I really can’t keep saying I am new in Fort Worth, Texas since it has now been over seven years since we arrived. We built a new home just west of Ft. Worth’s culture district, an area with many wonderful museums. None quite as fabulous as The Kimbell.
The Kimbell, finished in 1972, looks a bit like a train station from above, when in reality it is the clever design of world renowned architect Louis Khan, and those concert vaults are considered Khan’s most outstanding architectural achievement.
Magically those vaults illuminate the interior when the sun shines without damaging the works of art.
The museum came about because of the dream of this couple. The Kimbells were very successful business owners in Ft. Worth. Their wealth attributed to many businesses, grain mills, wholesale and retail groceries to name a few. They also collected art. Their very large home in west Ft.Worth became a museum in its own right. After Mr. Kimbell passed away his foundation decided to build a proper museum. Taking the reigns of that project was his niece Kay Carter Fortson since the Kimbells had no children.
She was quite the young socialite and surprised everyone, including herself, as she charged ahead without any experience and tackled this huge undertaking which today is history.
So why is this post titled The Surprise At The End?
Well, a few years ago on a rainy day we took our visiting guests to The Kimbell. The man and woman above approached us and the man asked me“ may I ask why you are at the Kimbell today”? A bit startled, I can’t remember what I said....
Half way through the book which I purchased recently in the museum gift shop, I decided to email and ask the author to give my art group a book review, and I reminded him that we had met.
He thanked me said yes, and told me that there was a surprise at the end of the book.
Dearest Janey,
ReplyDeleteWOW, you can be so proud as you indeed embodied the entire purpose for that niece to undertake this gigantic task. So proud of you and what a wonderful couple for contributing so much to society and really leaving a mark...
Most people never achieve that!
You know, the joy of going to such a class museum is in itself already a selective choice of interest... a lot of people lack the intelligence they're more involved in taking selfies; which is just empty.
Hugs,
Mariette
Very cool!
ReplyDeleteThere you go. Nice to be mentioned in a book, I have a few accreditations for supping photos for people to use in books
ReplyDeleteOh that is super cool Janey, immortalized in literature 😊 The architecture of the museum is brilliant, both the exterior and interior 💙
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful is that? Your encounter is forever recorded for history. I've been to The Kimbell and it was a wonderful experience. I was visiting a friend who lives in Ft. Worth back in the late 90's and she took me. I remember those vaulted ceilings and the natural light. It truly is a great museum.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice story and you made it announced in a book!
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