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 like to see a great variety of art across different cultures. I feel like the exhibits we saw here were mostly ancient Egyptian art and a few African artifacts. They’re all very interesting and I have always sustained an interest in ancient Egypt myself, but there are so many more ancient cultures whose art also deserves to be showcased. I would have liked to see a great selection of African art and perhaps even Asian art. I understand that it’s not simply as easy as just obtaining these pieces, and that there’s a long and standard modern process to be allowed to exhibit these pieces in the first place, but it would really enhance the experience here to be exposed to art and artifacts from a variety of cultures.
Brooklyn 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?
As a student in the field of computer science, in the future, I can hopefully contribute this specific museum or any other museums by building technology that would allow others to see the beauty of these historical pieces virtually and actually experience it in virtual reality.
City College
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Where and how do you see yourself, your communities, and/or New Yorkers in this museum?
I see myself and my community everywhere in the museum but more specifically in the new exhibit that opened up. They have bus signs, posters, and paintings that reflect the culture of NYC. This is something that makes the artwork and gallery feel more modern and so it resonates more with me. I think the blending of our communities and identities are shown throughout the museum and it makes me wonder in what ways this will change as our country becomes more diversified.
Emily Tiwary
Hunter College
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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 like to add more paintings that have details and are more from the older centuries. So that I can try to interpret and dig deep on the meanings of the painting.
Ainesey Arevalo
City 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.)
A storm on the rocky mountains – Albert Bierstadt
I chose the piece showing an overview between mountains like a lost land. It wad very interesting and made me feel like I was living in a movie. It stands out greatly to me. It seemed very magical and this is why it stood out to me.
City 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 artwork that invoked a strong emotional reaction within me was “Bound” by Kehinde Wiley. When I fist saw this sculpture, I was struck by its striking display of connectivity and, on a superficial level, it’s bizarre shape. The captivating shape, however, gave way to feelings of awe and understanding. By showing three figures connected by their hair, it reminded me that people are “bound” by their culture in a way that connects them rather than restricts them. The cultural identity shown through everyday items such as our hairstyles and clothing connects us to others from the same culture, even if we all differ. Because of this message of connectivity through culture, I felt powerful emotions of understanding and respect towards my own culture and people like me. Furthermore, it reminded me that, on a grander scale, we are all connected culturally as New Yorkers. Thus, we are all “bound” by our culture even if our cultures differ as New York is born from the sum of its parts. The sculpture allowed me to reconcile with both my own personal culture and my culture as a New Yorker, thus invoking my strong emotions of connectivity and understanding among my own people and people different from me.
Rami Elnajjar
City 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 really liked The Arm Wrestle of Chip & Spike; aka: Star-Makers by Oscar Yi Hou. It’s interesting how the artist decided to paint a backdrop of vibrant colors contrasting the two subjects’ unenthusiastic expression. The colors , especially, drew me in and made me feel excited as it stood out among the other paintings on the white wall.
Emily Xia
Hunter 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?
This experience gave us a chance to look and see different artworks and understand what these artworks mean. This relates to my field of study because I am planning on studying and doing art as my major in college. The artworks relating to New York really resonated with me and how my identity connects to my art and field of interest. Overall great experience!
Michelle Rakhamimov
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.)
This is “Half-Indian/Half-Mexican” by James Luna. When I first walked by, I stopped and snapped my head to the photos, finding them interesting. At first I thought it was actually about gender with how the long haired one looked like a woman while the short haired one looked like a man. It does indeed resemble a mug shot. As it turned out, based on the description, it was about the creator’s mixed race identity though it does also mention many other halfs including emotions. I think it goes to show that there are a lot of halfs and assumptions.
Baruch College
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Where and how do you see yourself, your communities, and/or New Yorkers in this museum?
I see myself in the 5 floor where there is a lot of diversity and representation and respect of my community also in the 3 floor I can say also represent where I’m from.
Wendkouni Ouedraogo
Baruch College
