Three Voyages to Paradise is the best exhibition I have seen at The Maritime Museum. The curatorial concept has many different viewpoints which allow all types of visitors to engage with the artwork. Many people just love the fact that they are on a ship looking at art, which makes the experience a lot more exotic than being in a building. I relished in the fact that the exhibition felt like an exploration in itself. Since both vessels that hold the exhibit are so large and full of nautical history, I was a bit distracted at first. But, when I boarded the Berkley and entered the special exhibition area with walls covered in traditional South Pacific woven mats, I began to get excited.

Being an art enthusiast I went straight for the Gauguin collection and was not disappointed. The diversity of artworks from bronze sculptures to paintings, drawings, woodblock prints and writings by Gauguin kept my interest for well over an hour. I learned not only about Gauguin as an artist, but also about the culture of the people he encountered while living in Tahiti. He explored themes of native mythology, love and the natural flora of the island that makes me want to plan my next vacation there.

It was also fascinating to see how the official expedition artists who sailed with Captain Cook depicted the South Pacific centuries ago, before the culture was drastically altered by European conquest. These original voyage paintings were some of the first views of the South Pacific that were seen by Europeans and tell an interesting story about this newfound paradise. The exhibition is also chalked full of artifacts that give you a real sense for what life was like aboard these long voyages.

If you go, make sure to wear flat shoes. Although the ships are docked, they still move slightly and have uneven flooring. Also, make sure to bring change for the parking meters on the street in front of the museum, and a sweater in case the winds gust up. I recommend taking the whole family to see this exciting educational exhibition that will be on view through January 1, 2012. It is definitely worth the extra $10 museum admission fee, especially if you are interested in the art of Paul Gauguin. The major exhibition area is a bit small, so definitely try to go on an off day such as a weekday. The museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Visit http://www.sdmaritime.org/three-voyages/ for more information.