Some Changes

I liked the High Museum fairly well, but felt that it really lacked some kind of interaction, and I definitely did not feel like I needed to go back to the museum ever again.  I was like, okay I’ve seen the museum and there is no need to see it again.  There won’t be anything new about it if I go again next year or in five years. 

So, that got me to thinking about the museum in a different light.  What could make the museum more interesting to young people?  Why don’t they have cool activities like the Coca-Cola Museum?  The Coca-Cola Museum has a tasting room and a video room.  They have things to get their visitors involved.  It’s not just art pieces lined up on a wall. 

I don’t think an art museum has to feel stuffy.  I understand that it has to have some kind of ambience so that you will treat the artwork with some kind of reverence. But, perhaps the museum should have buttons that you push under the artwork so that you can get information about the paintings, like what was the artist trying to capture in the painting, or who is the person in the painting. It would also be great to get historical information about the artists.  I’d like to know about who the artist is.  Maybe see a picture of them, just some kind of information that makes it more personal. My mom told me about the exhibit she saw.  It was Monet & Bazille.  She said Monet and Bazille were friends and they traveled and painted together.  When that exhibit was at the High Museum, the paintings were displayed together and you got a little glimpse into their personal life.  She said these artists came alive to her by seeing them in this light.

Constructing a Thesis

I have never been interested in art before.  I thought that by going to the High Museum I would discover a love for art that was hidden deep within me.  While I did enjoy my visit to the museum and did fine some of the work fascinating, I have found that my research paper is not really going in the direction that I thought it would.  As I work on my thesis, I begin to wonder what is the goal for my paper.  I have experienced the museum.  I have talked to various workers at the museum and some visitors.

I have learned that the building that houses the High Museum is a piece of art in itself.  The museum houses thousands of works of arts.  It is a tourist attraction for the city of Atlanta.  I have taken pictures of some of the lovely art pieces.  But where do I go from here?

After careful review and reflection, I have decided that my paper should first tell the wonderful things about the museum that everyone enjoys.  Then, I should focus on why I don't like it as much as I had hoped and some improviements that could be made to make the museum better for the younger generation.

So here is my thesis:  The High Museum of Art is an architectural wonder, contains thousands of pieces of art, and is a great tourist attraction for the city of Atlanta; but is it a good attraction for the younger generation?

Lovely Gift to the High Museum

I was interested in how the museum obtains some of its artwork and discovered this article written just last month.  Buckhead residents, Irene and Howard Stein, donated a “world-class collection of Toulouse-Lautrec prints and other art that’s hailed as one of the most significant gifts in the High Museum’s history.”  Howard and Irene Stein began collecting art in the 1970s.  They focused their collection on Toulouse-Lautrec.  “We bought Toulouse-Lautrec because we appreciated the medium and enjoyed the stories behind the images,” Irene and Howard Stein said.” 

This exhibit, "Toulouse-Lautrec & Friends: The Irene and Howard Stein Collection," just recently opened at the High Museum.  It contains 88 pieces, which were given to the Museum as a permanent collection.  “The Steins hope their donation will inspire other collectors to do the same.”  Museum director Michael Shapiro said, “This is one of the largest and most significant gifts in the history of the High Museum of Art.”

“One highlight is a rare complete set of Toulouse-Lautrec’s masterpiece lithographs “The Elle Series” made in 1896. Only 20 prints of each image were printed.  The Steins had acquired individual prints from the series initially and later had the opportunity to purchase the entire set, found in virtually perfect condition. The series features intimate portraits of prostitutes and is displayed in glass cases.”

After having read this article, I feel a little amazed that I was able to view this collection.  If you view my blog from February 14, 2011, you can see two bronze statues of girls, which were part of the collection.

Source:
Frank, Lisa. New High Museum Exhibition Showcases Major Gift from Buckhead Couple Irene

  and Howard Stein.  5 February 2011. 3 March 2011.

< http://midtown.patch.com/articles/new-high-museum-exhibition-showcases-major-gift- from-buckhead-couple-irene-and-howard-stein>.

 

Interview with a Curator

In my research of curators, I was lucky enough to be able to have a phone interview with Ms. Heydt, the curator of American Art.  She has been with the High Museum for about two years.  Previously, she was a curator in Largo, Florida.  She even worked at the art museum at Harvard University for three years. Ms. Heydt has a Doctorate in Philosophy and Art History.  As curator of American Art, Ms. Heydt makes sure that the High Museum has significant works by well known American artists.  She is particularly proud of recent pieces they have obtained by well-known artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe.  She said she is proud that they now have around 900 pieces of American art.  I asked Ms. Heydt what her favorite piece of art is.  She said it is “Purissima” by Joseph Stella. 

I asked which painting it was and she said it is a large colorful painting of a medieval representation of the Virgin Mary. She said one reason that she likes it is the artist’s unusual use of fr

uit and flowers as a garland-like frame around the painting.  She also loves the symmetry of the painting, of how each side has a counterpart to the other side.  She said the artist even signed his name on both sides of the painting in keeping with the symmetry of the artwork.

After my interview, I looked up this piece of artwork on the web.  I do remember this painting I have attached a picture for you to see. 

Interview with High Museum Visitors

While at the High Museum, I met a young hip/artsy looking couple from Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Their names are Corey and Emily Henderson.  They had their little boy, Nigel with them.  Corey was a short small guy with balding blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.  He had on jogging pants and a green t-shirt.  Corey is the internet business.  Emily had on a long flowing skirt and some kind of hat. She had a stocky athletic build with short brown hair and brown eyes.  Nigel was the cutest little boy ever.  He had red hair, beautiful blue eyes, and such soft white skin.  After talking with them a while, I discovered that Emily owns her own photography business in New York.  They actually live in New York now, but were visiting their family in Chattanooga and took a day trip to Atlanta. Emily is a photographer for magazines, so she particularly loves art.

I asked how they liked the museum.  They said they loved the museum.  They love to go to museums whenever they travel.  They were fascinated that this was the first time I had ever been to the museum.  They particularly liked the children’s section that their son could go in and discover and play with art.  They said they spent quite a bit of time in there and were glad he had a chance to play with other children.

I told them that they have play groups in that center for toddlers every Thursday afternoon.  They do artwork with the children and they even have story time.  I asked them if this is something they would do regularly if they lived closer.  Emily said she would definitely want to do that once a month or so as an activity for Nigel, if they lived here.

Fun for Children

 The Greene Family Learning Center is located on the main level in the High Museum. This center is dedicated for pre-school children to children that are 10 years of age.  There are hands on activities for the children to play with and experience art.  

 When you first approach the entrance, you are greeting by vivid murals inviting you in.  The painting depicts an old country with dirt roads, colorful trees, and a little school house.  The grownups were doing outside chores while the children were playing about. You instantly think something fun is behind those walls and you want to investigate.  Well, I certainly wanted to investigate.

Upon entering the center, I saw several children playing around.  There were different centers for the children to play with art.  I met Carol inside this learning center.  She is an education volunteer at the High Museum.  I asked her if I could interview her to find out what kind of role she plays at the museum and why she is interested in art.

Me:  How long have you been volunteering at the High Museum? What do you do here?

Carol:  I have been volunteering here since August. Today I am volunteering in the Greene Education Center.  They have events like the Toddler Thursdays, so I come down and help if I am needed. I may be assisting in the Greene Education Center or greeting at the front door.  Just anywhere they need me.

Me:  What got you into art?

Carol:  I have been an artist all of my life.  I was creating things as a young child.  I knew I wanted to be an artist when I was in high school.

Me:  Are you an artist now?

Carol:  I am currently attending Perimeter College.  I am finishing my last two education classes.  Then I will go to Georgia State for my studio classes.  I taught art in school for the last six years.  I am taking a break right now to finish my school.  But, I have taught elementary, middle, and high school art.  I did this class for my high school students where the end result was to paint a fantasy landscape because fantasy illustration is so big in video games.  We painted large murals for the landscapes.  The students were really able to get creative and do some wonderful things.  In another class, I made them illustrate music.  We played different bits of music from screamo  to classic to rock.  They had to listen to it.  They couldn’t draw a picture, but they had to illustrate it through music and color. It was really fun.

Wow, I wish I would have had an art teacher like Carol.  Perhaps I would have had more of an appreciation for art if I had.

More Reflections of My Visit to the High Museum

The American art was shown on the third level of the museum.  One painting that stood out to me was “Moonlit Market” painted in 1874 by the American artist, Culverhouse.  The painting was of a market in the evening and all was kind of dark.  However, the moon and candles really seemed to illuminate the painting as if it was glowing. 

Another intriguing painting was “Life in the South”, painted by Eastman Johnson in 1870. 

  

Another American artist who truly captured my attention was Georgia O’Keeffe.  Her flowers were of such vivid colors.

The American and European Modern Art and Folk Art were located on the fourth level of the museum.  I must say that these were my least favorite of all of the art I saw today.  In other words, I hated it.  Not one person would want this art in their house and some of this artwork would give you nightmares.  Some of the folk art was interesting and even pretty, with the

vivid colors that were used.  For example, the painting “Yard Sale”, by Mattie Lou O’Kelley was a very pretty picture and interesting to look at, but I would never want it hanging in my house. 

Some of the modern and contemporary artwork was so simple.  It surprises me that it was in a museum.  Two of the pieces of contemporary art were even painted on tin roof material.

All in all, I would say that I very much enjoyed my first experience at the High Museum.  I now have more understanding of art and how it looked at different times in history.  Viewing historical art work is a good way for people to see and experience history, rather than just reading about it.

It was also interesting to see the different types of people who came to the museum and which types of artwork they seemed to be drawn to.  I will write more about the people in my next blog.