Cleveland Museum of Art

Today, I had the opportunity to visit the Cleveland Museum of Art.  Having frequented the Toledo Museum of Art for years, I wasn't sure how the CMA would compare.  Ultimately, there is no comparison.

Now this is not to dismiss the TMA in any way.  It is a very good museum and I will certainly write a piece about that institution shortly.  But the CMA absolutely blew me away! First off, free admission is always a plus for me.  Yes, parking is a bit expensive ($6/2 hours....$1/half hour after), and this caused me to rush through the galleries to keep my costs down, and the cost to visit the featured Pompeii exhibit also precluded me from viewing it, but that being said, the part of the CMA I was able to view in my 2 hours was absolutely amazing.


When you first enter the CMA, to your left is what is known as "Gallery One."  Gallery One is a multi-media enriched artistic experiences.  Various pieces from time and place are on display with interactive elements right at your touch.  That's right! Finally an art museum that lets you touch! Okay, no..of course you can't touch the works of art.  But instead, they have ipads and apps that let you explore the paintings up close in addition to monitors in front of works where you can zoom in and out of the paintings, learn about the geography of the place it is about, and read more about the artist and their work.



 There's an entire touch-wall where you can call up each piece within the museum's collection and see where it is located within the CMA.  And, there's a room where you can create your own lasting art works.  This interactive component is one that many museums should consider as it really makes the works family-friendly.  Read more about "Gallery One" here.  

Nearby, the gift shop and a special Picasso exhibit are also easily accessible before you enter the breathtaking Atrium.  To the right of the Atrium is the CMA's restaurant and eating area. To the left is the "special exhibits hall."  Heading straightforward, you reach the two-floors of the museum's main collection.

 On the first floor of the "1916 Building," you will find prints and drawings, ancient world, Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, tapestries, textiles, Islamic, Egyptian, and African art.  The floor plan was a little confusing without a map, so be sure to pick up a free visitor's guide at the information desk! Personally, I was just amazed with the diversity of the collection.  So many areas of the world were represented so tastefully and respectfully.  Again, as much as I love the Toledo Museum of Art, it really doesn't have quite the same cultural depth that the CMA brings.  I was so excited to see Islamic art in particular.  It is so rare to see much Islamic art in museums that do not specialize in that region, so to see Iran, Iraq, Syria, and many other places of the Middle East represented pleased me greatly.



Upstairs, the museum continues to impress.  And don't worry, the museum is very handicapped accessible! But, once again, without a map, you will miss a lot! I wound up missing some of the works I most wanted to see because we walked in circles in the South Galleries, never finding our way to the East Galleries.  This being said, the South Galleries were still very impressive.  They included neoclassical, Rococo, British, early-American, Baroque and Dutch works.  Also, a room was dedicated to the astounding beauty of Tiffany glass, and a room that certainly surprised me was the Armor Court.  This huge room featured every type of chain mail, suit of armor, and sword you could imagine!

I was just sad at missing the East Gallery since it contains Impressionistic, Modern, and Contemporary art.  But, over the next year, two more galleries are opening which will include more Asian and Native American art, so I guess I'll just have to plan to return soon!

For more information, visit the CMA website at: http://www.clevelandart.org/