Valencia, Spain - last day in the city

 After visiting the Museum of Modern Art I headed into the old city to get a last look at the Fallas and the Virgin.

While Rick was here I relied on his comfort with Google Maps and after he left that reliance moved on to Fiona or Nicola. Personally, I prefer "hard copy" maps but they are a bit cumbersome when you are walking, so I let google be my guide.

 

That didn't stop me from heading down any street or alley that looked interesting

and let Google "recalculate" frequently.

Even small wider areas would have a display

This was knitted with a soft chenille like yarn.

I couldn't read the Spanish signs at the displays but some were pretty clear - No War.

I think her feet hurt.

It was Wednesday,

2 days before

all of these

would go up

in flames.

The streets were crowded

and noisy

with mini parades and

market stalls

This is how deliveries were being managed.

Although I couldn't understand the signage

others could and I would see people pointing to them

and discussing them. The dialogue was obviously part of the experience.

The crowds got thicker

as I neared the square of the Virgin.

There were lots of tour groups.

The presentation of flowers

continues for days until she is entirely robed in them.

The Turia fountain

is also engulfed in floral displays.

I had lunch with a front row seat to the melee in the square

and then made my way back to the Serrano Gate

where the Fallas we had seen being delivered

was now standing

and making a statement.

I sat for a while, getting my breath, at the bus stop. There were no buses running and I contemplated walking up to the bus station to see if anything was running from there. I was tired and overstimulated and opted for a taxi

which took me back to the peace and quiet of Port de Segunto. From there I walked back to 

 

Playa de Canet.

I needed this!

Valencia, Spain - last day in the city, IVAM Museum of Modern Art

After the experience the previous day, I knew I had to catch the early morning bus, so set my alarm and was on my way in to the city at 7:30am.

 

I had a general idea where the Museum of Modern Art was, so took the bus to the main station and then crossed the Turia gardens and I was in an area I hadn't explored before. The gate was open into these gardens.

Peaceful with bird song, sunlight, statues

and water.

The Museum didn't open until 10 so I wandered and found this Fallas.

Seemed to be a commentary on

the U.S. polluting and

denying climate change.

These signs, on the ring road around the old city

indicated that it was closed to traffic.

A little further into the "maze" I found a cafe with display cases of pastries, 3 servers hustling behind them to serve a steady stream of customers. I had a coffee and a couple of bunuelos (like a large donut hole, served during the festival). They were warm, a little chewy, sprinkled with sugar and delicious.

While on my second cup of coffee a small van drove up (defying that no traffic rule), honked the horn and one of the servers ran out. Through his window, the driver handed her a couple of trays of fresh pastries and then sped away. Rules or no rules, the bakery has to be stocked.

After thoroughly enjoying this breakfast and people watching interlude I was at the museum when the doors were opened.

 Admission was very reasonable at 5Euro, but as a senior, it was free. There are 4 galleries, each showing temporary exhibits. Modern art is a bit of a crap shoot. I really enjoyed two of the galleries and didn't find the other two particularly interesting.

The first one I went into was an exhibit titled "Gently Under the Flame". From the brochure; ...gathers a set of works....that have historically been considered minor arts, such as ceramics, clay, wood, textiles, embroidery and natural fibres.

 

A huge embroidered quilt. Guapa translates to lovely or pretty.

 

The artist worked with groups of traditional embroiderers and it was all done by hand.

There was some weaving

using natural fibres coloured with dyes made from plants.

This was huge, hanging from the ceiling

The artist, from Mallorca, uses wool and other natural fibres, taking part in the shearing, carding and processing of the materials herself.

I find that I have to be in the right frame of mind for an art gallery and I was "into it" on this day, really enjoying that I had happened onto fibre art.

The artist, from Spain, but living in Idaho, made the huge felted beret with wool from sheep native to Spain and those from the U.S.

I don't know why but this was my favourite piece and I returned to it a number of times.

Made from hemp fibres,  the artist worked with artisans who still create mats for home use.

Another huge piece

The braid is made from Sisal, fibre from the Agave plant from Mexico.

I thought at first that this was silk

But on reading the write up beside it, found that it is porcelain dyed with cobalt blue obtained from discarded mobile phones.

I am not going to put all of the photos on this blog, I took so many

but is was a thoroughly enjoyable 

exploration of a modern take on ancient handicrafts

The next gallery was work of this artist

sketches, pen and ink and metal work focused on slavery.

Then a gallery

with colourful

spaces to

walk through

made of a lot of different materials.

The final gallery was focused on the sea and utilized movement and light, video, music, as well as wall hangings and sculptures.

The light in this room rotated, like a lighthouse, reflecting on the walls and the wall of mirrors.

This section of the gallery was dark, with the pieces either lit from above or behind

and as I was not permitted to use flash

I couldn't get any photos of the "name tags".

 Out of the museum and into the real world, the old city was livening up for the day and I went looking for the Fallas, but that is for the next blog post.