristic society. They are the unsung heroes and comedy relief. And I'm very glad they were showcased at the exhibit. I have one of Ralph McQuarrie's original art books for the first Star Wars, so it was amazing seeing these drawings in person. You can see the influence of the old movie

17 04, 2017

Museum Monday: Jade Museum of Costa Rica

By Lili|April 17th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2012, Central America, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Adventure 2012, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Jade, Jade Museum, Museo de Jade, Parque Morazán, San Jose|0 Comments

The old Jade Museum in San Jose, Costa Rica was dark, quite, and cramped. (It's since moved to a large 75,000 square foot museum in 2014.) I had heard from other travelers it was hard to get in as its hours would close randomly and at the whim of the guards. When I arrived, I was informed it was closed. After some back and forth they said that the staff was at lunch. I smiled and asked the guard if I could sit on the stool in front of his desk and wait. (I had nowhere else to go.) He

3 04, 2017

Museum Monday: Queen Amidala at the Denver Art Museum

By Lili|April 3rd, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, costume, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, North America, Padmé, Padmé Amidala, Queen Amidala, Star Wars, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, USA|0 Comments

The original costumes from Star Wars are iconic. And while the prequals have (many) faults, the costumes aren't one of those. Queen Amidala played by Natalie Portman had numerous detailed costumes, here are just a few displayed at the Denver Art Museum as part of Star Wars: The Power of Costume. One of the first costume's you'll see is the red Queen Amidala costume. The bottom bulbs used to light up and the entire platform moved. It's hard to tell, but Natalie Portman must be pretty small. This is another famous costume, with a very large and heavy headdress. Also on display are the

20 03, 2017

Museum Monday: Star Wars at the Denver Art Museum

By Lili|March 20th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, costume, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, North America, Star Wars, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, USA|0 Comments

At first it might seem strange, an art museum hosting a Star Wars exhibit. But Denver Art Museum curated the exhibit to focus on the creative process, art, and detail of more than 70 costumes and other props from this iconic franchise. DAM wants to embrace pop culture and show that it too can be fine art. Here are just a handful of my favorites! Duel of Fates! They did a good job of showing the costume evolution and details of various Jedi/Sith characters, including details of their lightsabers (and the ability to turn them on and off!) Luke lurks

6 03, 2017

Museum Monday: Colossus of Ramses II

By Lili|March 6th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, British Museum, Colossus of Ramses II, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Great Temple of Ptah, Hieroglyphics, Horace Smith, Memphis, Middle East, mit rahina museum, Ozymandias, Percy Shelly, poem, Rameses II|0 Comments

I had the opportunity to see the Colossus of Ramses II at the Memphis museum a few years ago. Tourism was way down in Egypt, and I was the only person in the viewing room (and one of 3 people in the entire open air museum). Memphis is not on most people's tourist track since its out of the way. But I really enjoyed looking at the details of this statue, thinking how it was carved out of a single block of red granite. If you really like statues or ancient Egyptian history, than I really recommend a visit. Seeing the

20 02, 2017

Museum Monday: Glory of Venice at Denver Art Museum

By Lili|February 20th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, Glory of Venice, Italy, North America, USA, Venice|0 Comments

My memories of the Denver Art Museum growing up were going on the chaotic free days. Trying to peer over the rabble of families or fight to one of the children activities areas but failing due to the mass of people. As I got older, I tended to only go to that museum for big events, things like the Tutankhamen exhibit in 2010, Van Gogh in 2013, Cartier in 2015, or Star Wars in 2016. But I decided for Star Wars I'd become a member and try to go more often. It is down the street (sort of) from my office,

6 02, 2017

Museum Monday: Juno Sospita at the Vatican

By Lili|February 6th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2005, All in the family 2005/2006, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, Europe, Italy, Juno, Juno Sospita, Middle East, Museo Pio-Clementino, Rome, statue, The Vatican, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vatican City, Vatican Museum|0 Comments

Juno "The Saviour" is a goddess that protected ancient Romans during the perilous winter month of February. She wears a goat's skin and is armed with spear and shield. This 2nd-century statue is viewable at the Vatican's Museo Pio-Clementino. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

23 01, 2017

Museum Monday: Gilded Lady

By Lili|January 23rd, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: ancient egypt, Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, Egypt, exhibit, gilded lady, Mummies, Mummies New Secrets from the Tombs, museum, North America, USA|0 Comments

© 2015 The Field Museum photo by John Weinstein This mummy is known as the Gilded Lady, and is part of the Field Museum's collection. However, it hasn't been on display since the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, until now! She is on display as part of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science's new exhibit Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs. You can see her headdress which isn't made from the linen of the rest of her mummy but instead glued layers of papyrus (this type of design is called cartonage) to mimic her hair. Her gilded face mask has made her famous and might be

9 01, 2017

Museum Monday: Secrets from the Tombs at DMNS

By Lili|January 9th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: ancient egypt, canopic jars, Colorado, crocodile, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, Egypt, exhibit, Kom Ombo, Mummies, Mummies New Secrets from the Tombs, museum, North America, sarcophagus, USA|0 Comments

A year ago to the day that I rode a camel in front of the Great Pyramids, I found myself once again face to face with Ancient Egyptians. This time it was in the familiar confines of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science at their new exhibit Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs. I was attending a special Member's Only dinner, and I was very excited as they were serving Koshari, my favorite Egyptian dish! After a delicious dinner, I headed up to the new exhibit. Because DMNS is also exhibiting their Extreme Mammals exhibit in the same upstairs area, Mummies