High Museum in Atlanta

[Karl-G]

Buckguy today writes, in a review about escorts in Atlanta: "The art museum is a complete joke." I have wanted to see the High Museum in Atlanta, but now I am in doubt. Anyone else know the museum and care to comment? Thanks.

[+ Charlie]

I haven't been to the High Museum for a number of years, but I remember it as a perfectly good second tier art museum.

[jackhammer91406]

I had no idea there was a cannabis museum in Atlanta.

I was born there and never knew...

[buckguy]

A fuller description of the High: The museum's strength is middle of the road traveling shows (e.g., Norman Rockwell, Andrew Wyeth). The permanent collection is relatively small and tends toward decorative arts (the original focus of the museum's predecessor) and contemporary art. There are a few contemporary pieces of note. The decorative stuff looks like what it is--stuff that was in the attic of matrons with humdrum, at best taste. There is some interesting African-American folk art, though. The permanent collection inhabits a lot of relatively dead space and makes poor use of the ramp system of walkways to get from one floor to another.

 

Compared with a truly fine second tier museum like, say, Toledo's (incredible glass, nice impressionists), the High can't be taken seriously. I've been to small museums that were more interesting like the Butler in Youngstown (of all places) or the Shelburne in Vermont. The High got a new addition two years ago to accommodate bigger traveling shows and an new overpriced restaurant. The result is a lot of dead space between the "traveling show" area and the rest of the collection, even when they have a big show like the opener with Wyeth. The original building a a nice, if typical, Richard Meier white box and the addition was designed by another high end architect doing unimpressive work.

[+ Charlie]

The only time I went to the High, it was for an interesting travelling special, so I may have overrated it. I agree with you about the Butler in Youngstown, which is excellent.