| Great Photography Equals a Great Exhibit | | Print | |
| Written by Amber Jordan-Baloy | |
| Tuesday, 05 December 2006 | |
 I embarked upon my visit to the Chrysler Museum of Art with a keen sense of anticipation. I was attending their weekly “Art of Jazz” series which occurs on Wednesday nights. In reality I was there to view their newest exhibit, “A Century of Great Photography from the Virginian-Pilot,” but the lure of visiting an art museum with music softly playing in the background and a glass of wine in hand was the deciding factor for the date of my visit. While the photography exhibit turned out to be much more than I expected, the “Art of Jazz” evening, sadly, fell far short of those expectations.
I walked into the Chrysler Museum and couldn’t help buy enjoy the beauty of the facility. Lofty ceilings, balconies flowing out of the second floor galleries, and a gorgeous stairway all greeted me. With the holiday decorations tastefully displayed, it created a classy and enjoyable atmosphere for art and jazz lovers alike.
I was pleased to note that wine was indeed available for $4 a glass in red or white. For larger parties, the wine can be bought and enjoyed by the bottle. For those requiring more than just beverages, packages of cheese and crackers were also for sale. Remember, all food and wine sold at the Chrysler Museum during their “Art of Jazz” series is strictly limited to the great room. Personnel are ready and available to remind you should you accidentally start to wander through the museum with anything in hand. With all of the things I’ve mentioned above, you would think that this would have been a fantastic evening, but truthfully, it was rather boring. I’m not a huge jazz fan, but I still enjoy live music regardless of the style as long as it fits the environment and is performed well.
It was in my favor that the Chrysler Museum’s newest exhibit, “A Century of Great Photography from the Virginian-Pilot,” made up for the beginning of the evening. The collection of photographs, beginning in black and white and naturally progressing to color, is a visual record of Hampton Roads and of our nation. The photos are grouped into different categories such as Humor, Weather, and News.
As the photography moves into the realm of color, the impact of the collection is only increased. These photographs are taken with a truly artistic eye and the color is so incredibly striking after seeing the black and white photos. Again, the images are grouped into different categories to enhance the enjoyment of the viewer. As you move into the last part of the collection, you are once again moved into a field of grays for the Notables section. Celebrities included in these photos are Andy Warhol, Muhammad-Ali, and Maya Angelou and many, many more. I can sum up my evening at the Chrysler Museum of Art to say that the “Art of Jazz” was all right, but the “A Century of Great Photography from the Virginian-Pilot,” was well worth the visit. For anyone who enjoys photography or has long-reaching family ties to the Hampton Roads area, you won’t be disappointed. This exhibit is on display until January 7, 2007. Visit www.chrysler.org for information on their hours and admission fees or call (757) 664-6200. |
The evening’s entertainment, Anna Gunn, along with her accompanying pianist, was set up beside the main staircase of the museum’s great room. Ms. Gunn seemed as classy as the facility itself, wearing a long wine colored dress and projecting a throaty, melodic voice. The duo performed a variety of songs that included selected traditional holiday tunes that seemed to draw the crowd’s wholehearted approval.
It’s hard to put my finger on it, but the evening just seemed rather lacking. 