Wow, I’ve had over a thousand views of my blog! That’s incredible. Thanks for the support. Lets forget about the fact that I’ve had this blog since 2007.

Well it was something like a beautiful day in Stuttgart yesterday. Just kidding, I wouldn’t know. I stayed up until 4am and then slept in until 4:50pm when I was woken up. But somehow last night I went to bed at 1am. Of course this morning I woke up at 5:30am. Great! Its pretty chilly today, about 55 degrees F but at least its not raining. I watched 50 First Dates (always surprises me that its a good movie, not just decent). Then I went for a bike ride to check out the town. Pretty cool I think. I took some video:

I also saw a very “safe” park

If you can’t tell, there are a lot of things to tilt on. I remember all the good times I had on the merry-go-round back in elementary school. When I left, they took it out. But seriously that’s where we’d play every day. Those things are so dangerous (I guess) but kids need the opportunity to get hurt. I never fell off the thing. I think it probably helped me with my balance.

A couple views of this cool, white building.

And the proverbial smart car

Then later that day, we went to an art museum called Staatsgalerie (State Art Gallery).

It was pretty cool. They had Picasso, Pissaro, Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol, Degas, Madrian, and lots of German artists too. Also, a lot of Swabian ones. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Swabia is a historic region in southwestern Germany, including what is now the southern portion of Baden-Württemberg Land (state) and the southwestern part of Bavaria Land in Germany, as well as eastern Switzerland and Alsace. The Suebi are one of the five original tribes of Germany. Here in Stuttgart, you will often find Swabian dishes at restaurants. This tradition adds a different element to visiting Stuttgart than other Germany cities.

In the front of the museum, we saw this guy:

Relative!

And in the parking garage we saw this cool bottle/light display:

Sunday, Austin and I made the quick hour and a half (shorter with the fast trains) from Heidelberg to Stuttgart mainly to see the Mercedes Benz museum.  It was built in 2004 and even just the building is impressive to say nothing about what is inside the doors.  We wanted to also go to the Staatsgalerie (State Galery) which is a world-famous museum which houses paintings by Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Fra Angelico, Tiepolo, Rembrandt, Rubens, Renoir and many others, but the car museum took a little longer than we had thought so we ran out of time before 6 p.m. (when the museum closed on Sundays).

Stuttgart is a much bigger, more modern city than Heidelberg but like all German cities that we have visited so far seemed very manageable.  Not everything is within walking distance but with Germany’s public transportation system there is really never a problem.  We took the S-Bahn (Street train) to the museum and then walked less than 5 minutes to the door.  Everything about the building in and out is just cool.  There are small details like when you go up the elevator to start the walk down the 8 floors through the decades of cars there is an old silent film that is projected against the opposite wall so you can watch during your trip up.  Everyone is given a free audio guide in their language which you point at different pictures and cars for explanations on the cars, history, and social issues surrounding the company(ies).  

Cars aren’t really my thing.  Generally, as long as it runs, I’m fine with whatever it is.

Popemobile!

 However, there are many things that will interest even people with no knowledge of the automobile industry that will peak your interest.  For example, there is a picture from World War II that explains that Mercedes Benz was the state’s supplier during the 3rd Reich which led to the plant being bombed by the Allied forces.  Particularly interesting when you walk around Germany for a little while and notice that all police cars, ambulances, taxis, and fire engines are all Mercedes.  I would have thought that that contract would have ended along with the destruction of the country.  

New Castle in Background

After the museum we found a place to eat dinner and then just walked around a little bit and looked at the old and new castle (which are both relatively new since the city had to be rebuilt after the war).  It was too cold to really stay out too much longer especially since the sun had already gone down, so we just made our way back to Heidelberg but it was a good day.  Especially a good day to stay inside the heated museum and out of the record cold temperatures southern Germany is experiencing!

*Here in Heidelberg, the Neckar River is partly frozen over for the first time in 45 years!

Photos

EXHIBITION – artist: Max Beckmann, location: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, date: 13.12.08 – 08.03.09 / current exhibitions at: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart 2008. Artistinformation and biography-text from: Max Beckmann Staatsgalerie Stuttgart CATEGORY: art, modern art, projects: TEXTPORTRAITS Max Beckmann by Ralph Ueltzhoeffer and Laura May. More information about Max Beckmann Exhibition Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany.

New entries: actual 0

Barack Obama / Portrait (TEXTPORTRAIT).

textportraits by Ralph Ueltzhoeffer.

AKTUELLE AUSSTELLUNG: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart; Künstler: Max Beckmann; Betitelung: Apokalypse – Zeitraum der Ausstellung: 13.12.08 – 08.03.09. Kunstausstellungen (Deutschland) aktuell: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (2008). Weitere Informationen über: Max Beckmann: Biografie/Biography — | Galerieninformationen/Gallery: Max Beckmann — Weitere geplante Ausstellungen: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart von Max Beckmann — Max Beckmann Kunstportal: Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org). Mehr aktuelle Informationen über Max Beckmann Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Beitragsforum Kunst & Kultur allgemein:

Textportrait: Barack Obama.

Textportraits – Ralph Ueltzhoeffer.

Modern Art: Adolf Fleischmann, Gallery, Museum, Projects: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Start/End: 08.11.08 – 22.02.09 -existing informations about (Actual): Staatsgalerie Stuttgart 2008. Collections, Artbooks and more about – Adolf Fleischmann Staatsgalerie Stuttgart CATEGORY: art, modern art, projects: Portraits with Text Adolf Fleischmann -project: textportrait, Ralph Ueltzhoeffer. Get some new artist-informations: Adolf Fleischmann Exhibition Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany.

EXHIBITION – artist: Adolf Fleischmann, location: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, date: 08.11.08 – 22.02.09 / current exhibitions at: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart 2008. Artistinformation and biography-text from: Adolf Fleischmann Staatsgalerie Stuttgart CATEGORY: art, modern art, projects: TEXTPORTRAITS Adolf Fleischmann by Ralph Ueltzhoeffer and Laura May. More information about Adolf Fleischmann Exhibition Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Germany.

Kultur/Kunst-Web-NEWS: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart zeigt aktuell: Adolf Fleischmann, Ausstellungstitel/Werktitel: zum 40. Todesjahr Termine/Ausstellungstermin: 08.11.08 – 22.02.09. Land/Kreis: Deutschland Kunststätte ist die Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (2008). Museen-Galerien-Kunstmessen: Adolf Fleischmann: Kunstausstellungen/Events – Allgemeine Informationen: Adolf Fleischmann — Projektkalender 08/09 Ralph Ueltzhoeffer/Textportraits | Staatsgalerie Stuttgart von Adolf Fleischmann – Forenbeiträge/Weblogeinträge: Adolf Fleischmann Kunstportal: Themenlink zur aktuellen Ausstellung: Adolf Fleischmann Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Buchtipp, Onlineprojekt Textportrait:

AKTUELLE AUSSTELLUNG: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart; Künstler: Adolf Fleischmann; Betitelung: zum 40. Todesjahr – Zeitraum der Ausstellung: 08.11.08 – 22.02.09. Kunstausstellungen (Deutschland) aktuell: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (2008). Weitere Informationen über: Adolf Fleischmann: Biografie/Biography — | Galerieninformationen/Gallery: Adolf Fleischmann — Weitere geplante Ausstellungen: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart von Adolf Fleischmann — Adolf Fleischmann Kunstportal: Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org). Mehr aktuelle Informationen über Adolf Fleischmann Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Beitragsforum Kunst & Kultur allgemein:

Kultur/Kunst-Web-NEWS: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart zeigt aktuell: Andrea Mantegna, Ausstellungstitel/Werktitel: Druckgraphik Termine/Ausstellungstermin: 18.10.08 – 01.02.09. Kunstausstellungen aktuell: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (2008). Museen-Galerien-Kunstmessen: Andrea Mantegna: Kunstausstellungen/Events – Allgemeine Informationen: Andrea Mantegna — Projektkalender 08/09 Ralph Ueltzhoeffer/Textportraits | Staatsgalerie Stuttgart von Andrea Mantegna – Forenbeiträge/Weblogeinträge: Andrea Mantegna Kunstportal: Themenlink zur aktuellen Ausstellung: Andrea Mantegna Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Buchtipp, Onlineprojekt Textportrait:

Textportraits – Ralph Ueltzhoeffer.

AKTUELLE AUSSTELLUNG: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart; Künstler: Andrea Mantegna; Betitelung: Druckgraphik – Zeitraum der Ausstellung: 18.10.08 – 01.02.09. Kunstausstellungen aktuell: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (2008). Weitere Informationen über: Andrea Mantegna: Biografie/Biography — | Galerieninformationen/Gallery: Andrea Mantegna — Weitere geplante Ausstellungen: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart von Andrea Mantegna — Andrea Mantegna Kunstportal: Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org). Mehr aktuelle Informationen über Andrea Mantegna Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Beitragsforum Kunst & Kultur allgemein:

Textportraits – Ralph Ueltzhoeffer.

Kultur/Kunst-Web-NEWS: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart zeigt aktuell: Henri Matisse, Ausstellungstitel/Werktitel: Menschen Masken Modelle Termine/Ausstellungstermin: 27.09.08 – 11.01.09. Kunstausstellungen aktuell: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (2008). Museen-Galerien-Kunstmessen: Henri Matisse: Kunstausstellungen/Events – Allgemeine Informationen: Henri Matisse — Projektkalender 08/09 Ralph Ueltzhoeffer/Textportraits | Staatsgalerie Stuttgart von Henri Matisse – Forenbeiträge/Weblogeinträge: Henri Matisse Kunstportal: Themenlink zur aktuellen Ausstellung: Henri Matisse Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Buchtipp, Onlineprojekt Textportrait:

Textportraits – Ralph Ueltzhoeffer.

AKTUELLE AUSSTELLUNG: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart; Künstler: Henri Matisse; Betitelung: Menschen Masken Modelle – Zeitraum der Ausstellung: 27.09.08 – 11.01.09. Kunstausstellungen aktuell: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart (2008). Weitere Informationen über: Henri Matisse: Biografie/Biography — | Galerieninformationen/Gallery: Henri Matisse — Weitere geplante Ausstellungen: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart von Henri Matisse — Henri Matisse Kunstportal: Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org). Mehr aktuelle Informationen über Henri Matisse Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

Beitragsforum Kunst & Kultur allgemein:

Textportraits – Ralph Ueltzhoeffer.

Artikel von Marcus Dekiert mit freundlicher Genehmigung.

Nach über zwei Jahrzehnten wird Ende Juli 2007 die Filialgalerie der Bayerischen Staatsgemäldesammlungen in Bayreuth feierlich wiedereröffnet. Sie können den ganzen Artikel von Dr. Marcus Dekiert hier herunterladen:
Wiederöffnung der Staatsgemäldesammlungen in Bayreuth
Dr. Marcus Dekiert ist Konservator und Referent für Holländische, Flämische und Deutsche Barockmalerei an den Bayerischen Staatsgemäldesammlungen. 

Wie das große Plakat an der Staatsgalerie mir vorher mitteilte, ist ab dem 23. Februar eine Austellung über PopArt, aus den Kunstzentren London und New York angekündigt. Hört sich sehr vielversprechend an: Staatsgalerie Stuttgart