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When I was in college at Oberlin, I had a summer job in the art museum doing simple restoration work on prints and other artworks that were available for students to rent for $1\/semester to hang in their dorm rooms. For $2\/hour, I rematted, reframed, and cleaned prints by Braque, Picasso, and an artist unfamiliar to me at the time named Joan Mir\u00f2. I quickly became a fan of her work. I say \u201cher\u201d because at the time I was anglicizing the pronunciation of Mir\u00f2\u2019s first name. I learned, and Mir\u00f2 remains one of my favorite artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
The Joan Mir\u00f2 Foundation established a museum dedicated to Mir\u00f2\u2018s life and work at the top of a commanding hill named Montju\u00efc. (Montju\u00efc was also the site of some of the Summer Olympic events held in Barcelona in 1992.) It\u2019s a gem. As is the case with most of the renowned artists who lived or worked in Barcelona, most of Mir\u00f2\u2018s most famous works are housed elsewhere. But the collection here is well worth taking time to learn more about Mir\u00f2 and the symbols and themes that run through all of his works. (Once you get women, birds, and stars, you\u2019re golden.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mir\u00f2\u2019s main influences as an artist were\u2026no one, really. He actively eschewed schools, styles, and influences and instead looked to nature and primitive art (including children\u2019s art) as his inspirations. He worked in paint, pencil, fabric, bronze, and whatever else allowed him to achieve his vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So here are some photos, with more in the Dump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n