I am always lamenting the lack of art I want to see here. There is good stuff, but at the end of the day a room of 18th century paintings verses the palaces and museums full of them in places like Italy, England, the US etc, just doesn't compare. It is understandable in a sense considering when our galleries began. But I am also struck by the lack of good design exhibitions, once again we obviously don't have quite the grounding of other countries, but nonetheless I think there often just is not appreciation for such exhibitions. The upcoming V&A Art Deco travelling exhibit at the NGV will have a lot, but it is a HUGE deal and all the gallery people keep talking about it as though no one has ever seen anything except for a painting in an exhibit before. This is an exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in the States, such beautiful things and so inspiring.