I love museums. I realize that may sound either snooty or nerdy depending on who I’m speaking to, but it’s true. And as much as I love my home town, one of the things I really miss about living in a large city is the opportunity to visit various traveling exhibits. Tyler has always made a goal of cultivating its own arts and cultural community. In the last few years it seems to me that these efforts are starting to show fruit. Between the various events put on by the colleges and those sponsored by various civic groups, Tyler does a pretty good job of offering educational opportunities to the community at large. One example is the new exhibit currently on display at the Tyler Museum of Art entitled: “Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture.”
On display are sixty alabaster panel sculptures, on loan from the Victoria and Albert Museumin London. The pieces date to the fifteenth and sixteenth century, and depict various religious scenes. They were originally produced by English artists and served various functions in English churches. In addition to the exhibit itself, a free lecture will be held on Thursday, September fifteenth, at five thirty pm, entitled “Christians Then & Now: Medieval Religious Art and Today’s Church.” The lecture will be presented by Father Matt Boulter, of Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler.
The exhibit will run from September through October, and this is the only stop it will be making, either in our state, or the American southwest. Hopefully Tylerites will avail themselves of the opportunity to experience some significant religious art. Admission is free for museum members and children ages 12 and under. Adult tickets are seven dollars, and student and senior tickets five dollars. To attend Father Matt’s lecture it is necessary to RSVP. Simply call the museum, office at (903) 595-1001. For more information on the exhibit itself, visit the Tyler Museum of Art webpage at http://www.tylermuseum.org/ObjectOfDevotion.aspx .
I have yet to visit the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad on a sunny day, but I guess that’s appropriate given the historical context of the place. The mission / fort is of course the place where Colonel Fannin and his men agreed to an honorable surrender after four days of fighting the Mexican army, only to be unlawfully executed upon the orders of Generalissimo Santa Anna. Today the mission has been repaired and restored to its former beauty. Unfortunately the point of interest is often overshadowed by popular locals like the Alamo. Not to take away from the significance that place; far be it from this Texan! But Goliad is an often overlooked jewel of a stop that should be visited more than it is. It’s both beautiful and significant.
