This page compiles your reflections on art, community, museums, and more, informed by your time at Night at the Museum.
To have your own reflection appear on this page, submit a reflection of your own.
Analog fan? You can also respond to these prompts on paper and peruse the responses of others. Come find our table on the third floor.
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What would you add that is missing or what would you like to see in the American art exhibit in the future?
I would love to see more modern New York Art. I didn’t recognize any of the artists except Robert Maplethroppe, and even then we only saw one of his pieces, and none of his photography. I would love to see more New York artists, especially considering this museum is in NYC. I would also love to see blurbs for all of the pieces of art—many were lacking, and I felt I couldn’t understand a deeper meaning to the pieces without the tiny blurbs that give you an insight to not only the art, but the artist.
College of Staten Island
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Where and how do you see yourself, your communities, and/or New Yorkers in this museum?
I see myself and other New Yorkers in the mix of different cultures and stories shown in this museum. It reminds me how people from all backgrounds come together to share history and art. It also shows how art past, present, and future can be applied to your life today.
Khalil
Baruch College
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Choose a piece of art you saw that invoked strong feelings for you. Describe the response you had and why. (Don’t forget to include the title and artist.)
I chose the “what will you witness” exhibit. It featured a serious of vintage videos and works that represented different aspects of culture within New York. This work specifically the video of Notorious B.I.G performing a freestyle resonated with me because it reminded me of my own connection with New York and my fathers love for music from this era.
Noah Arthungal
Hunter College
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Where and how do you see yourself, your communities, and/or New Yorkers in this museum?
If I had to say the way I and the New Yorkers are portrayed here I’d have few words, mainly because I feel every piece of me among these artworks. The way nature portrays our past and the form of portraying those feelings that cannot be expressed through faces but through objects. A simple statement of a couple of roses can mean the beauty within New York. The beauty that’s being expressed every time we spend with our beloved ones. That’s how I see us in these walls.
Lenin Tunja
City College
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How would you relate your current major or field of study to your experience at Night at the Museum? What connections can you see?
Although it may not have been the intention, as I french major I see correlation between artworks from various regions of the world and the francophone world. I especially notice this in artworks depicting bright flowers and colors. I associate these vivid works with the themes of youth and new beginnings. I see a connection to the Mardi Gras within these paintings, as a cultural practice during the Mardi Gras is to burn flowers. The burning of the flowers symbolizes the burning of sins and fresh beginnings in a person’s life. This connection makes me wonder where other cultural connections can be made in other pieces of art, despite the intention of the artist.
Tamia T.
Brooklyn College
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Choose a piece of art you saw that invoked strong feelings for you. Describe the response you had and why. (Don’t forget to include the title and artist.)
I chose this piece because I feel like I don’t normally see paintings with spots on them. But when learning more about it, I learned that it’s to cover up the signs that these women were colonized. I think it’s a very powerful gesture to metaphorically fight back against colonization.
Nicole Chen
Baruch College
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Choose a piece of art you saw that invoked strong feelings for you. Describe the response you had and why. (Don’t forget to include the title and artist.)
This piece resonated the most with me because it reminds me of how people put on makeup to cover and conceal blemishes or even fake moles over scars.
Suchi Dasgupta
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
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Where and how do you see yourself, your communities, and/or New Yorkers in this museum?
At the Brooklyn Museum, I saw parts of myself and my community reflected in the stories and artwork that center culture, identity, and resilience. Growing up in the Bronx, I’ve always been surrounded by creativity that comes from struggle and pride and walking through the museum, I felt that same energy. Whether it was the exhibits highlighting Black artists, or the contemporary pieces that challenged how we see race, gender, and power, I saw voices that are often overlooked being given space and respect.
Yassin
City College
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Compare how this experience reinforced or challenged your previous ideas about museums. Would you encourage other Macaulay students to visit museums?
I haven’t really visited museums as much, so this definitely was a great experience. I got to see so much diverse and unique artwork, and I was able to deeply connect to them as well. I was really fascinated by the museum! I would definitely encourage other Macaulay student to visit museums, as it definitely changes one’s perspective.
Queens College
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Choose a piece of art you saw that invoked strong feelings for you. Describe the response you had and why. (Don’t forget to include the title and artist.)
An art piece that stood out to me was “The Arm Wrestle of Chip & Spike; aka: Star-Makers” by Oscar Yi Hou. This art piece instantly captured my attention with the bold coloring. It has a ton of vibrant colors, that contrast with the human bodies and black framing. The two figures look extremely human, capturing their expressions perfectly. I also loved how they stare into the camera. It strikes me with a sense of nervousness almost, as if they’re cool kids im too scared to talk to. I’m in love with all the shapes and dynamic background. It was my favorite art piece.
Leart Brahimaj
City College
