On a rainy wintery day, we embarked on an artful one. I started my day with a warm bowl of oatmeal topped with a drizzle of Connecticut maple syrup, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a side mix of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. It was a multi-sensory experience. The colors of the berries, the warmth of the hot oats in my mouth and wafts of cinnamon all delighted me. I get ready for my Saturday mornings tuned in to Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, the radio news quiz show on my local NPR station WSHU. I see breakfast as a part of self-care and getting a good start to one’s day sets its tone. It staves off hunger and possibly, a rumbling stomach.

The Bruce Museum

We drove down the Meritt Parkway to exit 37 and through the attractive town of Darien to cut across to I-95 and onto Greenwich to see a small exhibition of David Hockney’s works of art from the 1960s and 1970s from the Roy B. and Edith J. Simpson collection.

The museum was recently reimagined over the past few years by the architectural firm Eskew Dumez Ripple. The architecture brings modernity, light, and spaciousness to the museum, and it is an elegant space that allows the art to shine. The collection includes Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, and American Impressionists such as Childe Hassam.

Upon entering the museum’s grand hall, we notice their unique inner courtyard envisioned by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture. The hall features a kinetic sculpture titled Gridlock by the American sculptor Tim Prentice (née 1930).

What do I like about Hockney?

In his use of a limited color palette, his color choices notably bright blues, simplified forms, flatness, two-dimensionality, play with light, and his subject of pools, he managed to capture a lot: idealistic afternoons by the pool, which remind me of Slim Aaron's photographs as they both allude to a privileged life. Hockney's poolside painting can offer us a voyeuristic glimpse of a male gay life we might not otherwise see.

I contemplate the materials and the labor-intensive process of creating his paper pulp paintings. The process incorporates the use of colored dyes, molds, and hydraulic presses to flatten the paper. Hockney has synesthesia as he sees colors in music, and I see Hockney's paintings in my head when I hear Elton John's music. Perhaps it is the idea of two British artists in Los Angeles by a pool.

Gabriel Dawe

On our way down the steps from the third floor, we saw a colorful installation by the Mexican artist Gabriel Dawe (née 1973), Plexus no.43 is the perfect complement to the simplicity of this stairwell with its colorfulness achieved by thousands of blue, yellow and red threads. They are arranged in a way that reminds me of the rays of light flooding in from a window and perhaps to a spider’s web. Dawe intended to reflect on the relationship between fashion and architecture.

On viewing art

Look at the art and let it speak for itself first before reading the text. Ask yourself what do you see and how it makes you feel. Manage your time so you can be fully present with the art. Regulate your phone use and see how long you can go without taking a picture. Perhaps buy a postcard of your favorite painting in the gift shop instead of clicking away with your smartphone. Or, let your friends or family take the bulk of the pictures.

Lunch

After visiting the museum, we headed to Meli-Melo Crêperie on Greenwich Avenue. It can be challenging to get a table since it is a popular place and a well-loved restaurant, but turnover is fast and we got a good seat. I enjoy reading menus, so it is of interest to me to see the range of offerings. My husband ordered Fish Provencal with Garlic Cheese Crouton and the crêpes au sucre and au citron. I had the French onion gratinée soup, and for dessert, I chose a flambéed crêpe with Kirsch and their homemade jam. I liked the jam so much that I bought a small container to take home. They also make delicious, freshly squeezed juices and ice cream. One can gild the lily with a scoop of ice cream to one’s crêpe.

Following lunch, we popped into another gem of this town, Diane’s Books of Greenwich. It warms my heart to go into local thriving stores. We prefer reading a book rather than online. My husband bought Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. I am sure I will read it after he is finished. It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday. We come home content and relaxed.