After visiting with Mr. Shankerman in his downtown department store in Clarksdale (he also sang Elvis songs for us as a sweet bonus) and he was so kind and generous with our boys, we kept on to Memphis, where it was Corky’s for supper just because we haven’t been to Corky’s in years and I think Shugie’s never been. Our top two there, I think, are still Germantown Commissary and Central.
We asked if it would be okay if we shared this platter (for one on the menu) and it was the perfect size for Av and me.
We stayed at the Memphis Marriott which is just the basic big city, vanilla Marriott. It was fine.
Av was working in Memphis, so the boys and I decided to have a museum day. We Ubered over to the Children’s Museum of Memphis where they have just opened their gorgeous, restored 1909 Dentzel Grand Carousel.
From there, we took another Uber to the Brooks Museum
We played outside…
…and the little cafe has a nice place to read, snack, and play with building pieces
Thrilled to see these William Edmondson pieces. Above, ‘Courting Lady’
and here, ‘Ram’
Roger Brown ‘Clouds over Alabama’
David Bates ‘The Cat Man’
A selection of Carroll Cloar pieces (yesssss)
…but while there’s a large space for William Eggleston photographs, I really wished for a more immersive experience than just linear picture, picture, picture (the step/step/turn mode of display). It seems the Brooks should be Mecca for anyone with any interest in his work as Memphis is where he was born, and where he lives now. There should be features on everything from his Warhol-crowd years to the video work and the new synthesizer music. Places to sit with piles of his books. His place in the popularization of color photography as fine art. The ‘Elvis at Graceland’ project and how that turned out.
If you’re obsessed with ‘The Red Ceiling‘ and have all the feels from the inside of the freezer and the side of that gas station and, hey, The Tricycle, you’re wanting/expecting a love letter from the birthplace of the OG Colorist.
Some Eggleston love from the National Portrait Gallery: