Yes, it's true, I'm one of those people who gets teary-eyed in art museums. ...sacred spaces, they nourish something otherwise unreachable in the depths of the soul, and a good exhibition rarely fails to refresh the spirit.

Though most all styles and periods speak to me, the Modernism movement, and Expressionism in particular is my favorite.

My Stuff - School projects...

Art spaces in the Washington-Baltimore area that I haunt:

• Baltimore Museum of Art , West Wing - Several years ago I took a 20th century art history course taught by one of the curators of this fine museum, which is how I discovered the BMA. The BMA conserves an outstanding collection by the modern masters, and I go back there as often as time permits. Lunch at Gertrude's, their French bistro, isn't to be missed either. The restaurant overlooks the museum's outdoors Wurtzburger Sculpture Garden. It's a great way to recharge your batteries.
• American Visionary Art Museum - If you like the offbeat or just plain strange, this is the place to go. Situated on the outskirts of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, AVAM houses the work of self-taught artists. And high up on the museum's third level, with a serene view overlooking the harbor, the Joy America Cafe purveys another not-to-be-missed dining experience.
• National Museum for Women in the Arts - Located a few blocks from the Metro Center subway stop near the White House, NMWA is one of the newer museums gracing our nation's capital.

"On a moonlit night in the winter of 1855 the carriage of Maria Taglioni was halted by a Russian highwayman, and that ethereal creature commanded to dance for this audience of one upon a panther's skin spread over the snow beneath the stars. From this little actuality arose the legend that, to keep alive the memory of this adventure so precious to her, Taglioni formed the habit of placing a piece of ice in her jewel casket or dressing table drawer where melting among the sparkling stones, there was evoked a hint of the starlit heavens over the ice-covered landscape." -Legend found within Joseph Cornell's "Homage to the Romantic Ballet" 1942. See the Smithsonian's Joseph Cornell Exhibition - Nov 17, 2006 to Feb 19, 2007.

Online art resources:

• WebMuseum - Not sure what Expressionism is? Check out the WebMuseum, one of the best educational art history resources online.
• Artcyclopedia - Another good art history resource.

  
  To see a World in a Grain of Sand
  And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, 
  Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
  And Eternity in an hour.
                  
  -William Blake
  

• Found Magazine - Random scraps provide a fascinating peek into the lives of strangers.