Midwest Trip, Day 9: Doing OK in Oklahoma

 

After nine days on the road, we were limping home somewhat, anxious to get back to our studies and our own beds.  But we ended our trip on another high note, and used the drive for time to reflect on a trip of epic proportions.

The high point was the Oklahoma City of Art Museum, which has one of the largest Chihuly collections in the United States.  You don’t have to wait long at the Museum to see a Chihuly.

In fact, the Museum entrance has the largest Chihuly in the world.  It is more than 80 feet tall, composed of more than 2,100 pieces of glass, and it weighs more than 20,000 pounds.  It is equally imposing and impressive.

Although it might be difficult to top the entrance, the Chihuly exhibits are all impressive, displying “Reeds”…

…bowls…

…more bowls…

…boats…

…Chihuly ceilings…

…and Chihuly wall art…

Of course, the Art Museum had the traditional art as well…

…including Constance’s favorite O’Keefe…

…one of the Dallas Nine, Alexandre Hogue…

…and for Political Science students, a portrait of George Washington…

But following a little play time…

…it was time to go home.

It was a long drive back from OK City, but it gave us time to reflect on the trip and restructure our thinking about food, art, entertainment, livable cities, and life.  In so doing, we came up with a list of favorites we’d like to share.

Favorite Cities:

1. Little Rock
2. Chicago
3. Kansas City (Constance); Madison, WI (Alex)

Favorite Restaurants:

1. Grunauer’s (Austrian food in the heart of KC)
2. Q39 (Our favorite of KC BBQ)
3. DLUX (American food in Madison–great shakes!)

Favorite Attractions (Here, we had real disagreements!):

• Constance

1. Richard Haas Murals
2. Union Station
3. Lincoln Presidential Library

• Alex

1. Lincoln Presidential Library
2. Art Institute of Chicago
3. Old Mill

Favorite Art:

• Constance

1. Red Hill with Flowers, O’Keefe
2. Yellow Dancers, Degas
3. Reeds, Chihuly

• Alex

1. Monet
2. Pisarro
3. Chihuly

Both Constance and I, however, agree that touring Loyola Law School with Daniel North was one of our most rewarding experiences.  He laid out the material very clearly, told us information we haven’t heard from others, and was genuinely nice.

It was great to connect with a former Junior Fellow!

The whole trip was a great experience, whether walking the bridges of Little Rock…

…checking out City Garden in St. Louis…

…hanging with President Lincoln in Springfield, IL…

…jumping at the bean in Chicago…

…discovering the capitol in WI….

…crawling the incline in Dubuque…

…playing American Gothic…

…learning about a bit of everything in KC…

…and chilling with Chihuly in OK City.

It was a great ride!