Don't go to a museum with a destination. Museums are wormholes to other worlds. They are ecstasy machines.

The art world is molting - some would say melting. Galleries are closing; museums are scaling back.

Of course art world ethics are important. But museums are no purer than any other institution or business. Academics aren't necessarily more high-minded than gallerists.

Outside museums, in noisy public squares, people look at people. Inside museums, we leave that realm and enter what might be called the group-mind, getting quiet to look at art.

Summer is a great time to visit art museums, which offer the refreshing rinse of swimming pools - only instead of cool water, you immerse yourself in art.

Megacollectors suppose they can enter art history by spending astronomical amounts.