Fun Friday.

Met my friend, Paula, at the Guggenheim Museum.

She had passes so entrance was free which was fabulous since the Guggenheim fee is now up to $25…not that you can place a price tag on culture, but a freebie is always exciting.

The Frank Lloyd Wright building, like a fine wine, has aged well.

It is the perfect place to view an exhibit as each painting is well spaced and observers can view the art coming and going as they ascend the grand spiral to the dome.

The Guggenheim focuses on 19th century artists through to the present.

We took in the Alberto Burri major retrospective exhibition, the first in the United States in more than 35 years and the most comprehensive ever mounted.

It runs through January 6th, 2016.

I had never heard of Burri despite earning a degree in Fine Arts.

The exhibit showcases the pioneering work of the Italian artist, exploring the beauty and complexity of Burri’s process-based works.

Alberto Burri was born in Citta di Castello in 1915 to a wine merchant and an elementary school teacher.

Burri’s story is fascinating that’s why I am providing the info…be patient and read on.

He earned a medical degree specializing in tropical medicine.

On October 12th, 1940, two days after Italy entered WW II, Burri was called up as a medic and sent to Libya.

In May 1943, his unit was captured in Tunisia and he was interned in a prisoner of war camp in Texas.

That is where he began to paint. 

During internment he transferred his surgeon’s skill into artistic creation. He sewed together scraps of burlap, metal, and wood to create metaphors for torn and bleeding flesh.

His art is characterized by a love for textural effects and by evocative images of war and industrial waste.

After his release in 1946, Burri moved to Rome to pursue a full-time career as a painter despite the disapproval of friends and family.

His works are very interesting and he employs a wide range of materials.

I was particularly impressed by his later industrial pieces.

Burri died in 1995.

We also surveyed the small Vasily Kandinsky exhibit and the impressive Impressionist paintings which comprise the permanent collection.

Paula and I then enjoyed a lovely lunch at The Wright restaurant.

The fixed price is a great deal. $28 for 2 courses.

We shared a delicious salad of radicchio, arugula and endive with Honey Crisp apples, pomegranate seeds, shaved fennel, walnuts, gorgonzola speinkled with a light, tasty white balsamic vinaigrette (a la carte $14).

We each indulged in braised beef short ribs, salsa verde, soft polenta and broccoli rabe. The short ribs were tender and delicious. The broccoli rabe had a bit too much garlic. ($22).

We split a Lavazza espresso panna cotta with cappuccino cream and dark chocolate shavings…creamy and not too sweet ($10). We left most of it…sugar to a menopausal migraine sufferer is the enemy…darn.

The environment is sophisticated and well suited to the Guggenheim vibe.

Mix in satisfying food, interesting art and it is a recipe for success, nourishing the mind and soul.

We journeyed down 5th Avenue and parted ways at East 67th Street.

As the sun was setting I made my way across Central Park.

Another perfect NYC day and I am a little bit smarter…now I can name drop Alberto Burri.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 1071 Fifth Avenue at 88th Street NYC. Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday 10am-5:45pm, Saturday 10am-7:45pm, Closed Thursdays.