Durham Journals

2 Days in Durham

Best of IgoUgo

A September 2008 trip to Durham by vampirefan

Pratice makes perfect Photo - Triangle Segway, Raleigh, North Carolina

Quote: John and I took a much needed weekend getaway to the delightful city of Durham.

62 Photos

Triangle Segway

Attraction | "2 Wheeling Fun in Raleigh..The Triangle Segway"

Quote:

When traveling it is very hard from me to find a tour that John really enjoys. So John mentioned riding a Segway when he saw a police officer on one at the Greek Festival, I remembered I had seen something about one in the triangle area. When I got home and checked, I discover they had one in Raleigh, I promptly booked a tour for us. Now I have to admit I was a wee bit worried about these things. I was afraid these things were run by the handles, sort of like a motorcycle. Once I tried to drive a motorcycle and well it didn’t work out so well.John and I arrived promptly at Triangle Segway Tour’s office located in the beautiful and historical City Market area. We si...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 6, 2008

Triangle Segway
327 Blake St.
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
(800) 979-3370

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Museum of Life and Science

Attraction | "Going Wild at the Museum of Life and Science"

Quote:

If you are traveling with wee ones, you certainly need something to keep them entertained while at the same keeping the adults sane. When in Durham, the Museum of Life and Science is the answer to that dilemma. The museum started in 1946 as a trail-side nature center aimed at children. By the 1970’s the museum had expanded and changed its name to the Museum of Life and Science. The museum added Geology and Aerospace to the museum as well as a rail car for the children’s area. From 1986 to 1991 saw a major growth for the museum. It included the Mercury space room, a large exhibit gallery and space, as well as the science and tech wing for the 70 area campus. In March...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 6, 2008

Museum of Life and Science
433 W Murray Ave
Durham, North Carolina 27704
(919) 220-5429

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Nasher Museum at Duke

Attraction | "A Duke University Gem, The Nasher Museum"

Quote:

Duke University has plenty to be proud of. For one thing it is one of the top universities in the county. They also have the Duke Medical center, the Duke Lemur Center, Duke Chapel, and the Sarah P Duke Garden. Since 2005 they have had the Nasher Museum of Art. And all open to the public to enjoy as well. The museum was founded by Texas businessman and 1943 graduate Raymond D. Nasher. He was one of the country’s leading art collectors and the museum began from many of his collections. The museum was dedicated October 2005 and was designed by architect Rafael Vinoly. The 65,000 square foot building contains 3 large galleries as well as a community classroom. The muse...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 6, 2008

Nasher Museum at Duke
2001 Campus Dr.

919-684-5135

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Nasher Museum at Duke

Attraction | "Amazing Art…El Greco to Velazquez"

Quote:

For a few more weeks, the Nasher Museum, will be hosting the incredible and prestigious El Greco to Velazquez: Art during the reign of Phillip III. Many of these painting have been around for more than 400 years, and yet they still look as beautiful as when the artist put paint to the canvas.

Luckily for me a few weeks before our trip I was watching our local PBS show NC Weekend which keeps me informed of all the things happing in NC. It was there that I discovered this one-in-a-lifetime collection. It was quickly added to our itinerary.

This is the first exhibit of this kind that highlights both Spanish masters as well as their less known contemporaries. The exhibit contains 53 paintings and amongst those are 7 by El Greco and 3 by Velázquez. Visitors will also see works by their colleagues that include Jan Sanchez, Cotan, Gregiorio Fernandez, Juan Bautista Maino, and Louis Tristan. In addition to these breathtaking masterpieces, museum goers will discover alter pieces, carved sculptures of Spanish mystics, and 50 pieces of Spanish glass and ceramics.

The exhibit covers the Spanish Golden Age which ran from 1598-1621 when Philip III ruled Spain. During his reign the Duke of Lerma massed a large collection of art. The Duke built or restored 5 palaces and added monasteries, convents, and churches and then set about to decorate them with his collection. The Duke and Phillip utilized local artists and formed a local school that would provide the beginnings of the Golden Age.

The collected works includes portraits as well as still life, but the majority of the art is devoted to religious pieces. This show was just wonderful. These artists pull the visitors into their world. In the religious art we feel the pain depicted, as many of these works focus on the death and resurrection of Christ. The statues awe and inspire and cross all religious boundaries to include those who claim no religious belief. One can take in the masters strokes as they still look and fresh and beautiful as they day the artist sat down to work on his masterpiece. They give as a glimpse into the often hard life during the turn of the 17th century. One painting which is of Philip's children, Alfonso and Ana Margarita reminds art fans of the reality of life during this period. The picture is a death painting of Alonso as he did before the painting and young Ana only lived 7 years. You can’t help but to be haunted by their fate and that of their mother who died during childbirth. Amongst my favorites were the intricate and lovely glass works and ceramics. These pieces would look at home in any contemporary home. For those such as myself who were unfamiliar with these works (my knowledge is more of the French masters such as Monet and Degas) it is a great introduction to this often overlooked period.

This exhibit was collaboration between the Boston Fine Arts Museum and the Nasher Museum. Many of these items have never left Spain before and a number of them are on loan from the churches that commissioned the work. Can you imagine sitting every Sunday and getting to gaze on such works? The display was first presented in Boston from April and July and now Nasher has it until November 9th.

For more information you can go to http://nasher.duke.edu/elgreco/learn.php.

Thanks to the tremendous work of a lot of people an up to now often ignored period in art history has now been discovered by many. The chance to just stand inches away from such beauty and history is one I will never forget.

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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 6, 2008

Nasher Museum at Duke
2001 Campus Dr.

919-684-5135

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Let me Tell you about this Quintessential City…Durham

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A city full of Photo - Durham, North Carolina

Quote:

Let me tell you about this quintessential city…Durham. The more than a quarter of a million people who call this city home, live within the area of NC known as the Research Triangle. It also encompasses the capitol city of Raleigh as well as Chapel Hill. Here some of the brightest minds in the country and world are working on state of the art advances in medicine. It is also the place where some of the brightest students come to study each year. Durham is home to the prestigious Duke University which boasts a world renowned medical hospital and where some of the top future doctors are studying even as I write this. Raleigh has NC State and Chapel Hill has UNCC, where a certain...Read More

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Overview of Durham

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Greystone Inn Photo - Durham, North Carolina

Quote:

After trying twice before to get vacation, I finally got a weekend off so we took to enjoy a weekend of fun in this historical and yet modern collegiate city. We started our weekend at the impressive Nasher Museum located on the landscaped grounds of Duke University. The museum houses an eclectic blend of ancient treasures and a few things that will make you ask "is this really art?". But no one could doubt the unprecedented works of art amassed for the El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the rain of Phillip III . Only 2 museums have had the honor of hosting this important collection that dates back least 400 years. We started out Saturday by visiting the Lif...Read More

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About the Writer

vampirefan
Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

"I live in Charlotte NC with my amazing boyfriend Nick and our furry children. I am passionate about..."
113 journals
4835 photos
460 reviews

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Durham Journals

2 Days in Durham

Triangle Segway

Museum of Life and Science

Nasher Museum at Duke

Nasher Museum at Duke

Let me Tell you about this Quintessential City…Durham

Overview of Durham

About the Writer

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