4.2.5. Visiting Museums & Galleries

Light

I can fill a room, but I take up no space. What am I?

Welcome

Reminders

• Unit 4 test is the next lesson! We will review during class time!
• You can RESUBMIT assignments for a higher grade.
• Check out the Unit Resource Padlet in the Resource Section, it has all the assignment resources.

• That models have the right to privacy, the right to publicity, and the right against defamation
• Differences among the various rights of models and when a photographer should use a model release
• Ways to recognize violations of a model's rights and how to analyze a scenario to avoid violations of a model's rights

Recap 4.2.4.

4.2.5.

Visiting Museums & Galleries

Vocab: art gallery, museum

Learners can:

• Recognize the importance of museums
• Identify visitor tips to have a satisfying museum experience
• Identify the do's and don'ts at a museum or gallery
• Explain how to maintain gallery etiquette in a given scenario

Did you know that the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) is one of only THREE museums dedicated to photography in the United States? Located in San Diego, California, and opened to the public in 1983, MOPA aims to collect, present, and inform the viewer about the history of and advances in photography through its exhibitions. The idea for the museum was born from local photographers and art enthusiasts whose mission was to build an organization for the art of photography. The museum is dedicated to sharing and educating visitors through their photography collection. One of its permanent collections explores the entire history of photography, including how the process has developed over time. Additionally, the museum offers various classes and workshops to visitors to increase their knowledge of photography. More than 100,000 visitors explore the Museum of Photographic Arts each year!

Museum of Photographic Arts

The word museum comes from the Greek mouseion, which translates to the temple or shrine dedicated to the Muses and the arts they inspired, including dance, music, and literature.

Origin Story

The most-visited museum in the world and the second-largest art museum is the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. It houses a collection of artwork that spans from ancient civilizations to the mid-nineteenth century. The museum houses the famous Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the sixteenth century and encased in bulletproof glass.

City of Lights

The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, is not only the largest museum in the world but also home to nearly 50 cats! Cats have made the museum home since the eighteenth century when they were initially brought in to get rid of mice. Catherine the Great titled the cats the "guardians of the museum."

When the Cat's Away, the Mice Will Play

The Guggenheim Museum in New York, or rather its structure, has been designated a National Historic Landmark, a title it earned in 2008. Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the contemporary art museum as a monument to modernism. It features a spiral ramp and a domed skylight.

Recognized for Significance

Falling Water

Fallingwater is a house designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, about 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in the United States. It is built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

Seasonings

The Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is dedicated solely to salt and pepper shakers. The museum's impressive collection features more than 20,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers from all over the world.

Money Well Spent

The first public museum, the Ashmolean Museum, opened in Oxford, England, in 1683. Admission fees were calculated based on how much time visitors spent there.

A museum is an entity that collects, preserves, and displays historical, scientific, and artistic objects in different forms. An art gallery is a place that displays artwork for the purpose of displaying and or selling. Most people believe that museums and galleries are storage places for historical items. However, museums provide enriching learning experiences in that they:

• Preserve and display artwork
• Provide valuable information about the history of an artwork
• Present artworks that can spark a viewer's imagination, encourage creativity, and broaden their horizons
• Introduce and bring attention to upcoming artists
• Contribute to promoting tourism
• Help art and scientific researchers
• Act as community centers

Museums and Art Galleries

Museums and art galleries are always on the lookout for works that reflect society's history, culture, arts, and sciences. They collect artwork that provides information on and answers questions such as:

• How did culture change?
• How did people live during a specific time?
• How did artists see life around them during their lifetime?
• How did the artists express themselves creatively in their lifetime?

Preserve

In addition to art, museums also preserve photographs that show history and progress in archaeology, science, agriculture, natural history, and many more. These museums help to educate people about different aspects of subjects and time periods that interest them. Artists can visit art galleries to educate themselves about different artists, subjects, techniques, types, and mediums in photography. Professional courses are often offered by museums and taught by staff and experts. These opportunities can help budding or amateur photographers build their careers.

Educate

Museums and art galleries exhibit photographs of upcoming photographers, providing them a platform to display their work. The exhibitions give viewers an excellent opportunity to learn from and interact with photographers.

Promote

Museums often act as record keepers of the culture and history of a place. They also attract tourists. An increase in tourism can put the city, town, or state in which the museum is located in the public eye, locally and globally. An increase in tourism can boost the museum's revenue, allowing them to acquire, collect, and preserve more artwork. It can also contribute to the state's revenue.

Boost Tourism

Museums and galleries are places for researchers or scientists to study multiple collections and primary source documents.

Research

Museums and art galleries act as community centers where visitors can socialize and meet like-minded people, exchanging thoughts and learning about new perspectives.

Socialize

Question

🔥 Museums and art galleries enhance knowledge and help build an eye for appreciating the world from different perspectives. However, visiting these places for the first time without prior preparation may be intimidating. Developing an eye for appreciating art in any form takes time. Here are a few tips to best experience museums and art galleries.

Experiencing Museums and Art Galleries

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Find Your Interest

Take Your Time

Do Your Homework

Plan Ahead

While observing a photograph, notice your eye movements and consider:

• Which part of the photograph grabs your attention first?
• How do your eyes move from one part of the photograph to another?
• What leads your eye from one area of the photograph to another?

Eye Movements

Museums and art gallery displays always have a brief write-up next to them that provides information on the artwork. If you are curious, ask the museum staff to guide you through the museum or to an appropriate resource. Large museums and galleries also provide audio guidebooks to enhance the experience of learning. You can ask for these guidebooks upon entering the museum.

Read, Listen, and Ask

Question

Museums and art galleries are formal places that require visitors to follow certain guidelines and maintain decorum. To ensure this, there are certain rules of etiquette that must be followed.

🔥 Rules of Etiquette

Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago

These do's and don'ts can vary depending on the museum you visit. Make sure you explore the museum's website before your visit to be better acquainted with their guidelines. Guidelines are usually posted in the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section online. Link to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago, Illinois is here (click the globe) and in edio.

Question

Question

Summary 4.2.5.

In today's lesson, you learned:

• the importance of museums and art galleries
• tips to have the best museum viewing experience
• etiquette to follow while visiting museums and art galleries

In an upcoming lesson, you will take the unit test. Be sure to study your notes from this unit in preparation for the test.

See you next time!

Take Your Time

Do not rush from one artwork to another. Spend time exploring each piece. Reflect on the artwork based on the following questions:

• What do you know about the artwork?
• Which elements of art and design principles has the photographer used in this artwork?
• What story does the photograph convey?
• What was the artistic vision of the photographer, and how does it differ from yours?
• How does the photo inspire you technically and creatively?

Plan Ahead

Plan your visit so that you have enough time to thoroughly explore the artworks in the museum or gallery at your leisure.

Find Your Interest

You may not need to visit every corner of the museum or art gallery. Identify one interest, such as photographs related to natural history or science, and pursue those displays and collections.

Do Your Homework

Once you find a museum or art gallery of interest, do your homework. Research what types of artworks are showcased, how they might interest or inspire you, and what you can learn from them.