I wasn't a big art lover as a child, but there's no reason other kids won't be. Here are my ideas for how to introduce children to art history.
Category: Art Appreciation 101
Connect with Art During Worldwide Shutdown
DailyArt Magazine is currently publishing a series of articles recommending ways of connecting to art from home. Here are my contributions to this project, which I'm really proud to be part of.
The Hyde Collection – Masterpieces in the Adirondacks
The Hyde Collection is a world-class art collection in the unassuming Adirondack town of Glens Falls, New York. It really was the most delightful little surprise, and I had a wonderful visit.
Exploring Buddhist Art at the Rubin Museum
The Rubin Museum of Art in New York City is all about Himalayan art - works from Tibet, Nepal, India, China, and the surrounding areas. It's a really unique and interesting place, where I learned about religion and symbolism that's very different from what I'm used to.
Seeing Old Art With Modern Eyes
While discussing the difficult questions art restoration poses concerning artworks' original states, noted Leonardo da Vinci scholar Martin Kemp made a great observation about the tricky nature of the "original". It seems obvious when I see it written in front of me, but I can't say I had considered it much before.
Highlights at the Wadsworth Athenaeum
The Wadsworth Athenaeum, in Hartford, CT, is one of America's oldest art museums. It was founded by Daniel Wadsworth in 1842. However, it has been expanded several times since them. The museum has a little bit of everything, from paintings to porcelain, ancient Egyptian to contemporary European. It's a very pleasant place to spend an afternoon.
Beginner-Friendly Art Styles – Suggestions for New Museum Visitors
For those of you new to the art-viewing, museum-going experience, do you feel unsure what to see first? If so, I can make a few suggestions. I've come up with three areas that I think are particularly accessible and enjoyable to new viewers. You'll find them in most major museums, and they also happen to be among my favorites.
What Are Votives? They’re Not Just Candles.
Over Christmas break, I saw Agents of Faith: Votive Objects in Time and Place at the Bard College Graduate Center Gallery in Manhattan. The show's almost over, so instead of writing a review, I thought I would tell you what votives are and what I learned about them in the show.
Why Museums Don’t Display All the Art They Own? (and Related Questions)
Somebody recently asked me why most museums display only a small portion of their collections. The obvious answer is that museums have limited exhibition space, but that raises many more questions. Why do museums own so much more than they could ever hope to exhibit? Why do they keep all the objects they don't use? In this article, I'll do my best to present some of the relevant ideas as I've observed them on my art history adventures.
How to Enjoy an Art Museum When You Didn’t Study Art
For anyone who's ever felt frustrated or unsure in an art museum, here are a few strategies to make museum visits more enjoyable and fulfilling.
