deYoung and deNot-So-Young

We visited San Francisco to see a special exhibition of the works from the Musee d'Orsay, including the French Impressionists. Although photographing the special exhibition was strictly forbidden, cameras were allowed in the general collection.

The Artist Formally Known as Niece and her grandmother speculate about pottery relief and glazing techniques:

Mary Cassatt's mother feels seriously overdressed:

Sister admires the glass-blown raindrops that are prettier than they appear in this photograph:

Giant bowl of glass fruit reminds us that it is time for lunch.

In the cafe.

With Vincent.

Sister loves big, weird yard art (she said so), but she is of the opinion that the giant safety pin below would be more perfect if it had a "ducky head" instead of a utilitarian blue head.

You see, back in ancient times, before velcro or sticky tape, we swaddled baby's most delicate hindquarters with cloth and fastened the diaper with instruments of torture. "Ducky heads" made the practice seem a little less barbaric.

Super-Sizing the thing does not increase one's appreciation of its beauty, in my opinion. The humble safety pin, in its usual size and place is quite lovely, ducky head or no.

These are the important discussions and ideas that rise to the surface when we stroll through a major metropolitan museum contemplating great art.