High Museum of Art, Atlanta

I Ubered over to the the High museum in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 21st.  They have a varied collection of art, mostly modern and contemporary.  One of the special exhibits was the Coca Cola Bottle which is 100 years old.   Since I have heard that things go better with Coke, I started there and roamed over three buildings connected by enclosed bridges and found many items to appreciate:

Here are my photos of what I liked:

View of the entrance to the High Museum with an arrangement of spinners to enjoy.  The Coca Cola exhibit is in the building strait ahead.

"House III," 1997 (fabricated 2002) by Roy Lichtenstein, American, 1923-1997.  The large sculpture is located in front of one of he High buildings.

The entrance to "The Coca-Coal Bottle An American Icon At 100" exhibit.

"This exhibition brings together work by renowned artists, designers, and photographers, showcasing the Coca-Cola bottle's outstanding impact on twentieth and twenty-first-century visual culture.

Over 500 3D-printed bottles hang from the ceiling created by the team at Conran and Partners using 3D printing technology to create a deconstructed, ribon-shaped interpretation of the bottle.

In the past Coco-Cola has collaborated with artists and designers to promote their product including N.C. Wyeth andNorman Rockwell.  Above are creations of contemporary artists.

"Three Coke Bottles," 1962 by Andy Warhol, American, 1928-1987, silkscreen, ink and graphite on linen.

"Coca-Cola (2), 1961 by Andy Warhol, casein and crayon on linen.

"Ike and Tina Turner," 1964 by Dennis Hopper, American, 1936-2010, gelatin silver print.

"Sprawl! Drawing Outside the Lines" is an exhibit of drawings by over 70 artists from both inside and outside the Atlanta perimeter. 

"Sitting Room," 2010 by Shara Hughes, American, born Atlanta, GA, 1981, mixed-media on paper.

"Yellow Vase," 1991 by Roy Lichtenstein, lithograph, woodcut and screen print.

"Anvil (no belt)," 1981 case in bronze, 1982 by Barry Flanagan, Welsh, born 1941

"Untitled (#3-85)," 1985 by Deborah Butterfield, American born, 1949, burned and crushed steel and barbed wire.  The artist's series of horse sculptures developed into a meditation on the human condition, showing not perfect specimens but instead those with a universal commonness.

"Abstract Painting (849-2)," by Gerhard Richter, German, born 1932.

"Dragon (Drache)," 2001 by Anselm Kiefer, German, born 1945, oil emulsion on lead and canvas. 

"My Parents' Farm," 1980 by Mattie Lou O'Kelley, American 1908-1997

"Yard Sale," 1979 by Mattie Lou O'Kelley, oil on canvas. 

"Horse," 2009 by Mr. Imagination (Gregory Warmack), American, 1948-2012, mixed media.

On the wall behind the sculpture is "Blocks and Strips Medallion Quilt," 2003 by Louisiana Bendolph, American, born 1960, quilted cotton and polyester fabric.

"Profile/Part II, The Thirties:  Artist with Painting and Model," 1981 by Romare Bearden, American, 1911-1988, collage on fiberboard.

"#73," 1952 by Mark Rothko, American 1903-1070, oil on canvas.

"Untitled," 1946 by Mark Rothko, American 1903-1970, oil on canvas.

"Strike," 1948 by Berta Margoulies, American, born Poland, 1907-1996, bronze.

"Landscape with Church Spire," 1930 by Jan Matulka, American, 1890-1972, oil on canvas.

"Woman at Piano," 1926 by Thomas Hart Benton, American, 1889-1975, oil on paper.

"The Old Bridge Over Hook Pond, East Hampton, Long Island," 1907 by Thomas Moran, American, born England, 1837-1926, oil on canvas.

"The Passing Storm," 1892 by George Inness, American, 1825-1894, oil on canvas.

"Portrait of Anne," 1915 by George Bellows, American, 1882-1925, oil on canvas.

"Houses of Parliament in the Fog," 1903 by Claude Monet, French, 1840-1926.

"Autumn on the Seine, Argenteuil, 1873 by Claude Monet, oil on canvas.

"Road to Marly," 1870 by Camille Pissarro, French, 1830-1903, oil on canvas.

"Snowscape with Cows at Montfoucault," 1874 by Camille Pissarro, oil on canvas.

"Still-Life with Apples," 1890 by Piere Auguste Renoir, French, 1841-1919, oil on canvas.

"

Bradamante at Merlin's Tomb," 1820 by Alexandre-Evariste Fragonard, French 1780-1850 oil on canvas.

"The Breakfast," 1922 by Pierre Bonnard, French, 1867-1947

Atlanta, Georgia and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

While visiting friends in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to Uber over to the Martin Luther King National Historic Site on "Sweet" Auburn Avenue near downtown Atlanta.  The Site includes the National Park Service Visitor Center with exhibits from King's life including the simple horse drawn wooden wagon that carried his body in a casket to his funeral and burial.  It also has movies on his life.  I signed up for a guided tour of the King home where MLK was born and saw the restored homes on Auburn Avenue built in the 1890's.  These upper middle class and working family homes became the center for the affluent African Americans from 1909 when Martin's grand parents moved there.  It has been restored to the time of MLK's childhood in the 1930's and 40's.

The original Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin was co-pastor with his father has also been restored.  A new, large, modern new sanctuary and community center has been built across the street adjacent to the Visitor's Center.  Finally The King Center houses the Freedom Hall, Dr. and Mrs. King's Tomb and Eternal Flame.  It also has a gift store.

The visiting was moving and inspirational...setting in the pew of the old church where MLK and his father preached and where his funeral was held...re-hearing the "I have a Dream" speech and the "Mountain Top" speech given the night before he was killed, was very moving.  I remember the night of April 4th 1968 seeing the announcement of his killing on T.V. while I was living in New Orleans. I was fortunate to see Dr. King give a moving speech to 15,000 Luther League-rs at the Miami Beach Conference Center in 1960.  To see and hear his speeches again reminded me that he was gifted orator and leader who came forward when our country needed him.  He helped to inspired changes that we needed and still need in race relationships.

Here are a few photos of my visit:

One of the buildings of the King Center with posters referring to the Freedom March to Washington D.C. and the "I have a Dream" speech in 1963.

Another view of the building.

A view of the MLK National Historic Site building.

"I Have A Dream."

The Ebenezer Baptist Church

"Behold," 1990 by Patrick Morelli.  The sculpture reflects the ancient African ritual of lifting a newborn child to the heavens and reciting these words:  "Behold the only thing greater than yourself." The sculpture commemorates the heroic principles that guided the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Inside the Church

The new Ebenezer Baptist Church across the street.

The Community Center next to the new church.

"The Mahatma," Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 1869-1948, by Kam Sutar of New Delhi, India.
Donated by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations, India.  Dedicated on January 24, 1998 by Honorable Andrew J. Young, civil rights leader, ambassador to the United Nations, Mayor of Atlanta.  Dr. King met with Gandhi and studied with him to learn about the principles of non violent protests.

Civil Rights Walk of Fame.

Historic Fire Station No. 6

Historic Residential Area, "Shot Gun" Houses.

Historic Residential Area on "Sweet Auburn Avenue." 

"King Birth Home." January 15th 1929.

"The Eternal Flame serves as a reminder of the King's undying commitment to their beloved community." 

The reflecting pool surrounds the tombs of Dr. and Mrs. Martin Luther King Jr..

I then Ubered over to the Civil Right Museum near the Coke Museum and the Aquarium.  This relatively new museum takes the visitor through the civil rights movement in the U.S. such as the the Jim Crow Laws, and the leadership from the Black community to seek freedom and justice in this country.  The bus boycott and the lunch room sit-ins were covered well as was the voters rights as recently scene in the movie "Selma."

The museum also covers the struggles for civil rights through out the world including China, Russia, Africa, and the dictators that led the movements that deprived people of their rights such as Hitler, Idi Amin, Pinochet, Stalin and others. Below are photos taken outside the museum and one photo of the memorial to the four girls killed in a bombing of the congregation of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama on September 16, 1963:  Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, all age 14, and eleven-year-old Cynthia Wesley.  Addie's sister Susan survuved, but was permanently blinded.