Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Currier Museum of Art is a gem. It's a little off the beaten path for city folk, but well worth an excursion into the Granite State from the big city.
While the museum is rather small, the collection is select, and contains a rather fine assortment of modern and contemporary art.
Below (left) is a minimalist work by Joseph Albers....
There is also a good selection of old European paintings, mostly portraits and still life, including some nice Dutch artwork. In one climated-controled room, you can find a beautiful Belgian medieval tapestry. It's in the permanent collection.
I was not permitted to take photographs of the special exhibit titled Turning Wood into Art but is was an amazing showcase of craftsmanship. An antisan named Bob Stocksdale has a number of interesting pieces that stand out in the show. He utilized the lathe in his work. It is amazing how wood can be carved to as thin as paper. The material itself is quite beautiful and pleasant to look at. The artists allow their material to reveal the lines and wrinkles of nature, and speak for itself. All of these wood sculptures were on loan from the Mint Museum of Craft + Design in Charlotte, North Carolina.
If you visit the Currier, plan ahead and call to make a reservation for an extra tour of the The Zimmerman House (located at 223 Heather Street,Manchester, NH).
The Zimmerman House is the only residence in New England designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that is open to the public. It was commissioned by Isadore and Lucille Zimmerman in 1950. A chair from the house is on display in the Currier Museum if you don't make it to the house itself.
Links:
www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Zimmerman_House.html
