MICHENER ART MUSEUM

     Sunday, April 7, 2019: About 10 years ago, I visited the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. (I have a report about this place in My Blog under the year 2009.) Meanwhile, across the street has been the location of a smaller museum: the Michener Art Museum, 138 South Pine Street, Doylestown (215-340-9800) in central Bucks County. Although this museum was smaller compared to the Mercer Museum, the Michener Art Museum was really a mid-sized art museum. Before entering here, I saw some pieces of modern art sculptures outside. Once inside, the museum honored its namesake by recreating James A. Michener’s Bucks County, PA, office. I learned that this Doylestown native was more than a writer. He also served as a public servant, art collector, and philanthropist, as well as a civil right supporter. Another interesting room honored a Bucks County woodworker, George Nakashima (1905-1990). Nakashima’s daughter, Mira Nakashima-Yarnall, designed this Japanese-styled room. As to the galleries of art themselves, the permanent collections included paintings, sculptures, and crafts done by Bucks County artists; these artists either were born in Bucks County, lived in Bucks County, or both. My favorite room displayed paintings of Bucks County landscapes—much of it in the Impressionists-style that started in France. Most of these paintings dated from the late-19th century and early-20th century. In addition to the permanent art, I noticed five temporary exhibit areas. When I was there, the museum presented the following subjects: Poetry of Light, murals, and the Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design, as well as studio furniture and photos of Bucks County. Anyway, no matter what temporary exhibits are shown here, between the temporary art and the permanent art, the museum will be worth a visit in this former prison that is now an art museum and a fitting memorial to James A. Michener (1907-1997)!