Author: ArtsyChowRoamer

9 Amazing Virtual Tours

TIPS ON THE ARTS

Culture is the Arts
elevated to a set of beliefs

Writer– Thomas Wolfe

As I have suggested on this blog in the past, galleries and museums are a relatively low risk activity; an important thing to consider these days.  They provide not only food for the soul but an interesting way to spend time surrounded by beauty and quiet to allow yourself to sit and contemplate life, try your hand at sketching or enjoying a good artsy read of some kind.

Other pursuits such as dance, symphony and opera have found it more challenging in that they can’t safely provide in person what their supporters need and want. But there are many ways to get your arts fix.

Providers have gotten very creative in their online offerings if you feel like getting out and about is not a possibility for you yet. This post will give you some tips and ideas on where to go (or not) to see beautiful things in wonderful places.

ATLANTA GALLERIES ON MIAMI CIRCLE

There is a nice selection of galleries in Atlanta located on Miami Circle and many are back to being open with regular hours.  Some have even tried to bring back opening receptions by requiring people to wear masks and socially distance.

Reports on these openings have not been altogether positive because alcohol seems to make people forget the rules!  I can’t in all honesty recommend openings to anyone but you have to assess your own level of acceptable risk.

I do think visiting is more than fine. Most will require you to wear a mask; if you don’t have one they have them for you along with hand sanitizer. They clean the high use surfaces after every visitor and most are low traffic so you aren’t spending a long time with many people under one roof.

Many galleries are still doing virtual tours of exhibitions since opening receptions are out for the most part. Check the websites of any gallery you might like to see for their latest online exhibits.

Photos: Courtesy TEW Galleries

1-TEW GALLERIES IN PEACHTREE HILLS

The first place I suggest you visit is TEW Galleries located in The Galleries of Peachtree Hills in Buckhead.  Timothy is a creative with a degree in music and study in interior design which led him to home furnishings and off to live in Paris in 1986.

He studied French, drawing and art history and began stalking museums honing his already great eye.  It was France where he discovered the artists he really connected with and decided to begin representing some of them in the states; some of which he still has today.

You will notice his French aesthetic in both the design of the gallery (he also has a lovely apartment above) and his choice of artists.  There is a certain je ne sais quio to it all that is hard to put into words.

But when you see the works of artists like Calvin Jones, Serhiy Hai, Isabelle Melchior and Olena Zvyagintseva you will see what I am talking about. More of these artists works are available on his website or plan a visit soon. You won’t be disappointed.

2-ANNE IRWIN FINE ART

Number two pick was founded in 1985 by artist Anne Irwin and twenty-five years later is considered one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded destinations. She represents a nice collection of artists ranging from realism to abstract contemporary both emerging and mid-career.

Emily West took on the directorship of this cozy gallery in 2013 after closing her own in the Westside Arts District. She has now purchased the gallery from Anne and has a wonderful eye for seeking out talent in a wide range of prices for their diverse clientele.

They have a devotion to their clients and feel as I do; that art elevates us and feeds our soul. The arts help us understand the world, our culture and our particular place and time in it all. Their gallery is a nice spot to slowly take in these concepts and Emily and her staff will take the best possible care of you.

3-EPIC ART ADVENTURES WITH ANDY

For those not quite willing to venture out yet let me introduce you to the once a month Thursday tours with Andrea Steinman.  Andy calls them art adventures and has been doing it for over seven years now.

Her growing group of enthusiasts have become fast friends with a real diversity in age, back grounds and professions.  I wrote a more lengthy blog about this that you can check out here.

Andy used to keep the gallery listings for Atlanta Magazine and worked for the art critic there as well.  People asked her to take them for a gallery tour all the time since galleries can be a little intimidating for some.  She asked her Temple if they would like her to do the tours for members and her epic art adventures were born.

Andy tours galleries, museums, public art programs (like the airport and Marta stations) as well as some private homes of collectors in and around Atlanta; collections you might not have access to otherwise.

She usually picks a good spot for lunch so that the group can break bread and get to know each other better sharing a meal.  During Covid she is continuing her tours by Zoom meeting.  She has some wonderful places and people lined up to talk about art.  Interested in joining?  Contact her at andysteinman@yahoo.com for more details.

4-VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE LOUVRE IN PARIS

Got the internet and a computer? Virtual touring can be had for many places that you might be afraid to visit including ones requiring rides in airplanes.  Even if you felt it was safe to fly internationally right now you might not have the money to.

One of the good things coming out of Covid is people have had to get very creative with their online presence and it not only benefits those who can’t travel but those who may not ever be able to do so.

You can take a tour of The Louvre right now; see its’ exhibition rooms and galleries and contemplate the architecture due to corporate sponsorship.  Can we get a cheer for sponsors!  Check out the available tours here and get your French thing on!

5-THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN NEW YORK CITY

The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is back to being open again with mask requirements and appointments only to help limit the crowds for social distancing.

They are still offering virtual tours on selected Thursdays in order to offer more people a chance to see their current exhibitions. While their planned tour centering on Surrealism has been rescheduled you can check out this website for more information on what’s coming up next.

6-THE HIGH MUSEUM IN ATLANTA

The High Museum is doing a variety of things to stay connected with their peeps.  Conversation Tuesdays dives deeply into individual pieces of their collection to learn interesting facts and discoveries with professional museum educators.

Toddler Thursdays are a great way to get the kids in your life exploring with stories, tours and projects.  Check out their social platforms and website to stay connected and get more information.

7-ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The 2020/21 season has been a little bit of a train wreck for any of your artistic musical choices but the ASO is trying hard to cancel the programs they think they need to and reimagine the rest. The concerts they will move forward will be on their Virtual Stage and available to their subscribers.

Great programs include the music of Haydn, Beethovan and Mozart with guest musicians playing violin, piano and cello. Sadly the 50th anniversary celebration is cancelled but we hope it will be rescheduled down the road!

Photos: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera

8-METROPOLITAN OPERA IN NEW YORK CITY

Leave it to one of the artistic capitals of the world to be on top of the online streaming game. Not only are they offering free nightly streams of pieces from their catalog (donate if you can!) but you can pay for a subscription and get access to their entire catalog of over 700 performances.

You can also pick the Met Opera on Demand program to get the latest with all the stars and the best performances. Their website is extremely well laid out with links to all your programming and the upcoming schedule of free streaming options.

9-ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER

I remember the first time I went to see a ballet performance. It was the Nutcracker and my dance teacher took several of her students to see a professional performance. It was a magical experience that I have never forgotten and started my love affair with all things dance.

Move forward in time and I had that same magical remembrance of being taken to see Alvin Ailey’s group perform in a small theater in Atlanta. It was just as mesmerizing and beautiful with the modern dance moves and the minimal costuming that made the dancers bodies so much more alive and sensual.

For a limited time, the American Dance Theater is letting you have FREE access to performances. Please donate if you can but watch this fabulous group do their work and enjoy-I think you will be hooked just like me!

CONCLUSION

These are nine of my best tips on the virtual tours and in place visits you can make right now if you are an artsy type with a curiosity to experience what you might not be able to see in person. Whether it’s art galleries, museums, ballet, opera or symphony everyone is offering you the best in cultural adventures at your fingertips.

Support your local companies right now.  They need all the help they can get whether that’s a donation, a paid virtual tour or just an afternoon spent with the beauty they have to offer.  Take advantage of this guaranteed stress reducer while the performances are available to you. 

If you liked what you read you might like to read other posts under Artful Ideal. Hey, don’t be a stranger. Give me a shout out if you have any suggestions of tours you’ve taken that you thought were terrific. I’d love to add more information here. Until next time…

Cheers,

ArtsyChowRoamer

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TO MY READERS: This post originally appeared in a shortened form in my column, The Curious Corner, for Smoke Signals Newspaper.