One of These is Not Like the Other
Can you spot the difference?
See the larger image here.
Unusual Admissions Policy?
My favorite part from this Jimmy Kimmel bit about the Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum in Austria…”All illegitimate children under 12 are free.”
Want to know more about the museum? You can visit their website or read more here.
Beluga Boogie
Beluga boogies down to the sweet songs of a mariachi band at the Mystic Aquarium.
Museum Madness in Manhattan
So, MoMA is buying the beleaguered American Folk Art Museum’s building, the Met is moving into the Whitney, and if you only see one exhibit this summer, it should be McQueen.
Whew, say that ten times fast.
No Dragons Allowed in the Galleries
Photo by d'n'c via Flickr.
This museum manners video from the Milwaukee Art Museum is really well done…
Museum Manners at the Milwaukee Art Museum
Random Exhibition Title Generator
Stumbled across this Random Exhibition Title Generator on Coudal this morning.
It made me try and imagine what would be in these exhibits.
For instance, In Search of Illusion: The Disjunction of Dysfunction…is this an exhibit about magicians? Or perhaps it’s a photography show?
Or how about Postcolonial Banality: A Retrospective of the System? A look at how postcolonial societies struggled to find their own identity, or an interior design show?
And when Archaeological History: Figuring the Avant Garde came up, I was at a loss. Is there such a thing and avant garde archaeology?
So, you tell us, what would we find in an exhibit titled Decadent Properties: Defying Too Many Dinner Parties?
In the News…
There has been looting at Egypt’s Cairo Museum. I don’t care who is responsible for it, just stop. It’s wrong. On a related note, one author thinks the situation in Egypt is perfect example of why Zahi Hawass’ cries for repatriation don’t hold water.
The New York Times covers both sides of the pond, taking a peek at 100 Years of British Sculpture and checking out Tampa Bay’s revamped Dali Museum.
The Guardian found Lisbon’s burgeoning street art scene noteworthy.
Can you name the famous Van Gogh painting from these pie-chart color palates? Via Flavorwire.
Familiar with the Kentucky art scene? No? Well, now you can be.
Loving the Google Art Project.
The LA Times says the ball is Clough’s court after special Smithsonian Regents session.
Hmm. Montreal’s Museum of Possibilities.
A Museum Lover’s Gift Guide: Magazines
Here are 5 glossy-paged publications to satisfy any museum fix…
1. Smithsonian Magazine. The granddaddy of them all, I’ve never not read one cover to cover. Plus, the ads in the back for large button cell phones are pretty hilarious.
2. Paper Monument: A Journal of Contemporary Art. There have only been three issues so far, but with articles like “How to Behave in an Art Museum,” “The Empire of Conversation,” and “Did Anyone Understand Chinese Art?” this is a publication worth adding to the pile on your coffee table.
3. Museums Journal. First published in 1901, this monthly offering from the Museum Association tackles it all: museum ethics, exhibits, profiles, book reviews, work practices, and more.
4. National Geographic. Whether it is the yellow borders on the cover that never fade, the stunning photographs, or the incredibly well-written articles, this magazine is consistently good. It’s always nice to enjoy yourself when learning new things.
5. Monocle Magazine. Not specifically about museums, but this British magazine covers art, design, politics, fashion, curation, international affairs, quality of life, and on and on. Sort of like a more artistic Economist.
A Museum Lover’s Gift Guide: Books
Here are 5 books a museum-lover might want to add to their library…
1. Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth is an (almost) comprehensive look at the bugs, birds, birches and more that call our planet home.
2. Rogue’s Gallery: The Secret Story of Lust, Lies, Greed, and Betrayals That Made the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Michael Gross. At times, this glimpse at the building of the Met reads a little slow, but for anyone interested in the history of some of our nation’s biggest movers and shakers or museums in general, this is a must read.
3. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel. What’s not to like? War heroes vs. Nazis, the hunt for priceless works of art, the triumph of good over evil all set against a WWII backdrop.
4. The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art by Don Thompson. If you’ve ever looked at a piece of modern art and thought: “That’s worth what?!?!”, then this book might go a ways toward helping you understand the crazy world of contemporary art.
5. Ape House: A Novel by Sara Gruen. If you loved Water for Elephants, you know that Gruen is extremely gifted at bringing the emotions of animals to life. So, if you have a zoo or animal lover on your list, this might be a good last minute gift.
What museum-related books will you be purchasing this holiday season?
Mysteries at the Museum
There is this book called Behind the Scenes at the Museum. It’s written by one of my favorite authors, Kate Atkinson; and while it is a great read, this story is not what I wanted it to be about when I first saw the title: mainly, a tale of intrigue at a world-famous museum.
So, imagine my excitement when I stumbled across the Travel Channel’s new show, Mysteries at the Museum. A whole series about mysteries at real life museums! How grand! Here’s the show’s premise:
“Museums are where America displays its wondrous treasures of the past – often strange and curious remnants of the momentous events that have shaped our history. Behind each artifact is yet another story to be told and secrets to be revealed – tales brimming with scandal, mystery, murder and intrigue. Whether a diary from an Arctic exploration, a stone giant thought to be the remnant of a race of enormous people, or a futuristic house that almost changed the world, iconic museum artifacts help us uncover who we are and what we’ve become.”
There have only been three episodes so far, but they sure have covered a lot of ground. They’ve been to famous Alcatraz in the sharky waters of San Francisco Bay and the pretty sweet National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. They’ve investigated Seattle’s Avalanche Train, gone behind the scenes at the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, and explored the unknown in Roswell, New Mexico. The Harvard Museum of Natural History‘s mastodon even made an appearance.
Mysteries at the Museum is a show worth watching for a number of reasons:
- It’s a chance to learn about the backstory of museum artifacts (famous and non) beyond what’s available on a museum placard.
- It’s an opportunity to meet the people who work at museums – curators, archaeologists, scientists, historians, etc. – and to see the passion that goes into preserving and presenting artifacts.
- It’s a great way to visit museums all across the country without putting a serious dent in your pocketbook and dealing with jet lag. (Downside: no frequent flier miles for you).
- Mysteries are exciting, of course.
However, if you aren’t willing to pass up a Dancing with the Stars results show or can’t miss sweating it out with the Biggest Loser (both shows air on Tuesdays at 9 Eastern, just like Mysteries), you can always catch a rerun. Or, visit Travel Channel’s website for clips from past episodes, slideshows like “Top 10 Museum Mysteries” and “Must See Museums,” opportunities to plan your own museum travel itinerary, or leave a comment about your favorite museum experience.
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