You know what’s better than seeing New England like a tourist? Seeing New England like a tourist with a local. Michael Terrile teaches art at the Central school. I mentioned him in my entry about the Currier. He and I have talked about going to the MFA together for quite some time. An exhibit by the Japanese artist Hokusai seemed like the perfect incentive to visit the museum.

I’ve posted about my trip to the MFA before, but seeing it with Michael brought a whole new dimension to the trip. Visiting an art museum with an art teachers is kind of like having your own personal tour guide. I was most impressed with his explanation of many of the modern art exhibits. I’ve often noted that many works look as though a first grader could have created it, but he helped me see that the work and study that it took to create something that looked so easy was the essence of the art. We both agreed that it was more evident in some artists than others.

The highlight of the day was seeing Hokusai’s most famous painting “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” I was surprised how small the painting was. It’s always a thrill to see masterworks, and I know that Michael was as in awe as I was.  I just need to teach him how to take a selfie!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller