What’s Better Than Seeing a Hopper Painting? Sleeping in One

Hopper is also nicely kept alive in calendars . . . thank goodness.

This demonstrates nothing other than a complete misunderstanding of painting, and what makes any successful painting meaningful. In short, painting is not the weak cousin of sculpture or installation. Painting says different things than both of those forms, and it does so using an entirely different language, one dependent completely on the flatness of the surface. Painting is not illustration of three dimensional forms. Painting creates its OWN forms, using its OWN inherent syntax. What it says depends on how it says it. Meaning and facture are inseparable. As a painter and a former art teacher, I find this stunt not only insulting, but am angered that an art museum - of all places - is teaching a false notion of painting to the general public and future generations; a notion that undermines the public's ability to understand the UNIQUE magic and expressive power paintings intrinsically have, on their own terms.

Lots of treasures to appreciate at the VMFA. Along with Hopper I was pleased to see the reference to Susan Worsham an outstanding photographer working in Virginia.

This was done at the Chicago Art Institute with Van Gogh's painting of his room in Arles and again at the Moco in Amsterdam with a Roy Lichenstrein 3d room based on his painting of Van Gogh's room in Arles.

A schtick that turns Hopper into another kitch commodity. No thanks.

Edward Hopper is my favorite artist. His "Night Hawk" has kept me mesmerized ever since I first laid my eyes on it. I can still look at it for hours enchanted by the stories the painting is hiding , but inviting you to explore about the silent mysterious night, the lonely strangers in the night cafe, the quiet, desolate look outside. Looking at the painting I wonder : Who are these people? What is their relationship? Husband and wife? Just friends? Or two strangers in the night? Why are they out so late? Where have they been earlier that night? Where are they going to ed up? What are they saying to each other in their silence? The painting is so mysterious, so full of magic. Full of meanings one is fascinated to explore for him/herself. It all draws you into the painting. I am mesmerized.

"a standard stay runs from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m." --beyond the viewing hours for visitors? So one may stay in the setting, but no one may view the installation complete with its human form or reference. Would be a special lodger to take that role, and likely sets up a dynamic the museum is not prepared to host, but to present the tableau with a prime element missing seems shallow - a stage setting which never features an actor.

I love Edward Hopper but feels a little Disney, doesn't it? Like enjoying the ride of the movie you love for you're not sure what reason. There's always something a little inexplicably tacky about the experience. I suppose what I truly admire about Hopper is his ability to turn a three dimensional space into a two dimensional one using nothing but paint and a brush. It's a shape and color that looks like something but it's absolutely not that something. Very meta, I know. However, if you've ever watched an oil painter work, this feat is much more difficult than it sounds. Going the other way feels like cheating somehow. We'll of course you can make a tootsie roll look and feel like a tootsie roll. The object is what it represents. Try using oil and canvas.

The Art Institute of Chicago had Van Gogh's bedroom for rent on Airbnb in 2016 (https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-art-institute-van-gogh-airbnb-0211-biz-20160210-story.html). As an aside, they have a pretty great Hopper painting as well.

Sleeping in a Hopper painting! Who could ask for anything more or less?

I have always been fascinated by Hopper, and feel certain that his art has influenced my own, because I have lingered, awestruck, and sometimes for hours, in his gorgeous world. Recently, I came to understand, in an organic way, that how he inhabits us, or we him, has less to do with his delicious storytelling than his facility with brush, color, light and composition, and his passion as he worked. Just before reading this, I coincidentally did a painting of my own entitled "A Little Bit Hopper." It's not a room, but a frontal view of a contemporary high-rise building, glittering with color and light. When it was finished, I saw that it was (unintentionally) derivative of the great artist's work, and thus the title. Everyone who has seen it has "gotten" it, which delights me, because the bottom line of my professional experience has once again been confirmed. So many aspects of good work have little to do with the viewer's "reality" of the content. My work isn't what one would typically think of as "Hopper," but that "little bit," I feel certain, comes from his hand, and his eye, and our shared love of making art. I wish I could show you my painting here. Maybe someday the NYT will allow us to download images.

My mind went immediately to "Nighthawks" as the mid-century Manhattan of my childhood had similar environments. The idea of interacting with "actors" in such an installation is the stuff of science fiction. With or without the use VR, there are some real possibilities here.

“My time there was short — a standard stay runs from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. — and awkward. I had traveled all day to reach Richmond, and these pristinely basic quarters were the main event. Ultimately, it reminded me of every other hotel room I’ve ever stayed in.” Whew! Okay, rough trip. Having seen the exhibition, however, I’d say that at least from the window, I can’t imagine staying in such a cool installation and thinking of every other hotel room (there have been many) I’ve stayed in. To roof on one of the other commenters, a night in a museum is a weird spooky wonderful fantasy come true. Staying in a Hopper hotel room... Well, bring the cats PJs. For those who didn’t jump in on time to book a bed, the main event are all those luscious paintings and other artworks skillfully curated by the VMFA.

Hopper is one of my favorite artists. Thank you for the information in this article. I had no idea that he was a Conservative, and didn't like 'Women's independence'. I am a Feminist, but still like his work.

Hey y’all, c’mon down to Richmond. We’ve got a lot more going on than Confederate statues! We are chock full of history (controversial and not), museums, hip restaurants, microbreweries, bike lanes, a river with class IV rapids...did I mention history? Plus, we’re pretty friendly!!

The headline ("What’s Better Than Seeing a Hopper Painting? Sleeping in One") does not capture the essense of the article. And I most certainly would rather see a Hopper painting than sleep in one.

Brilliant. Can you park your own car next to the window?

Check out the recreation of Hoppers' Nighthawks painting at ETC's world headquarters. https://www.etcconnect.com

Saw this on a recent trip to Richmond and the hotel room is a showstopper. Fascinating to see Hopper’s cover art from travel magazines, works from Bruce Hornsby’s personal collection, and hotel-inspired paintings by other artists, including a rarely-seen John Singer Sergeant. The curator, Leo Mazow, and his team have done a remarkable job with this wonderful exhibit!

I once stayed at a hotel in Charlottenberg Berlin where each floor reflected the visual style of a different artist. I thought that was groovy but this takes it to a whole different level.

Grounds for Sculpture near Trenton, NJ has a life size version of Van Gogh's Room at Arles. You can enter, sit on a chair and have your picture taken. The resulting photos are uncanny blends of reality and illusion. It's a fun way to inhabit iconic art. It actually enhances the experience of viewing the painting by adding the third spatial dimension and that of time.

Yowza! wonderful concept in art—reminds of the Jean Dubuffet Hourloupe series cave at the fabulous Pompidou in Paris!