North Carolina Museum of Art exhibits

Went to this last night. Holy ducking wow! Huge collection of his work. The craftsmanship up close is astonishing. He tended to print his own block prints and seeing the carved blocks actually used multiple times with such precision on different mediums right there in front of you was crazy cool. The fine detail of the pen and ink was amazing even into his later life. The transition from initial concept sketches to final print was really coil as well. Much more of an experience than I had thought it would be. I had seen most of the works in very nice large format books but seeing the actual prints and original works full scale and in person was amazing.

And then you get to see up close pages upon pages of tiny indecipherable notes and sketches by Leonardo da Vinci! I had heard some people complain that it was just writing that you couldn't read. True, but it was LEONARDO DA VINCI'S handwriting inches in front of your face. Unbelievably cool.

We had dinner in the museum restaurant afterwards. Very good meal.

If you live anywhere close to Raleigh you should really try and see this in the next fewvdays before it is gone.

thanks for the heads up, i will try to make this exhibit.

I thought about Escher a lot in Italy in the renaissance era buildings (da Vinci's heyday) and the visual effects from the staircases, especially the ones that climbed walls with no sides or railings (for defense, always with the wall to your right as you ascend) and the open galleries and atriums/courtyards. Likewise the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta. and the narrow arched streets. So I see the exhibit as a good match.

I think the artiste/geek in me loves this thread!

That is undoubtedly where I first encountered his work. That or in someones dorm room 1st semester freshman year the day after the poster sale.

I hate to sound snobby, actually I don't, but the best posters I've seen are a pale shadow compared to original prints.