"Yves Saint Laurent: 'Mondrian' day dress (C.I.69.23)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/C.I.69.23 (October 2006)

1. If you thought you were the only one who thought “Denver? Really?” when you heard the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition would be popping up in the Mile High City, don’t worry, you’re not alone. The Denver Post tackles “How the Denver Art Museum Got the Yves Saint Laurent Exhibit.”

2. Over in Barcelona, the CaixaForum art gallery just opened a major Goya exhibition.

3. Thanks to “a shot-in-the-dark blog-post query, a little luck and a donor with a romantic streak” a 30-year mystery has been solved at Philadelphia’s Rosenbach Museum and Library.

4. Art museums tend to dominate travel itineraries, but check out these 10 Best Non-Art Museums for your next trip.

5. Speaking of itineraries, Tired of London, Tired of Life recommends checking out the British Museum at twilight.

See the larger image here.

Want to know more about the museum? You can visit their website or read more here.

Whew, say that ten times fast.

Photo by d'n'c via Flickr.

This museum manners video from the Milwaukee Art Museum is really well done…

Museum Manners at the Milwaukee Art Museum

It made me try and imagine what would be in these exhibits.

For instance, In Search of Illusion: The Disjunction of Dysfunction…is this an exhibit about magicians? Or perhaps it’s a photography show?

Or how about Postcolonial Banality: A Retrospective of the System? A look at how postcolonial societies struggled to find their own identity, or an interior design show?

And when Archaeological History: Figuring the Avant Garde came up, I was at a loss. Is there such a thing and avant garde archaeology?

So, you tell us, what would we find in an exhibit titled Decadent Properties: Defying Too Many Dinner Parties?

There has been looting at Egypt’s Cairo Museum. I don’t care who is responsible for it, just stop. It’s wrong. On a related note, one author thinks the situation in Egypt is perfect example of why Zahi Hawass’ cries for repatriation don’t hold water.

The New York Times covers both sides of the pond, taking a peek at 100 Years of British Sculpture and checking out Tampa Bay’s revamped Dali Museum.

The Guardian found Lisbon’s burgeoning street art scene noteworthy.

Can you name the famous Van Gogh painting from these pie-chart color palates? Via Flavorwire.

Familiar with the Kentucky art scene? No? Well, now you can be.

Loving the Google Art Project.

The LA Times says the ball is Clough’s court after special Smithsonian Regents session.

Hmm. Montreal’s Museum of Possibilities.

Here are 5 glossy-paged publications to satisfy any museum fix…

1. Smithsonian Magazine. The granddaddy of them all, I’ve never not read one cover to cover. Plus, the ads in the back for large button cell phones are pretty hilarious.

2. Paper Monument: A Journal of Contemporary Art. There have only been three issues so far, but with articles like “How to Behave in an Art Museum,” “The Empire of Conversation,” and “Did Anyone Understand Chinese Art?” this is a publication worth adding to the pile on your coffee table.

3. Museums Journal. First published in 1901, this monthly offering from the Museum Association tackles it all: museum ethics, exhibits, profiles, book reviews, work practices, and more.

4. National Geographic. Whether it is the yellow borders on the cover that never fade, the stunning photographs, or the incredibly well-written articles, this magazine is consistently good. It’s always nice to enjoy yourself when learning new things.

5. Monocle Magazine. Not specifically about museums, but this British magazine covers art, design, politics, fashion, curation, international affairs, quality of life, and on and on. Sort of like a more artistic Economist.

1. Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth is an (almost) comprehensive look at the bugs, birds, birches and more that call our planet home.

2. Rogue’s Gallery: The Secret Story of Lust, Lies, Greed, and Betrayals That Made the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Michael Gross. At times, this glimpse at the building of the Met reads a little slow, but for anyone interested in the history of some of our nation’s biggest movers and shakers or museums in general, this is a must read.

3. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel. What’s not to like? War heroes vs.  Nazis, the hunt for priceless works of art, the triumph of good over evil all set against a WWII backdrop.

4. The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art by Don Thompson. If you’ve ever looked at a piece of modern art and thought: “That’s worth what?!?!”, then this book might go a ways toward helping you understand the crazy world of contemporary art.

5. Ape House: A Novel by Sara Gruen. If you loved Water for Elephants, you know that Gruen is extremely gifted at bringing the emotions of animals to life. So, if you have a zoo or animal lover on your list, this might be a good last minute gift.

What museum-related books will you be purchasing this holiday season?