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Personally, we love the stunning Tiffany windows, lamps, and blown glass (they have one of the greatest collections of glass in the nation). But this is a museum that even kids will enjoy.
In fact, when we were last there, we were looking at a fabulous 18th century piano. "Do you play the piano?" a very friendly docent asked my kids. When they nodded "yes," he actually invited them to sit down and play it? (When was the last time you played a 300-year-old piano?)
Anyway, this world-class collection offers pieces spanning 4,000+ years. The European collection reflects their major donor's passion for Italian and French painting. Enjoy works by Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, and John Singleton Copley. Photography fans will appreciate their History of Photography section.
Current exhibitions include:
Women of the Chrysler: A 400-Year Celebration of the Arts
- March 24 - July 18
View 150+ works by female painters, sculptors, photographers, glass artists, and print makers ranging from Mary Cassatt to Dorothea Lange. (Thanks to a special grant, this special exhibition is free too!)
Class Pictures: Photographs by Dawoud Bey
- March 26 - August 6
Cameo Performances: Masterpieces of Cameo Glass from the Chrysler’s Collection
- Through July 1, 2010
Dutch “Golden Age” Paintings
- Through July, 2010
Paul Storr Silver Gilt Breakfast Service
- Through March 2011
Museum Hours
The Chrysler Museum of Art's hours are:
Sunday - Noon - 5 pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Wednesday - 10 am-9 pm
Thursday-Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm
Admission to permanent collections: FREE! There is a charge for visiting exhibitions, but even those are free for children 5 and under.
Don't forget to visit the historic Moses Myers house nearby, which features period piece art and is also free! For details, go to: http://www.chrysler.org/Myers_house.asp
The museum also has a lovely gift shop, and a very elegant cafe, featuring delicious, gourmet cuisine. Hours: Wednesdays, 11 am - 8 pm; Thursdays through Saturdays 11 am - 3 pm; Sundays 12 - 3 pm.
Chrysler Museum of Art address: 245 W. Olney Rd (at Mowbray Arch) - 757-664-6200 - http://www.chrysler.org
Recommended Itineraries, From a Cheap Kids' Day Out, to a Romantic Date Day!
1) Norfolk for (practically) Free Day!: Go to the Chrysler Museum of Art in the morning. Have lunch at Doumar's drive-in. Download a free Mermaids scavenger hunt map and go on a Mermaid's scavenger hunt!
2) Cheap Kids' Day Out: Visit the nearby Virginia Zoo in the morning. Go cheap and eat at Doumar's, or splurge and have a delicious Lunch tea at Rowena's Tea Room. After lunch, indulge in a little culture at the Chrysler Museum.
3) Romantic Date Day: Visit the Chrysler Museum of Art in the morning. Have lunch at Baker's Crust (don't forget to finish off with a delicious crepe!). Spend a few hours holding hands and walking around Norfolk's MacArthur Mall. Then, drive to Portsmouth's classy Art Deco Commodore Theatre for dinner and a movie!
If You Love Art, Check Out These Attractions
If you love art, you'll appreciate Richmond's Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. They have a world-class collection of paintings, sculpture, silver, and other decorative arts. They also have one of the world's largest collections of Faberge eggs and objets de luxe.
You may also be interested in seeing the decorative arts in these historic homes: Maymont, Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland, and the James River Plantations.
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