MATISSE: LIFE IN COLOR

Matisse: Life in color

San Antonio Museum of Art

This weekend I finally got a chance to go to the Matisse: life in color, exhibit at the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA), which is showing until September 7th.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Matisse, since I was younger, I love his use of color and how all of his work seems to have amazing movement. “life in color” is very well put on, it follows Matisse’s work from his early years all the way to some pieces of his later ones, including the Nice period. SAMA has been very smart on setting up this particular exhibit, the tickets are sold by time stamps, allowing no more than 80 people per thirty minutes, so you really get to enjoy the work without getting tackled to the ground by the group of tourists behind you.

My only negative note would have to be that when we got our tickets we were never told that the rest of the Matisse exhibit “The art books of Henri Matisse” was located at the special exhibitions gallery on the third floor of the E.H.C East Tower, while the main exhibit is in the Cowden Gallery. So if it hadn’t been because we decided to make the whole day a museum day, and go through the entire place we would have never found it, which would have been a shame since his books are the ones that contain the patterns, shapes, techniques and colors he used through his career (its also on through September 7th)

Oh well but to end on a positive note, what is also really exciting is the pop up restaurant Wild Beasts, with food inspired by Matisse’s native France and his work. Chad Carey of the Empty Stomach Restaurant Group sets up wild Beasts. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to eat there, we showed up at around 5 (serving breakfast and lunch from 10:00am-5:00pm) but believe me I would go back next weekend just to try it.

So go check it out it’s a great experience and opportunity to get to see an artist of Matisse’s magnitude here in San Antonio, just make sure you tell the guys at the museum entrance to explain to you exactly what is being offered, shown and where, so you don’t miss out on anything.