myagmsma

[myagmsma]

wow!

thepreciousthing:

ladies and gentlemen, behold

the St. Louis City Museum:

Playground for adults and children.

They even serve alcohol.

[myagmsma]

Nothing could make me more curious about your taxidermy than this.

[myagmsma]

This is the most amazing post I have read in a long time and I am SO happy for you, Emily! :)

I'm not sure that "excited" even begins to cover it.

When Heather Hsu contacted me months ago asking if we would be interested in flying to Chicago to film the Field Museum’s annual Member’s Night event, I had no idea that, first off, people cared enough about the show to grant us such an amazing opportunity, or secondly, that her generous contribution would result in a career opportunity for me.  And I was incredibly surprised when I called the Field to ask their permission to film there because I wasn’t even sure if they would allow it, so when the person on the other line responded with we’ve seen your show, my stomach somersaulted.  This is the Field Museum we’re talking about, here. The Field that I had read so much about in books, the Field with their 25 million specimens and artifacts.  The Field had seen my show.  At least, some of the employees had, but still.  Hailing from a small campus museum in Montana, it was like Picasso showing up to your gallery opening, like Benedict Cumberbatch saying he likes your fanart.  The Field Museum.  

Imagine my surprise when they were not only willing to let us film there, but they offered to set up behind-the-scenes tours.  Picture my astonishment when those tours spanned three days, and they invited me to join their after-hours get-togethers.  It’s better than going to an amusement park and not having to wait in lines.  It’s better than meeting your favorite author and getting their autograph.  It’s better than a first kiss.  It’s better than cake and brownies.  I thought I was dreaming.  I’m still not convinced I’m not in a coma.  

This time last year I did not have a job, I didn’t know if I would be in graduate school, and all I had was a blog with a small community of loyal fans and followers who shared my love for natural history museums.  I dreamt of one day getting a job in a museum somewhere, anywhere.  I was holding out for the UM Zoological Museum to offer me part-time and, well, I’d figure out the rest.  So picture me sitting in a conference room with staff members of the Field as they offer me a job there.  And not just any job (I would have totally been fine with any kind of job), but they want to help us continue making our show in their museum and oh my god they want to send me on field expeditions. And then later that night Richard Lariviere, the Field’s President, shook my hand, leaned in and said, I hope to see you move to Chicago.

There has never been a single shred of doubt in my mind that this is absolutely everything I have ever wanted to do, could have ever conceivably dreamed of doing, and to know that it is happening to me is an absolutely surreal experience.  That being said, as soon as I got back to Missoula I went to the Museum, shut the door, sat on the floor and cried.  Because that’s where it all started - in that room, sitting at the single work table with Dave.  Two and a half years ago I stepped in there, blissfully unaware of what the future held for me, completely oblivious to the world of possibility the collection I was standing in was about to offer.  

I owe so much to that museum.  I’m nervous for its future with both Dave and me leaving, but I remain confident that there are others like us out there who are willing to pour their life into that collection. This community has restored my faith in humanity; I’m reassured that passionate people exist who know the intense value of these museums, and like myself, refuse to let them go by the wayside.  I know where I leave a space, there will be someone to step into my role, and that position will be as gratifying and enlightening for them as it was for me.  

So, I’m moving to Chicago.  My first day of work at the Field is July 8th.  Rest assured Michael Aranda will continue to film, edit, and produce The Brain Scoop - this project would not be the same without him.  And, I’ll be awfully surprised if that damn raccoon doesn’t find a way to hitch a ride in my moving van. 

[myagmsma]

Reposted from my personal blog. 

[myagmsma]

John Rylands Family Fun Easter Activity Day!

As I am doing my work placement at the John Rylands library in Manchester City Centre, I was asked to help out today at an activity day.

I helped to set up the room and make a few example Easter cards and badges and then got the face painting area all set up! 

I tested a few images on my hand while I waited for the families to arrive.

As the afternoon progressed I transformed a load of young'uns into rabbits, gave them eggs or butterflies on their cheeks, created a "flower princess" and even a very Easter-y tiger.

I felt great giving these children a make-believe make-over! 

I can certainly see the benefit for children and their families to go out on days like this, to take part in crafts and to learn skills and to go on Dragon Egg hunts and just to be in a Library environment.

My own childhood was filled with days like today (though I rarely ever had my face painted!) and I'm just so glad that I'm able to contribute and give days like this to the next generation.

[myagmsma]

fascinating

Two years ago, we launched an experiment: an online image library where we made 2,000 high-resolution images of artworks that the museum deemed to be in the public domain available for download without any restrictions.  This week, we’ve exceeded ourselves with the launch of our new collections website, giving away ten times the number of images we offered in the initial image library. Nearly 20,000 high-quality images of art from our collection are available to search, download, and use as you see fit.

What Do Cats Have to Do With It? Welcome to Our New Collections Website

Dear Tumblr-verse,

Merry Christmas: we just gave you 20,000 high-resolution images, for free. Now we have just one question: what are you going to do with them?

[myagmsma]

[myagmsma]

[myagmsma]

Raqib Shaw - Manchester Art Gallery

Raqib Shaw

Raqib Shaw’s presence is apparent before you enter Manchester Art Gallery, as plants and flowers surround the entrance, inviting you into the gallery. Once through the front door you are greeted by his work immediately; midway up the central staircase, a grisly depiction of a swan maiming a pig-like creature draws you up to gaze upon its surreal form. Bringing to mind a Lord of the Flies-esque chant of “kill the pig!”, the violent scene can be off-putting but might equally spur curiosity to see what the full show of Shaw’s work might contain.

The startlingly intricate spectacle of his output spans two large rooms with other pieces strategically placed throughout the gallery. Paintings, sculptures and works on paper from three of Shaw’s series work are visited: Absence of God, Paradise Lost and Of Beasts and Super- Beasts.

You can take in the whole of the first room in a sweeping glance as the floor is left open and each artwork large, but you might observe fellow visitors with their noses nearly touching the art as they peer at the intricate details. The beauty and rawness of these works can be found with inspection and Manchester Art Gallery have provided no barriers, the work is free to be scrutinised. You are able to see the marble effect of the enamel paint employed by Shaw, the fierce detail of his talent in manipulating materials to create masterpieces. It is difficult to resist looking closely at the elaborate stained glass outlines of gold or silver, filled with the wonderful shine of enamel paint and embellished at focal points of the composition with diamantes and glitter. The shimmer of rhinestones drags your attention from one imagined world to another. This is truly art where an artist is evident; someone who knows their craft. Art: where the form, content and creators skill are combined with an awareness of aesthetics to create really powerful pieces.

At once a dream or a nightmare, there is a thrill of life in each scene. Seemingly childlike in the intensity of the colours and the natural scenery, yet the animal characters under any amount of inspection are quite corrupt and deal with mature satirical themes. Critters, flowers and butterflies are paired with ropes and chains and death.

Unable to merely glance, your eyes roam and explore each composition. Sometimes it is difficult when content depicted when it is both beautiful and grotesque; a parody of society. There is splendour but not glamour in the raw, brutal, violent, and manipulated forms that boast exactitudes of detail and freedom of expression.

Following a light-hearted a family friendly show of works made from paper, Raqib Shaw’s work is a leap into gritty and real topics showing that Manchester Art Gallery are willing to host work that could be seen as controversial and are not just hosting safe shows aimed at pleasing crowds. Though I would argue that this show too, could be a crowd pleaser!

[myagmsma]

Richard Long - Tuesday Talks at Whitworth

Just a quick note to say I attended Richard Long's talk on Tuesday and it was very interesting and insightful. 

I really respect his desire to make art in a human and responsive way to the environment. Despite being a Big Name he is just a regular guy who likes going on long walks. He just makes his journeys meaningful in the actions he takes and the way he shares what he records. 

I'd love to get the chance to see more artists do talks like this but they're usually at the most awkward times of day! 

[myagmsma]

Tate Liverpool - Glam! The Performance of Style

I visited this show as part of our Art Curating "homework", to visit and take notes on a themed show.

I have mixed feelings about it...

In some respects it was great, to be presented with well known artists eg. Richard Hamilton, in the themed context of Glam! was refreshing. To see also, how cultural output of so many forms reflected and responded to life in the 1970s. It was great to see memorabilia and ephemera from the era right there next to video art and paintings. The mood was set by music of the time creating a nostalgia for a bygone era. 

However, the music was too loud. It didn't allow any of the video art to be heard effectively. Some of the displays were themes within themes but only had one or two examples to fit the idea which seemed a bit unsupported. 

The most interesting aspect was the art that explored gender identity, androgyny and exaggerated identity. I felt that this could have been the entire focus of the show and really got deep into the lasting effects of Glam as a movement. Alas, it was just a small segment of the overall display. 

It's worth a visit though, maybe as someone who lived through the time who wants to remember or as someone as clueless as I was of the genre of Glam so that you can learn about it and recognise the impacts it has had.

(Also, with being a student and having an Art Card I got in for only £3!)

[myagmsma]

Quarry Bank Mill, The Lowry and The Imperial War Museum North

Over the weekend I explored the three cultural spots mentioned in the title of this post and for the sake of posterity I'm going to blog a bit about them.

Quarry Bank Mill is a National Trust property not too far from Manchester Airport. My childhood was full of NT visits so this was another pleasant tick on my growing list of NT properties visited. (A list that will definitely grow as I now have Life Time Membership! So free entry for me and one other person for the rest of my life! :D) 

The Mill and surrounding area is currently being used for a film set and so there were extraneous set dressings in the outdoor areas. 

We (that is my Parents, James and I) began our visit with a meal in their restaurant and then headed into the old Mill itself for some exploration. 

The building is laid out in such a way that you follow a route that leads from the very top to the bottom of the building and follow the story of Cotton from its growth and import to its manufacture into cotton goods such as clothing and tea towels. The first exhibit about Cotton is plenty informative and interesting but it is equally obvious that it is a 20 year old display that is in need of renovation. The Quarry Bank Mill has just begun a fund raising campaign to rejuvenate and improve many aspects of the property, it can be found here.

The really interesting part began as we entered the next room and a lovely older lady started explaining the early cotton spinning process and its history in a mock up cottage and historical garb. She then explained the improvements that advances in technology made which allowed for much speedier production of cotton threads and weaving fabrics. 

What followed was the story of the factory through to the modern adaptations of similar weaving machines to those used today. It was informative and loud and would be nothing without the wonderful and knowledgeable people who can tell the stories about the building, family and processes of the Mill.

We also had an hour long guided tour of the building where the child workers would have lived. It was a bleak life for them squashed and locked into a cold and pretty small building. However, the guide explained that, actually, life at QBM was far superior to that at many other similar factories, especially as these children had access to a doctor! 

On Sunday we decided some art history would complement our exploration of QBM the day before and headed to The Lowry art gallery which is tucked away in a giant entertainment complex at Salford Quays. 

We happened to turn up just in time for a guided tour of the exhibits and I found it very well presented and informative. I thought the gallery made great use of its oddly shaped galleries and had taken great care over presentation. The red walls, mixed framing and themed rooms really made me feel confident that Lowry's work is cared about and displayed in an engaging way.

The gallery is also currently displaying a show called "Peter Blake and Pop Music" which was an equally well curated show of album art work and inspiration, including a lovely vintage jukebox. 

We finished our weekend culture binge by popping over the bridge to the Imperial War Museum. It's huge and houses a lot of fascinating relics and reminders of the atrocities of war, but also the ingenuity that is encouraged during times of fear and necessity. 

The current exhibit "Saving Lifes" which focuses on the medical improvements made necessary by war was wonderful. I especially liked the mix of types of exhibits that ranged from the regular photos, objects and labels to art, video and audio histories. It was, although harrowing, a brilliant refection of our ability to adapt and invent.

Overall, I had a brilliant weekend and it reinforced how important museum culture is and how vital it is that they continue to receive the funding they need to keep providing such insight.

[myagmsma]

I just tweeted a lot of thoughts that maybe I should have formulated into a blog post over here instead. But it was a spur of the moment outburst and now I'm just reflecting on it.

My life has been full of museums, art galleries, national trust properties and theatre. It has also had it's fair amount of gigs, library visits, re-enactments, book fairs, choir concerts, art lessons, outdoor art productions. For goodness sake, I once sat on the Plinth in Trafalgar Square for a full hour making a balloon sculpture as part of One and Other.

I can't imagine a holiday that doesn't involve visiting at least one art gallery or museum or place of culture. When we were in Switzerland we specifically made time to go to the Sherlock Holmes exhibit and see some art in a local church. 

My ideas for my future career have never been settled. I wanted to be a vet when I was very young because I liked Animal Hospital, an archaeologist because for some reason I liked Time Team, a teacher during my teens because I knew that I would be able to do it and I enjoy the process of sharing knowledge. These were clearly all theoretical and none of them was really a serious career choice for me.

I went to University to do Fine Art because I enjoyed it, I was good at it and I wanted a degree that I wouldn't hate doing. It was wonderful and during my time at Lancaster I volunteered in the Peter Scott Gallery on campus. A beautiful small gallery where I took part in so many different tasks from behind the scenes archiving to physically preparing the rooms for the next show, applying sticker decals to the walls and hanging artwork. I also took part in the Conversations with the Collections project which involved co-running an after school art club, the results of which went into a show!

All of these experiences (and a couple of talks with tutors) led me to the realisation that I wanted to contribute to the arts, not by making my own art as an artist, but by facilitating others. I was encouraged to enrol on the Manchester University Masters course called Art Gallery and Museum Studies; which is where I am today.

I still don't know exactly what I want to do 'as a career' but I do know that a cultural institution, preferably an art gallery or museum, is where I'd love to be. I am leaning towards the area of education and learning and the aspects of galleries that work with school aged children, but I certainly won't limit myself. 

The scary thing is, I might not get the chance to. Every day I hear of museums and galleries losing funding, facing downsizing or even closing. It breaks my heart. 

I suppose I'll just have to wait and see where the future leads and in the meantime enjoy my work placement at the John Rylands Library and learn as much as I can about cultural institutions and what I can do to support them!

[myagmsma]

Genuinely had a 2 hour lecture today about how "thinking about things while you are doing them, and afterwards" is good practice. Also, "writing stuff down is useful." 

[myagmsma]

Some info about Blake I have discovered while researching for my placement

Crabb Robinson, 1810, considered Blake's engravings for Night Thoughts, 'sometimes "preposterous" but "frequently exquisite"'.

His contemporaries found his poetry unintelligible and thought him quite mad.

"a fine if eccentric engraver"

"a designer whose works balanced uncertainly on the treacherous ground between extravagance and sublimity."

1863, the publishing of 'Pictor Ignotus' brought Blake notoriety. 

His primary concerns were theological and philosophical.

Between 1787 and 1789 he developed a unique method of "relief etching", enabling him to produce durable copperplates that could be printed off in his own workroom in as few or as many copies as he liked. 

(Just for future reference, really)

[myagmsma]

Dream City - an experimental display!

Last term we were split into 4 groups and tasked with creating a display in response to the prompt: "Urban Life". 

Our group decided that we would use the opportunity to create our "Dream City". Each of us produced a paper version of an element of our home towns which we thought was integral to a perfect city. 

Alongside our models we each wrote a blurb explaining our choices which was shown with a photograph of our inspiration to provide context and to stop out display being entirely bland and white! 

My contribution: Durham Cathedral.

This was an unmarked part of our course, but we had to mark each other's displays. We still haven't heard whose was judged to be the best!

[myagmsma]

York Minster - The Orb

I recently visited York, and while I was there I took the time to explore the new exhibit in York Minster, "The Orb".

It is a very attractive display of Medieval Art, mostly stained glass. It has example photographs of the windows before they were restored and the actual sections that have had work done to them.

What I found most intriguing about this display was the absolute minute detail that is evident on these sections of window. Windows that would be displayed far too far from human eyes to be able to see all the intricate lines painted on! 

The display area will be open until 2016 with a changing display each month as a new piece of the window is shown!