Night at the Museum

I am a history major, and I believe that art is a documentation of history. Every time a work of art is created and passed down from generation to generation, culture and knowledge is also spread. Here at the Brooklyn Museum, I enjoyed using the kiosks to learn the historical significance of all the artwork that attracted me here.

The piece that invoked the most feeling in me was “The Watering Pots” by Theodore Robinson. It felt like I was back at the campo with my grandma in the Dominican Republic. It’s like I’m still looking at her now despite being so far away from her. Just like the woman in the painting, she is a strong, hardworking woman that I look up to. The scenery she in in and the waterspouts she holds reminds me of my grandma collecting fruits in her parents backyard. That soft gaze of the women towards me is very comforting.

I think I would encourage other Macaulay students to visits museums. Specifically I think museums hold art both dated and modern that pertains to our current generation. Despite the saying of art like those from Southeastern Alaska they allow us to envision the past and reflect on the ideals that held true to them. In the case of this Pueblo jar, and wool and cotton there was a diverse range of images, techniques, etc needed to sculpt it. Through this, we are able to see the preservation and need for cultural heritage especially as it pertained to natives. Comparatively, more modern art reflects the attempt at humans trying to become more grounded in reality. With the depictions of things like a Tulip armchair modern art reflects the attempts of moving away from obsession with the internet and becoming more grounded in reality. In short these messages remain prevalent despite the advancement of time. For students especially, we should try to reconnect with the lineages that have cohered our existence.

This experience at the museum has definitely been a highlight among my other experiences at the museum. I worked at a museum for 4 years so I’ve spent a lot of time at museums. However, it’s always been professional. Going to a museum just for fun with friends has been really cool. This experience has reinforced the idea that museums are actually really fun, contrary to what most people would initially believe about museums. I would definitely encourage other Macaulay students to visit museums.

As an engineering major art and life often inspires growth and development. Museums and art can help inspire and engineers to design new or more efficient systems. Many great breakthroughs in engineering came from art or nature. Like the design of the shinkansen came from bird beaks.

I see myself and New Yorkers in this museum as people that are willing to go the extra step to gain a deeper insight into the cultures that are found in New York. NY is a melting pot of different cultures and people and there’s people that come from every corner of the world. The museum is a pathway to us to truly enjoy and truly absorb what’s happening around us in the city and how we can better understand people around us. It also teaches us to respect the cultures of everyone since we can arguably say that this mixing of cultures truly empowered the United States into becoming the superpower it is today and also empowered New York into becoming the mega city it is today. In short this museum and other museums help New Yorkers truly understand the depth of culture in New York.

I see myself and others in the Brooklyn museum as it represents New York as a whole salad bowl. I see many different cultures depicted throughout the museum . Growing up, especially in sheepshead bay I have been surrounded by various cultures all my life. As the museum reflects diversity I see various cultures I have been surrounded by once again. I also see how the museum values creativity and expression which reminds me the energy which New York City emits. The museum feels like a place where everyone’s story matters, and that makes me feel connected to both my community and New York as a whole.

I see myself and my community in the Brooklyn Museum through the diversity of the art and the people who visit it. The museum represents many cultures, just like New York City does, showing that there isn’t just one kind of history or experience that matters. The mix of old and new artworks reminds me of how New Yorkers come from different backgrounds but share the same space and energy. When I walk through the museum, I see stories that connect to my own life and to the lives of people around me — stories about identity, struggle, pride, and creativity. It feels like a place where everyone can find a piece of themselves reflected in the art.

I would say after visiting the Brooklyn museum, my view on museums certainly changed. I haven’t visited a museum in a while, and I never really found museums to be very intriguing. However, after viewing all the history and exquisite art work, I found it to be really fascinating. I saw many things I didn’t expect to see. For instance, Islamic art. As a Muslim, I enjoyed being able to seeing my religion represented in a museum. I would definitely encourage other Macaulay students to visit museums.