Night at the Museum

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

In this artwork, I see a chalice in the center surrounded by fruits and vines.

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

There are mountains and trees. There is light in the center of the lake which gives a hopeful vibe.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

The use of light colors where the sunlight is shown and around the light everything is dark.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

It is eye captivating and creates a unique experience when viewing it

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

We feel like having it near the start of the museum captivates the viewer right of the bat

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

We see several women stitched onto the basket, with them carrying baskets. These baskets represents their individual tribes and tells a story of women carrying their tribe on their backs. The baskets they carry represent that they carry their culture wherever they may go.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

The basket is interwoven with eleven indigenous women from diverse tribes, each carrying their unique basket and colors. One carries a baby, other carried baskets. The women in the tribe have a duty to not only carry the next generation on their backs but the cultures and traditions as well. The way the baskets and baby were intentionally 3 dimensional creating a contrast from the basket itself.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

This guy object demonstrates the idea of women empowerment as it showcases these indigenous women in a positive light. Given many racist sculptures that depict native individuals, having an item that does the opposite really brings perspective on the truth. It allows women to share their experience and be shown to their roots. It is definitely a better piece amongst the negatives that illuminate the good.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

I think the museum put this piece specifically where it is because it correlates with the pieces around it while still contrasting them and being its own individual piece. The basket shows the collection and unity of indigenous tribes, which is why it fits perfectly with the pieces around it.

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

The woman in the painting embraces the traditional woman culture of being a hhousewife. The home is super clean and tidy, and the dinner table is setup stylishly. The fruits are spread out on the table, and the woman is offering the viewer a spoon of molasses.

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

There’s a hunt going on in the valley of the mountains, with a storm brewing in the background. A small village consisting of teepees sits at the lowest part of the valley. Surrounding this Native American village is a lake providing a source of fresh water to the Native Americans. The artwork gives a glimpse into the lives of this tribe and what their daily lives consisted of, while also foreshadowing the incoming attacks from white settlers who want their land.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

Shadowing, contrasting colors helps highlight the darkness and light of the Native American in their normal lifestyle, and the darkness of the white settlers who will soon approach. The proportions and small scale of the people versus the large depiction of nature and landscape helps put into perspective how nature surrounds and is an overwhelming part of the Native Americans lives. The dark colors hint that impending doom is coming, and soon something will shift.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

This object compares to the famous Manifest Destiny painting American Progress, there is a contrast between the darkness and light in both paintings and symbolizes different perspectives that America had on the Native Americans.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

Every painting display the story of America and the progress we have made as a country. It’s a timeline of where we started to where we are now. This painting is one of the biggest in the entrance and symbolizes the start of this nation and who was here first.

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

There are two people, man and female, with their opposite genitals. It represents how the spread of Christianity forced the indigenous people to change their fluid gender system.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

A border divides the two people as they look down, seemingly questioning themselves. The circles in the middle seem to be what distorts their reality.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

I do know that the indigenous people were forced under colonizer rule. Part of this was religion, which killed their expression of self in many ways. This art shows how gender was one of those ways.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

They definitely made it really huge, and both people are nude. It catches the eye because of the ways it appears abnormal

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

It looks like a country side with workers working on the farm. Every individual has different role, almost like a communal effort to take care of the farm.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

The color palette used has earthy tones. This is done to depict the nature as realistic as possible. The buildings are relatively small, not exceeding three stories. This is done so that the focus of the painting are the people and the farm rather than the architecture. Thought these proportions, the artist centers the viewers attention on the people and the center where all of the labor is being done.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

It connects to naturalistic and romanticism art works. In naturalism, the focal point is to demonstrate the life and the people as realistic as possible. In this painting, the proportions of people, the nature, and the architecture are all naturalistic. As for romanticism, the art emphasizes nature. When looking at this painting, my eyes were drawn the the center, to the green trees in the background and the brown grass, which contrast with the light blue sky. Additionally, romanticism focuses on the vast space, which can be seen in the middle of the painting, where workers are tending to the farm.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

First, the museum places the painting at an eye level with special lighting in order to highlight the key details and colors on the painting. A frame and label provide context for the viewer, especially those who may not speak Spanish and unable to understand the title of the work of art. Secondly, the art works is placed with other paintings that depict environment or are Hispanic in order to add a historical perspective and allow the viewer to see different art in the same regions or time periods. Ultimately, these choices work together to help the viewer understand and appreciate both the visual and cultural aspects of the pairings.

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

We see a large community of diverse people present in this work, located in Chinatown, surrounded by ethnic stores. They are wearing western clothes and seem to be walking in the streets.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

This is an oil on canvas. The scale is non proportional. There are a lot of bright and vivid colors. We also notice that the heads are bigger than the body. You can see the texture up close, adding a lifelike surrealist feeling to the painting.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

The ‘salad bowl’ concept is related to this artwork because it symbolizes a diverse group of people coming together and learning about the cultures of another immigrant group in America.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

The surrounding artworks in the gallery are also from the 21st century. The pieces have bold colors, similar frame sizes(large), and general theme of diversity.

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

The work of art depicts the diveristy of New York's Chinatown as well as the racism that chinatown is prone to. More specifically, Pell Street is authentically protrayed through the chinatown food and service spots. On the ground, there is a text saying "Stop Chinatown Jails", which is a brief mention of the Jail disputes that are ongoing.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

It's very vivid and bright to bring attention to the vibrancy and diversity of chinatown. The variety of stores and signs in the background point to the various opportunities in Chinatown. Each store has a different story. All together it represents New Yorks culture.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

Although we are aware of the prevelance of racism in our society, this artworks depicts how everyone can be brought together through the similarity of cultures and interests.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

The artwork is given a lot of space in the musuem to emphasize the textures and colors. The artwork is shown against a grey background to allow the colors to pop and grab the viewers attention.

What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

There is a woman reading on the grass by a lakeside with a boat nearby.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

We noticed the extremely saturated colors along with very loose brush strokes that imply form. These variations of colors and variety of brush strokes helps make the figure stand out from the background, contrasting all the blues and greens and cool tones with reds and warm tones, emphasizing the difference in each element.

How does this object compare to other objects, stories, or ideas you already know about?

This painting is similar to other impressionist paintings with it's very bright colors and loose brush strokes.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

The museum put this painting on a display next to other impressionist paintings of it's time, showing similarities in this artistic movement.