Animated Events: Art Nouveau on the West Side

I'm an old-school gamer. No surprise there. But I'm also a collector. At this point in my life, I pretty much have everything I want for the collection, save for a couple books. So I like to visit used bookstores, smaller gaming conventions, and I do haunt eBay with my list of saved searches. Well, the other day, my old college roommate let me know of a big 'gaming garage sale' over in Muskegon that would have lots of board games and RPGs on display. My curiosity piqued, I gathered up the shopping list and drove out to the west side of the state. The event, well, it was a bust. Turns out while it was well stocked and well attended, it was 99% board games, most of which were those Euro games that require you to memorize a manual the size of a small encyclopedia before you could start playing. Not my scene. I left after ten minutes.

Fortunately, there was another event in town worth attending: the Muskegon Museum of Art had this big exhibition of Art Nouveau prints and sculpture.

While I like this style of artwork, I have to admit that I'm not very well educated on it. So it was a pleasant surprise learning about the sculptures and ceramics that were produced in step with the Art Nouveau style.

Dancing Lady with Lilies, 1899
Eduard Stellmacher

l: Vase with Fire-Breathing Pterodactyl, 1905-06
r: Vace with Two-Winged Dragon, 1899-1900
Eduard Stellmacher

Looking at the sculpture, ceramics, and prints, it left me with the desire to learn more. I read every title card and narration they had. It left me wanting more. One name kept coming up over and over again: Alphonse Mucha.

Biscuits Lefvre Utile, 1896
Alphonse Mucha

Fuchsia Vase, 1900
Daum Studio

There was also some other artwork in the museum outside of the Art Nouveau exhibit that caught my eye.

Silver Evening Light, John Andersen, 2025

Organic, Xavi Francis, 2025

And down in the basement gallery, there was an additional exhibit of prints and figure studies by Alphonse Mucha from the Museum's private collection. I left the museum a couple hours later, determined to learn more about Mucha's history and artwork.

Study for Decorative Figures
Alphonse Mucha, 1860-1939

On the way out to the car, I met a very friendly squirrel. Unfortunately, I didn't have any food on me, but will be sure to bring a bag of peanuts with me next time.

The exhibit will be available until January 11th. If you get a chance, check it out before it's gone.

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