Come in out of the cold - feast your eyes at local museums

Erin Marsh Thinking of 'U'

Tis the season - the post-holiday, new-semester, let's-gut-it-through-the-remainder-of-this-dreadfully-dreary-winter season, that is. At the risk of sounding Eeyoreishly morose, January in Ann Arbor is not the same pretty thing December was. The doorways and porches that twinkled with a multitude of tiny lights and other decorations have fallen dark; local businesses no longer feverishly hawk their wares to the gift-giving, guilt-motivated masses. We're left feeling a little despondent, and the prospect of a new semester may relieve or intensify those feelings, depending on our particular philosophies.

So 'tis the season to seek out color and warmth, in any venue we find pleasing. For some, that will be the bleachers of Yost Ice Arena, cheering the hockey team on to another victory. For others, it will be the inviting interiors of Ann Arbor's notorious watering holes. For yet others, the tables of a local cafe, where the coffee is hot and the conversation warm.

For some - and for me - the chilly, gray months between New Year's and sometime in April are best spent seeking color in art museums. It doesn't really matter what medium or period - it's more the sheen of polished parquet floors, gilt frames and marble pedestals that combine to gently warm the soul and soothe chilly spirits.

Those who love houses of art recently have found their cup enticingly full. Special exhibitions like Philadelphia's Cézanne, Chicago's Monet and the Met's Cartier, to name a few, were some of the hottest tickets around. Lovers of art and architecture have jumped for joy over Los Angeles' new mountaintop beauty, The J. Paul Getty Museum and Research Institute. The museum, which opened just a few weeks ago, is part of a mass movement to reintroduce the fine arts to urban communities and open doors to audiences who may not otherwise enjoy easy access to museums. In an age of restrictive federal budgeting - which is particularly harmful for groups like the National Endowment for the Arts - efforts such as those put forth by the Getty Trust are essential to help revive tired urban landscapes and bring back the most important component of art: an appreciative audience.

The Getty has scored a home run with its $1 billion effort. The sprawling complex has the feeling of old Hollywood representations of heaven. Its seven buildings are constructed of white Italian travertine, steel and glass, featuring large panel windows that reflect the sky and clouds. Cool fountains trickle along shallow, stone-bottomed pools. Interiors flow easily into breezy courtyards. It is a stunning place to enjoy art.

But students in need of a little food for the eyes and soul need not jump the next plane for the West Coast; the Midwest - and even our own Ann Arbor - offer tempting options for an afternoon of wandering and drinking in some of the delicacies that the art world has to offer. The Toledo Museum of Art, for example, recently featured a special exhibition of treasures from the Hermitage. Its proximity to Ann Arbor - only about a 45-minute car trip - lends itself to easy Saturday afternoon excursions. Perhaps most important to students, though, is the fact that general admission to the museum is free.

The magnificent Art Institute of Chicago currently features an exhibition of Renoir portraits; a small but lovely show. Students lucky enough to land tickets should take advantage of the opportunity to check out the Institute and one of the best collections in the country. Chicago is a feasible and fun road trip - only about five hours, minus rush-hour traffic.

Best of all, students who can manage only to roll out of bed and trot down the block still have an amazing opportunity to visit a world-class collection. The University Museum of Art houses an eclectic and expansive collection, including exquisite permanent collections of Asian masterpieces. Also included in the museum's holdings are more than 150 etchings and lithographs by American expatriate master James McNeill Whistler. This month, the museum welcomes the long-awaited exhibition "Monet at Vétheuil," which will feature 12 of the Impressionist's works together for the first time since leaving the artist's studio. This incredible show - the first of its kind at the museum - will begin Jan. 25 and run through March 15. Students should not miss this stellar opportunity - particularly because they, unlike the public, will enjoy free admission.

To find a warm and spirit-lifting milieu this winter, seek out one of the area's priceless collections of paintings, artifacts and sculpture. Those familiar with the art world will appreciate the breadth of opportunity available right outside our door - and those unfamiliar may be pleasantly surprised.

- Erin Marsh can be reached over e-mail at eemarsh@umich.edu

01-12-98