Sunday Afternoon Adventures

Welcome to the Blog, Friends.

Today we’re off on a little adventure to the Upcountry Museum and the Art Gallery in Greenville, SC. The two exhibits couldn’t be more different, which made the day such a delightful mix of experiences. Let’s begin with our first stop—Avengers: Endgame at the Upcountry Museum.

I’ve been a fan of Marvel Comics since grade school, when I first discovered those colorful, action-packed stories. Over the years, that fascination has only grown, and like many of you, I’ve enjoyed the movies—probably most of them! What makes Marvel so compelling isn’t just the superpowers, but the way each hero is layered with backstories, vulnerabilities, and flaws that feel so very human. As Stan Lee once said, “In the comic book and the movies, the story is always the most important element.” That emphasis on story—interwoven with real-life problems and events—is likely what continues to draw us in.

The exhibit highlights some of the original costumes and props from Endgame. We learned that each character had three versions of their costume, though some, like Iron Man’s, were CGI-generated and not included. Still, it was a thrill to stand just inches away from the real pieces used on screen. Thor’s “new” hammer, with the branch handle gifted from Groot, was a definite highlight. The props themselves were surprisingly lightweight, crafted that way so the actors could move and fight easily while filming. It was fascinating to see the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship that makes movie magic come alive.

Stormbreaker was pretty impressive.

Groot had several versions and the one displayed here is Groot as a teenager.

One of my favorites was the Dr. Strange costume complete with the cape that really is another character in the movie. The Black Panther was present and Guardians of the Galaxy characters along with Ant Man and The Wasp. Hawkeye and The Black Widow were side by side complete with arrows and knives. The exhibit wouldn’t be complete without Captain America and his shield.

Almost all of Iron Man’s costume is CGI but they did have this mask that was used in some of the scenes. There is amazing attention to detail.

Some of the original comics were also on display and it was fun to see these colorful stories from which the movies were made.

When we were finished at the Upcountry Museum we made our way across the museum campus to the Art Gallery. The Greenville Art Gallery has the largest collection of Andrew Wyeth paintings in the United States.

When we entered the art gallery, a musical presentation was just about to begin, so we happily snagged a seat. For the next hour, we were delightfully entertained by the Music in the Galleries series.

The featured artist was Nancy Pitkin, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based pianist, composer, and singer/songwriter. Her music, often inspired by nature, is written with the intention of bringing listeners to a place of peace and serenity. During her Soundscape, she layered piano with other soothing instruments—the Pan and Native American-style flute, bells, chimes, and more—creating an atmosphere that was both calming and transportive.

Nancy wove stories into her presentation, sharing moments from her creative process and the real-life inspirations behind her work. One piece, written about a soaring hawk, particularly caught my attention. It was such a lovely example of how music can capture not just a sound, but a movement, a spirit, even a fleeting moment in nature.

After the presentation, we wandered through the gallery, taking in the artwork at a slower pace. Among the displays were remarkable wooden sculptures by Grainger McKoy, an artist who devoted his career to creating life-like sculptures of birds. His ability to capture a bird in mid-flight, every feather carefully carved, was astonishing—almost as if they might lift off the pedestal at any moment.

This huge bird wing was one of his creations and is impressive for its height alone.

The birds are so realistic and they are balanced perfectly to appear to be in flight. You can’t really even see the support as it is part of the sculpture.

Then, of course, there is Andrew Wyeth, famous for his paintings of the stark beauty of New England. When I look at his paintings I can feel the cold and the snow and the solitude of the setting. Wyeth (1917–2009) was one of the most celebrated American realist painters of the 20th century, known for capturing the quiet poetry of everyday life. He grew up in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, where his father—illustrator N.C. Wyeth—trained him in drawing and encouraged him to observe the world closely. Those early lessons instilled in him a deep appreciation for the ordinary landscapes and people around him.

Much of his work focused on the rolling fields, weathered farmhouses, and sparse interiors of Pennsylvania and coastal Maine. His most famous painting, Christina’s World (1948), depicts a woman in a pink dress lying in a wide, windswept field, gazing toward a distant farmhouse. It has become an icon of American art, embodying both yearning and resilience. Wyeth often painted in tempera and watercolor, mediums that allowed him to achieve extraordinary detail and a muted, almost austere palette that emphasized mood over flourish.

Though sometimes criticized for being too traditional in an age of modernism, Wyeth’s art resonates deeply because it speaks to universal emotions—solitude, endurance, and the quiet dignity of rural life. His works are like visual poems, each brushstroke whispering of the seasons, of lives lived close to the land, of beauty found in simplicity.

The color palate is neutral with occasional muted color like the chimney and the window covering in this painting. You can see a resident of the home in the upper left-hand window. She’s looking out over the landscape.

In this painting the color of the water and the apples in the window is a bit more intense but the solitary nature of the land and the people is still apparent. The photo is taken through glass so there is some distortion but the weathering of the structure and the shadows cast are still apparent. Wyeth worked primarily in watercolors.

After spending some time in the Art Gallery, we headed home, our minds full of images and impressions. It was such a lovely and diverse Sunday afternoon—wandering through rooms filled with history, color, and imagination, and then stepping back into the quiet of everyday life. I always find that days like this linger, the memory of a painting or a small detail suddenly coming back when I’m setting a table or arranging a little corner at home. Inspiration, after all, has a way of following you.

Thanks so much for joining me today for this look at two exhibits that made for a lovely afternoon.