Darla McCammon, far left, takes in the immersive Monet exhibit. Photos provided.

By Darla McCammon
and DeeAnna Muraski
Guest Columnists

Darla McCammon and DeeAnna Muraski

WARSAW — Last year, we did an article on the immersive art exhibits we toured at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields and the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Newfields produced “Monet and Friends” while the Fort Wayne Museum displayed “Beyond Van Gogh.”

While “Beyond Van Gogh” is finished with its showing in Fort Wayne, the Indianapolis Museum of Art launched a new immersive exhibit featuring Salvador Dali. Both museums did a wonderful job creating their immersive displays, which were very different but similar.

Initially, upon entering the Fort Wayne exhibit you wove through a directed path of huge hanging boards displaying hundreds of interesting quotes, artifacts and letters about Van Gogh; hence, the “beyond” Van Gogh. Van Gogh’s wife and brother were very instrumental in keeping his legacy alive through the retained letters and awareness. The display then had another large room to enter with gigantic images of Van Gogh’s artwork surrounding you on the floor, walls and ceilings. They organized the presentation to combine all of his series into one large study. You could display all his florals surrounding you 360 degrees. Then the display would disappear or float away to present his study of portraits. You find yourself absolutely transfixed, amazed and in awe at the complexity of the art. Fort Wayne added different lighting displays and music throughout the rotating display. You could sit and stay through multiple rotations of all the displays if you wished. At times, the music became dark and brooding; however, that was the true personification of Van Gogh. A constant rhythmic drumming brought Van Gogh to life, envisioning him crashing his brush into the thick paint then working like mad to create the images in his head.

Newfield’s “Monet and Friends” was equally good but wholly different mainly because of the subject. Monet’s bright cheerful luminescent paintings lend themselves to an enchantment. Newfield’s expanded that enchantment through fish in the lily pond that delightfully swished and swam on the floor toward you and stars in the Starry Night that seemed to fall in your hand. Newfields took the stance of moving through Monet’s life timeline and the derivation of his work. They have two large viewing areas each separated into two areas with a café in the middle. They did an exceptional job of picking the lightly floating romance-period music which made you want to dance among the flowers — which I did!

Unfortunately, “Monet and Friends” ended its showing; however, the Indianapolis Museum of Art has a brand-new immersive exhibit showing the art of Salvador Dali. Newfields has secured four of Dali’s original masterpieces, which are on display with the Lume exhibit. These exhibits help you experience art in a completely new way and appreciate it even more.

To Go

Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields is located at 4000 N. Michigan, Indianapolis. It’s closed Mondays. Something to add to your journey is the new Restoration Hardware Estate, just a skip from the museum and breathtaking — highly recommend reservations for lunch or dinner while browsing the unbelievable interior home designs. My home wants to grow up and be a Restoration Hardware home. … Also worth a stop, is to get coffee and dessert at the famous Cake Bake Shop (thecakebakeshop.com), 6515 Carrollton Ave. — it will be on your way home. Pricey but worth every delicious crumb in your mouth. Prices start at $105 for a whole cake, but a slice runs around $15. Mile-high carrot cake. I am not drooling — you are.

Darla McCammon is an artist, columnist and author. DeeAnna Muraski is executive director of Operation Read USA Inc. Send an email to the mother/daughter team at [email protected].

Darla McCammon tries her hand on an interactive part of the Monet exhibit.