First Visit: Clyfford Still Museum
Since this was my first visit to the Clyfford Still Museum, I'm going to be writing about the museum itself and the amazing art you will find there. Still was an amazing artist, a pioneer and an extraordinary person. I think I could probably write pages and pages about him, but I would like to learn more about him first. So, for now I will write mostly about our first trip to the museum.
I have been going to the Denver Art Museum for years but I never even realized that right next door, on the west side of the DAM is an amazing museum dedicated to one of the original abstract expressionists. I guess because we usually drive from the east side and park in the parking garage just east of the DAM, I never noticed the Clyfford Still Museum which opened in 2011. Fortunately my wife found out about it while looking up information on another museum and we finally got a chance visit this one of a kind art museum.
What makes the Clyfford Still Museum so unique? There are a n number of things that set this museum aside from others.
First of all, this museum is dedicated to displaying and housing the works and artifacts from one single artist, Clyfford Still. You may find some references to other artists and how they may have been influenced by Still, but all of the works in each gallery are all created by Still. When you walk through the galleries, you will notice, there are no references or signs showing what artist created each piece because there are all works by Mr. Still.
Another thing that makes this museum a one of a kind, is that before 2011 many of these pieces had never been seen by the public. For a large period of time during his career, Still did not want his work to be sold or made available to the public in galleries. He created hundreds of pieces privately in his home and they had never been seen by the public until the museum was opened.
This museum is a true museum, not just a gallery with his work. It contains artifacts such as his tools and other art supplies. It houses all of his writing, notebooks and sketches. Still's will stipulated that his entire estate go to the museum for exhibition and study. His wife's will also provided her entire estate to the museum so it also contains items that he had given to her as personal gifts.
The museum also provides interactive time lines of Still's life and a vast amount of information on his career and his great influence on the art world. This makes the museum a great place to go, not just for viewing but also learning about art.
One of my favorite unique qualities of this museum has to do with the vast number of works the museum has. The Still estate donated about 95% of Clyfford's work to the museum which is over 3000 pieces of art. Because of the large number of paintings, the museum rotates the items in the galleries every 3 months. So you can go back in 3 months and see a completely different set of art work by this outstanding artist.I really love this feature of the museum because I can go back over and over again and see something new every time.
There are many other unique features at the museum such as the architecture of the building and the lighting in the galleries, The staff is very friendly and always open to questions. Many of Still's paintings are quite large and take up a majority of the wall they are hung on. They really can leave you with a lasting impression. If you are a young art student of any kind, I would highly recommend visiting this museum. I believe it will really open your eyes and inspire you.
In summary, this is an overall great museum that is very unique and the city of Denver is very lucky to have it. A museum dedicated to the work of one of the greats, with not only a display of art but a great learning and historical component, with a huge number of works to see which are changed out 4 times a year, and all the other features. I don't just recommend visiting this museum, I recommend visiting it multiple times so that you can get a good feel of the work from one of the original abstract expressionists, Clyfford Still.This was my first visit, and I can't wait to go back again.
For more information on the Clyfford Still Museum you can visit their website at :
https://clyffordstillmuseum.org
They can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.
I have been going to the Denver Art Museum for years but I never even realized that right next door, on the west side of the DAM is an amazing museum dedicated to one of the original abstract expressionists. I guess because we usually drive from the east side and park in the parking garage just east of the DAM, I never noticed the Clyfford Still Museum which opened in 2011. Fortunately my wife found out about it while looking up information on another museum and we finally got a chance visit this one of a kind art museum.
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| Painting by Clyffford Still, from the Clyfford Still Museum, Denver CO. |
First of all, this museum is dedicated to displaying and housing the works and artifacts from one single artist, Clyfford Still. You may find some references to other artists and how they may have been influenced by Still, but all of the works in each gallery are all created by Still. When you walk through the galleries, you will notice, there are no references or signs showing what artist created each piece because there are all works by Mr. Still.
 |
| Painting by Clyffford Still, from the Clyfford Still Museum, Denver CO. |
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| Some of Clyfford Still's art tools displayed at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, CO. |
The museum also provides interactive time lines of Still's life and a vast amount of information on his career and his great influence on the art world. This makes the museum a great place to go, not just for viewing but also learning about art.
One of my favorite unique qualities of this museum has to do with the vast number of works the museum has. The Still estate donated about 95% of Clyfford's work to the museum which is over 3000 pieces of art. Because of the large number of paintings, the museum rotates the items in the galleries every 3 months. So you can go back in 3 months and see a completely different set of art work by this outstanding artist.I really love this feature of the museum because I can go back over and over again and see something new every time.
There are many other unique features at the museum such as the architecture of the building and the lighting in the galleries, The staff is very friendly and always open to questions. Many of Still's paintings are quite large and take up a majority of the wall they are hung on. They really can leave you with a lasting impression. If you are a young art student of any kind, I would highly recommend visiting this museum. I believe it will really open your eyes and inspire you.
 |
| A Clyfford Still painting covers one entire wall at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, CO |
In summary, this is an overall great museum that is very unique and the city of Denver is very lucky to have it. A museum dedicated to the work of one of the greats, with not only a display of art but a great learning and historical component, with a huge number of works to see which are changed out 4 times a year, and all the other features. I don't just recommend visiting this museum, I recommend visiting it multiple times so that you can get a good feel of the work from one of the original abstract expressionists, Clyfford Still.This was my first visit, and I can't wait to go back again.
For more information on the Clyfford Still Museum you can visit their website at :
https://clyffordstillmuseum.org
They can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.
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