Question Description
Please use the website for Cuyamaca College Heritage of the Americas Museum. Follow the instructions on the below.
ART 357: Non-Western Art Paper AssignmentA. WILLIAMS
Please write a 3 (double-spaced 12 pt font) page summary of your visit using the questions below as your guide. You may exceed the 3 pages, but dont make it too long.
Attach a scan or photo your museum entry stub (or stamped proof of entry) and turn it in with the paper. You might want to take a photo of it immediately in case of loss.
Allow plenty of time so that you can relax and enjoy yourself.Take the assignment sheet with you.Include a photo of your favorite work of art if photography is allowed, or if the museum website has downloadable images.Due in the Turnitin module in Blackboard, check syllabus for date.
MUSEUM ETIQUETTE: Do not touch objects in a museum, unless an object is specifically labeled touchable.Some objects are not protected by glass cases (vitrines) but the oils from hands will damage works of art.
Remember to show your student card for a reduced ticket price.Check websites or phone for open days and hours.
Choose one of the following museums which have non-western art holdings; they are in the San Diego area, most are in Balboa Park:
A. San Diego Museum of Art: www.sdmart.org.The non-Western art wings art on the left as you enter the building.
Select one themed room in the Non-Western Art wing of the museum e.g. Buddhism Arts of Iran, Art of Papua New Guinea
- They have a downloadable app to guide you through the museum; install before you go: http://www.sdmart.org/san-diego-museum-art-app
B. Museum of Man:An anthropological museum: www.museumofman.org
Egyptian, Native American (Kumeyaay) or Mayan sections; some of the From the Vault works are well presented. Monsters has some non-west objects but is for kids. (The Beerology exhibit is very interesting, but not a topic for this paper, nor are the Cannibals or Instruments of Torture!)
C. Japanese Friendship Garden:www.niwa.org Has a tea-house and garden.The teahouse sometimes has exhibitions of Japanese arts, but for your paper discussion please tour the garden and examine the elements of the Japanese Garden and what/how they symbolize and signify.The garden is a sophisticated art form in Japanese culture. Dont forget to pick up the little booklet at the entrance which identifies the objects in the garden, and discussed the symbolism; the staff wont usually point it out to you.
E. San Diego Chinese Historical Museum. http://www.sdchm.org/
Small museum/historical society with a permanent collection of objects relating to Chinese culture in San Diego.
F. Cuyamaca College Heritage of the Americas Museumhttp://www.cuyamaca.edu/campus-life/arts-culture/m
Has a variety of contemporary and historical art/artifacts dealing with indigenous cultures of the Americas.
Questions to address in your paper, using essay form and proper writing:
1. Where did you go?
2. What kinds of non-western art were on display there in general?For example, if you went to the Museum of Man, you would state that there were exhibits on Ancient Egypt, the Kumeyaay, and Maya cultures.
3. Select an exhibit for discussion, for example the Temple, Palace, Mosque exhibit in the San Diego Museum of Art, or one of the other Asian rooms in the SDMA.Then you will focus in on it.
4. How are the works displayed and lit?Glass cases, on walls, touchable objects, drawers, roped off areas? Etc.
5. How is the gallery or space set up to educate you about what you are seeing?What did you think of the labeling and presentation?Are they accessible to viewers unfamiliar with non-western art?Were there informational pamphlets or catalogues to access? If you go to the Japanese friendship garden describe the house and the gardens, their function, and how they fit in with Japanese spirituality as far as you can determine it, and then answer the rest of the questions.
6. What else would you like to have known about the culture(s) whose works you are examining or about the objects?
8. How do the works on display compare to things we have discussed in class in terms of themes, styles or types of works of art.For example, are there any correspondences in terms of depicting holy figures or sacred concepts, or presenting other abstract concepts (love, power, wealth, appreciation, etc).
7. Describe/discuss the object/work of art you liked best and say why you liked it.
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