Have you ever been to the High Museum?
A staycation day in Atlanta.
A few weeks ago, we were charged with driving Jim’s mom from her sister’s in Ballground, GA to downtown Atlanta so she could ride back to south Georgia with her daughter. This was a tricky assignment because we didn’t know exactly when they would be able to leave Atlanta due to a work event, so we wanted to be closer to downtown than the north suburbs during the afternoon.
After some brainstorming about malls and Ponce City Market, I had a revelation. We could go to the High Museum. With ample places to stroll and sit, lovely art wherever you look, and a bit of the “big city” feeling, it seemed the perfect place to while away an afternoon.
We are members of the High, but don’t go that often, so it was a treat for us as well. First, we had lunch at Colony Square, the mid-century mixed-use development caddy-corner to the museum. Shrimp and fish at Brown Bag Seafood Company was delicious and would sustain us through the many floors of the museum. The day was windy and cold, so after lunch we promptly got inside the shelter of the museum and began browsing the galleries.
Starting with the European Collection, we saw works by Monet, Manet, Pisarro, Modigliani, Rodin - everything from medieval religious icons to advertising posters by Toulouse Latrec.
The High offers some of my favorite sculptures - the way the sculptors make fabric seem liquid and in motion, even sheer, is amazing to me.
There are also paintings by notable American artists such as John Singer Sargent.
We took in a special exhibit of Georgia O’Keefe’s paintings of New York City. While I prefer her Western works, these provided an insight into a different side of her creative process. We walked through another favorite section of mine, Folk and Self-Taught Art, featuring many creations of Howard Finster, whose use of religious images and language is always a delight.
From all of the above to furniture, textiles, quilts, giant modern art installations, there is truly something for everyone at the High Museum. There is also a large children’s area where kids can learn about and create art. If you haven’t been, or haven’t been lately, make it a point to visit the High Museum next time you have a free day in Atlanta.
The High Museum is located at 1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. There is a coffee shop on site, as well as a snack counter inside the museum. Admission is $24 for those over 6 years old, children under 6 get in free. Parking is $18 but there is a Marta station beside the museum so parking at a free Marta lot and taking the train can be a cheaper option. Today, December 18, they have free admission for anyone, and this happens about twice a month on Wednesdays and once a month on Sundays. The next free day will be January 12. If you have any questions about visiting the High Museum, simply comment below and I’ll do my best to answer.
Happy traveling!