On Oct. 28, 2023–almost 140 years after the final Impressionist exhibition in 1886–The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art opened a temporary featured exhibit titled “Monet and His Modern Legacy.” The exhibit is designed for viewers to observe the classic impressionist works by Claude Monet side-by-side with works by American artists who were inspired by his art. In addition to paintings by Monet that are not normally on display in the Kansas City area, the exhibit includes abstract expressionist paintings like “Composition No. 3,” 1959 by Sam Francis and abstractionist paintings by Jean-Paul Riopelle. 

There is a game at the exhibit’s entry where visitors can guess whether a painting is by Monet or an abstract expressionist artist based on close-up photographs of the brush strokes. Guests quickly discover that the elements of the two styles are very similar.

Observing Monet’s “Japanese Bridge,” 1918 alongside “Rashoumon,” 1957 by Norman Bluhm, visitors can see how Monet’s revolutionary use of color inspired Bluhm’s art. The exhibit also showcases “Haystack No. 6 and No. 7,” 1969 by Roy Lichtenstein: two pop art recreations of Monet’s “Wheatstacks (End of Summer),” 1980-91.

On display in the final room of the exhibit is one of the panels from Monet’s famous “Water Lilies,” 1915-26. The room is equipped with several comfortable seats where guests can sit and take in the many colors and strokes in this immaculate artwork. Frequent visitors of the museum who have seen this piece several times before can take a moment to observe this KC favorite in a new light and with a new appreciation. Take a moment to look at the individual brush strokes. Single out the greens, next the yellows, then the purples. Finally, step back to see the work as a whole.

I particularly enjoyed this exhibit because it provides a unique viewing experience of Monet’s artwork while highlighting the relationship between his paintings and the works of those he inspired that would otherwise appear unconnected.

“Monet and His Modern Legacy” is open until Mar. 10. Tickets can be purchased either online or in person at the Museum for 22 dollars or 12 dollars for students. These tickets allow entry into both the Monet and “Evelyn Hofer: Eyes on the City” exhibits. As always, guests can access the rest of the art museum for free. After touring the museum, visitors can find exclusive Monet-themed merchandise such as brightly colored shirts and accessories in the museum’s gift shop.

We took advantage of our free day to go to Kansas City and explore. Without money or time restrictions, we’ve compiled a list that we think will help you explore the city. 

Morning: We hope you guys also sleep in because we did. Our day starts at 10 a.m.

Our first stop was the River Market. A hot coffee from Thou Mayest was a great start for a long day ahead. I recommend a honey lavender latte. This place is also ideal for cute pictures. After that, we walked to River Market Antiques closeby. I have no pictures of the store because everything in there was so interesting that I didn’t even think about my phone. It was a little bit pricey but it is worth it to at least walk around and look at all the old stuff. Before taking the streetcar, we stopped by Dutch Flowers. They have everything you need for a garden, tiny plants for your dorm room, cute notebooks and decorations.

Our next stop was Union Station. We took the streetcar there. Except for the train museum, there is not a lot in there if you are not willing to pay. But if we did have money, I would go to Science City. Sadly, we had a limited budget.

Our last stop in the morning was the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. I spent almost three hours there. If I had more time, I would go visit the World War I Museum. I visited it at the beginning of school. I felt really sad after, but I think it was a good lesson to value the peaceful time we are having right now.

Night: After the Nelson Atkins, we stopped at Gocha 2 in West Port for boba tea. The tea shop is so cute that we took pictures while we waited for our tea.

After getting boba, we drove around the Power and Light District and played music with the windows down. The Power and Light is a quintessential city experience with its tall skyscrapers and beautiful lights. We drove around the T-Mobile Center and talked about how much we miss concerts and what concerts we will go to when COVID-19 is finally over.

We ended our night by visiting 18^th and Vine and all the jazz bars. The Jazz District is an important part of Kansas City as one of the major jazz cities in America. We didn’t have time to do it all in one day, but the Jazz Museum is definitely something to add to your list of things to do in Kansas City. We walked up and down 18^th and Vine and took pictures of the lights. 18^th and Vine is also home to one of the KC Black Lives Matter road murals.

If you are ever feeling bored or wanting a day away from studying and classes, going to the city can be a great experience full of opportunities for you and your friends. It may be hard to think of things to spend your time with, but our day of exploring will hopefully inspire you to explore the city yourself and take lots of pictures.

These changes aren’t the only ones the museum has had to make in this unprecedented year. On Oct. 21, the museum released a statement that it was cutting its budget and laying off employees due to the financial stress of the pandemic. During the closure from March to September, the museum reported losing revenue from events, special exhibit ticketing and other avenues, such that they would need to cut their budget by 25 percent to stay afloat. Along with these budget cuts came the need to layoff 36 employees. 

Photography curator Keith Davis resigned after photography curator Jane L. Aspinwall was included in the cuts of employees. Aspinwall was the longest standing curator of the photography department. The photography department at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art received critical acclaim after acquiring the Hallmark Photographic Collection in 2005, which Davis was a part of. Davis was one of three long-time staff members who had built the Nelson-Atkins photography department into what it is today. 

Davis had been curator of the Hallmark Fine Arts collection since 1979, and became curator of the collection at the Nelson-Atkins when it was gifted to them. Davis cited that he had lobbied for Aspinwall to be retained at the museum for 10 days, but was not successful, sparking his resignation. The only curator left in the museum’s photography department is April M. Watson. 

The cuts by the museum occurred even after they received a small business loan from the government, which allowed them to pay employees during the closure. The museum largely operates on private donations, but these funds were not enough to make up for the amount of money lost during the lockdown. The Director of the museum, Julian Zugazagoita, commented in the statement released by the museum that it is the last option to cut any staff.

However, the financial strain of the pandemic was too great. He also stated that the cuts would not impact the enjoyment of museum-goers. 
The decision to layoff remarkable staff at a remarkable Kansas City institution highlights the problems COVID-19 created for museums and other businesses. Art enthusiasts and casual museum-goers can choose to donate to the museum through this link, or in person when they visit.

Kansas City has many beautiful attractions, although the Neslon-Atkins Museum particularly captures the creativity Kansas City has to offer. Claire Henry shares her snapshots of some of the unique pieces at the Nelson.