Happy Place

This week I am home in Atlanta. It's a silly thought that I am "on vacation" in my hometown. I came home last weekend to celebrate Miguel's birthday/Father's Day and am staying till next weekend for a wedding. More on all that later. For right now, I want to write about today! 

Today my mom and I went to the High Museum of Art. When I was little my mom took me to see an Impressionist Exhibit at the High and that trip is what got me hooked on my love of Art and its history. All during my childhood and early adulthood, my mom and I would make special trips to the High to see different exhibits. It has always been "our thing". One of the things I hate most about living so far away is missing out on seeing so many showings and the opportunity to build more memories with my mom! So this week we made it a special mission to go to the High since I'm in town!

I felt a little silly taking pictures like a tourist, but I couldn't help myself! Plus, after living in a different city for two years, I appreciate Atlanta and it has become beautiful to me in new ways. Even just driving down Peachtree Street is exciting for me!

I think Atlanta is a pretty city. I love all the different architecture in this view!

To avoid a college field trip group, my mom and I ducked into the gift shop first. But with all the neat things in there, in their own little display cases, it was sorta like it was part of the museum anyways. ;)

The first exhibit we saw was of Hale Woodruff and his murals (the museum doesn't allow photography in the special exhibits - bummer). I was surprised just how much I enjoyed his work! His pallet is so bright and I have never seen an artist's work that has captured movement so well. I really can't put into words what I mean by that. I guess the closest my mom and I came to describing what it was like is by comparing it to what we pictured the painting in C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian would have looked like right before it became real and swallowed the children up into Narnia.

We also enjoyed two photography exhibits. One was a modern day focus on the South and the other was a series of photography of New York City. The NYC photography was really so interesting! The photographs were mainly taken during the early/mid 20th century. I just found it fascinating.

After we finished touring the special exhibits we had only about half an hour left on our parking meter so we quickly toured some of the museum's permanent collection.

One of my favorite things about the High is the old lobby space. It is about four tall stories high and has a winding ramp all the way to the top.

Isn't that pretty? I love all the natural light! Here I am standing in the middle of the lobby, which is a bit of an awkward photo, but it gives you good perspective on the size. 

Mom and I used this moment to snap a picture... isn't my mom beautiful?! 

On the way out I enjoyed taking some pictures of the High's sculpture installations. They're so much fun and bright and quirky! Plus, it doesn't hurt that today we had such lovely weather. 

Before they expanded the High there was a board were everyone stuck their admission stickers on when they were leaving. When my mom and I walked by this sign on our way back to the car I was so excited to find that the tradition lives on today!

I am so thankful that I got to spend the afternoon with my mom doing something that we both love to do! The exhibits are really great right now and would encourage anyone in Atlanta to go check them out! I can't believe today is already Wednesday! Boo! Where is the week going?! Enough blogging for now... time is going too fast and I want to take advantage of being at home!