Katherine blogs - we're back at the museum!

On Tuesday, September 11^th, the Roadies made their second trip to the Columbia Museum of Art to get a taste of the behind the scenes work and dabble in the arts 3D style. And, I think the Roadies will all agree that the second art museum adventure was just as amazing and awesome as the first!

We started off the evening with a tour of the basement, which in an art museum is not a location to be scoffed at one bit. Todd Herman, chief curator and curator of European art, was our tour guide. Our first stop was the workshop where art crates, art supports, frames, and picture mats are made when needed. Next, we traveled down the hall and around a few corners to the “mock set-up” and de-accession room. In the “mock set-up” area, staff will unpack 3D works of art like plates, bowls, figurines, etc. and arrange them how they might appear in a case in the upstairs gallery. This process is more efficient then hauling all of the works of art upstairs and then trying to figure out how to best arrange them. In the de-accession area, staff place works that have been damaged or works that will most likely never be shown. The purpose of this process is to remove works that are only taking up space within storage because they cannot be shown due to quality or due to the particular taste of the art museum visitors. Some of these works are sold at auctions. Todd told us that this process is controversial because some feel that once a piece is bequeathed or donated to a museum they should always keep it. Others feel that even though some works have gone out of style they might come back into style years down the road; so, an art museum should not risk the chance of getting rid of anything.

After finding out that the value of an artist’s proof and the number of a print don’t affect the value of the work, we headed into the storage room. This room is quite expensive to maintain because the temperature and humidity have to be constantly monitored and kept at certain levels to preserve the 6,000 pieces of art that are housed there. First, Todd showed us the row of metal art racks on which pictures are hung. He pulled one rack out, and there was what looked like Henry VIII looking back at us! Then we moved over to the cabinets that house 3D art. Todd opened the top doors to reveal figurines and vases; then he pulled open one of the sliding trays to reveal rows of saucers. Every single piece of the museum’s collection is cataloged by the year it was received and the order of which it arrived that year.

We then moved over to the drawers where paper works are stored. Todd explained the importance of using acid-free paper and mate to conserve works. He advised us to keep paper works out of intense light because the colors, especially green and red, will fade over time.

With not much time left in the tour, Todd led the group upstairs to the exhibit gallery. We got a sneak peak at the Seeing Ourselves exhibit that’s scheduled to open to the public on September 14^th. Todd explained the tedious process of deciding how to arrange the works in terms of theme and size. He noted that the best gallery design is one that is not noticed because it just flows naturally.

Now it was time to create art! The first step was to take a sketch book to the collection gallery and sketch a pattern that caught our eye. This pattern would then be translated onto terra cotta clay that would be covered with plaster to make a 3D object. We were intensely examining picture frames, statues, and paintings when the lights went out. The security guard didn’t realize we were all still in the museum, so he was closing shop. But, he came to the rescue.

We then headed to the workshop and re-created our patterns in the clay. After the clay was layered with oil and covered with a plaster mix resembling a watery-Frosty, we were done!

What have I learned from Columbia’s New Audience Road Show’s stop at the Columbia Museum of Art? I’m reminded of a quote I once read by Patrick Mimran: “Art is not where you think you’re going to find it.” I feel that I have a greater appreciation and understanding of not just the Columbia Museum of Art but of art museums in general. I found it fascinating to learn about the significance of every choice the Museum makes. There’s art in planning and managing the facility. There’s art in handling a calendar that plans 5 years in advance. There’s art in delivering works of art and determining the best way to display them. There’s art in teaching art classes with students of various degrees of experience. The masterpiece that the Columbia Museum of Art staff creates was unseen by me before this Road Show stop. But, as Todd said, the best design is one which you don’t notice; what you notice instead is the actual art on display.

Several new memberships to the Museum, including mine, were inspired from this Road Show stop. There is so much the Museum offers, and every visit promises to hold new discoveries. So, I encourage you to visit the art museum and pay attention to the detail of the art, of the building, and of the layout. Enjoy the whole experience! Katherine

Lindsay blogs about the Columbia Museum of Art!

The Columbia Museum of Art offers more than I ever thought. . . this is truly a place not to be missed! We had the opportunity to not only view the different galleries but also become familiar with the structure of the building. Taking a tour with Joelle taught us the beginnings of analyzing paintings through lines and shading. In addition to viewing some amazing Renaissance pieces, Joelle informed us as to how the architecture of the building truly effects the exhibits and potential future shows.

Behind the scenes of The Columbia Museum of Art is truly amazing; from the planning aspect for various exhibits (did you know that the museum typically plans three years in advance?) to the building’s layout. One of the most interesting aspects of the tour was standing on the roof of the building and discussing how the walls, roof, and HVAC system make an impact on the museum. The museum is much larger than I ever expected; future plans include an expansion into currently unused portions of their space.

Once getting down from the roof, we had the opportunity to discuss a future exhibit entitled Seeing Ourselves. Currently, the behind the scenes work is underway, including choosing appropriate wall color and laying out the photographs. The show is divided into five subjects and will open on Thursday, September 13th, 2007.

After the grand tour was over, we had an opportunity to make our own prints with fish molds. I was a bit worried about an "art project" since I am not an artist. However, this was an attempt in trying something new. I enjoyed making a few prints and plan on framing one of the two. (Hey, it’s my first piece of artwork since elementary school!) The group enjoyed becoming more hands-on and this opportunity was not missed by a single member.

So, what have we learned so far from Columbia’s New Road Show? The Columbia Museum of Art is constantly evolving, pushing the borders of its audience through various mediums that are meant to challenge your mind and spirit. So get out there and challenge yourself! Lindsay