the Clyfford Still and Kirkland Museums
lifetime bodies of work in Denver
In looking up art museums in Denver, I had put both the Clyfford Still Museum and the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art on my list of places to visit. I was able to go to both of them, and it ended up being on the same day. Boy howdy, it was quite the compare and contrast!
As you might guess, this museum is dedicated to the work of Clyfford Still (1904-1980). He kept his body of work largely intact, believing it to be best understood as a whole. On his death, he willed the collection to a USAmerican city that would build and maintain a museum dedicated solely to it. That ended up being Denver.1
The building is very much Capital A, Capital M, Art Museum. Modern architecture and all that. Many of the works are on the large side - some wouldn't fit, or would be a tight squeeze in an ordinary folks house with 8-foot ceilings - and are displayed with plenty of room around them. Sometimes one per wall in a gallery space.
There seems to be the sense that this is all Very Serious, you know. A chapel of sorts, requiring the correct attitude and obeisances. A little standoffish... Admire the Great Man's Work blah blah blah... Although, to be fair, in one of the galleries, there was a group of children sprawled about on the floor, participating in some activity, responding to the art. And they do seem to have other programming to involve the community in experiencing art.
The museum did have some cool informational displays that showed Still's life timeline in relation to events in world and art history - putting him in context. The purpose built building also includes storage for works not currently on display.
As a concept, it was super interesting to visit a museum dedicated to a single artist. It does give one a chance to see development and changes over time, as well as persistent themes.
So while I can appreciate the aspect of a complete body of work, I also found myself wondering how much of a control freak Still was. Or whether that was a whiff of hubris I was getting, to keep all one's work together for a museum to oneself. Of course it was after his death, but he did get it to happen... which is kinda amazing, so there’s that.
Which is to say, I had somewhat mixed feelings about it all. On the one hand I could see finding a piece that particularly spoke to you, and returning to spend time communing with it. And on the other hand, is there a there there? Like for some of the pieces, if I didn't know it was a Clyfford Still, would I give it a second look? (Although that could be said about other modern art as well.)
Anyway, still (ha!) worth a visit if you're in the area and have the time.
THEN! just down the street is the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Arts. While I didn't know exactly the Still Museum was going to be like, it was pretty much what I expected it to be, if that makes any sense.
KIRKLAND MUSEUM OF FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS
The Kirkland, I had no idea what I was in for! I kinda hate to say anything, as it might be better experienced cold, like I got to, but then whatever I say isn't really going to do it justice, so either way you'll have to go see for yourself.
Interesting parallel, it also contains the life work of a single artist, Vance Kirkland, (1904-1981 whoa, very similar lifespan dates too). However, Kirkland had five distinct painting periods, so right there is a lot of variety.
THEN, the museum has two other collections: other Colorado and regional artists, from 1845 to the present, AND an international decorative art collection from the 1870s to the present. All three collections share space, displayed salon style.2
It was rather overwhelming. But in a joyous, giddy sort of way. There was so much to see, I could have spent all day there and not really seen it all. So that somehow removed any sort of pressure to try.
I felt free to wander and spend time with whatever struck my fancy. With the salon display style there didn't seem to be any agenda or hierarchy about the works - more straightforward here it is, take it or leave it.
More welcoming is maybe what I'm trying to say. Not put up on pedestals. And some level of trust in the viewers - of course there is selection about what's in the collection, but with so much on display it didn't have the sometimes paternalistic feel of severely curated shows/museums. The "HERE'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT." (Not that there's anything wrong with that, but seeing something so different made me realize that it can get old.)
I could imagine many return visits to the Kirkland and always finding something new to enjoy. And also having favorites to spend more time with.
Kirkland left the majority of his estate to a family friend. The museum opened in 2003, after Kirkland's death, in his studio/art school building, then in 2018 moving to the current building in the Golden Triangle Creative District. Kirkland's studio/art school building was also physically moved to the current museum location!!!
Would totally recommend visiting the Kirkland!
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Denver was selected in 2004. The museum location was chosen in 2006. Ground breaking for the museum was in 2009, and doors opened to the public in 2011.