Tthe family gathering in Philadelphia was absolutely wonderful. Our trip was traumatic, because we travelled through Princeton, NJ, and encountered a vast area without power. We were below empty, the gas guage advising us we had 32 miles left, and we passed gas stations all closed, unable to pump gas or no gas left. We passed several that were operating, and there were hundreds of cars lined up, and even more frightening, hundreds of people in long lines, waiting with gas cans. We travelled in fear, wondering if we were spending the night in the car, and finally found a station with just a few cars waiting.
Included in the gathering were the twins, Doug and Susan Wauchope (Middleboro, MA), Don and Mary Wauchope (Pisgah Forest, NC), Barbara Wauchope, the youngest sibling, with her husband, Bill Humm (Lee, NH), Bruce Wauchope, younger brother, and his youngest son David (Halifax, NS), and cousin Sally Hogsett (Atlanta, GA) who often visits these gatherings, bringing all of the charm of the Hayes women with her.
The focus of the trip was to visit the Barnes Foundation Museum, with all of its controversy (see the movie "The Art of the Steal"!!), and I found the museum beautiful, but the galleries, copies of the Barnes Museum in Merion's exhibit space "ensembles" to be pretty claustrophobic. The collection
is overwhelming, with a huge emphasis or Renoir, Matisse, Cezanne and Picasso. Valued at 30 billion dollars (yes that's right, billions), it is a collection that must be seen I particularly liked all of the Rousseau, disliked most of the Soutines, and was fascinated by all of the iron work (keys, locks, etc) that framed the art.
Thursday was spent picking people up at the airport (Bruce and David arrived at the door of the rented townhouse on 24th. street, having taken train and bus from the airport!). Friday was spent at the Barnes, Saturday most of us went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Sunday traveling back home.
Here are many images from the trip. Enjoy!
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| Susan outside the townhouse |
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| This is (L to R) Don, Barbara, Bill, Sally, Bruce, Mary, David, Susan |
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| At the Barnes, Barbara, David and Bruce |
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| A photo showing one of the gallery "Ensembles" |
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| Mary, Don, Sally, Bill, Barbara at "Whole Foods" for Lunch |
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| David, Bruce and Susan |
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| Curtis Institute of Music, my Alma Mater, 1962-66 |
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| My apartment for 4 years, 114 S. 20th. (left door);my landlord was Anton Gorodetsky, who live in the first three floors, and had an antique shop on the first floor. I had the very top floor. |
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| In the organ loft, Wanamaker's, with Sally, Don, Bruce, Rudolfo Lucenti, the organist, and David. The last time I visited Wanamaker's the organist that day was a very snippy and unwelcoming.. Rudolf couldn't have been kinder, demonstrating the largest instrument in the world. |
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| A Photo of Marcel Dupre at the Wanamaker organ console |
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| Rudolf Lucenti at the console |
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| The Wanamaker facade. the organ goes all the way up to the ceiling, another 4 floors |
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| Turner's "Burning of Parliament", PMA |
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| Klee's "the Prestidigitater" |
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| Another period room at the PMA, this with "Grotesques" |
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| Penn Landing early Sunday AM |
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| This photo is for David |
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| The magnificent and over-the-top City Hall |
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| The Kimbell Center, home of the Philadelphia Orchestra |
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| The Academy of Music, the former home of the Philly Orchestra, and where I played many an opera with the Lyric and Grand Opers companies. |
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| For Barbara, the Penitentiary |
