ART MUSEUM CRITIQUE

Use the following format for your museum critique; answers must be typed below the
questions and all questions must appear in full on your final copy. You can use this
document as your template. Pay careful attention to the required number of words for those
questions that have them. Failure to follow the instructions here and on your syllabus, will
result in a substantially low grade. Minimal answers poorly written are a D grade or less.
Elaboration of points, excellent arguments, and good writing garner higher grades.

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Name: Heather Rolfe Class period/section: 1100-26 T/TR 1-2:20

1) Which museum did you visit? (check one) _X_Univ. of Utah ___ BYU

2) Describe at least one of the permanent collection exhibits on a theme, period,

geographic region, or topic) within the museum. {150 words}

The American Regional Art: Myth Making and Truth Telling is artwork that is mainly from
the 18th, and 19th century with some of it coming from the 20th century. The artists from
this time period were fascinated with the new land and the people that the idea of
Manifest Destiny had provided them. The exhibit featured paintings and other artwork of
various landscapes, native people, plant life, and even showed some images of the
unrest that was happening in the Country at the time. There were not very many
sculptures or 3D type pieces in this exhibit, but there were several portraits of people.
There were also numerous paintings of the Salt Lake Valley and other parts of Utah
incorporated into this exhibit. The colors used in these pieces tended to be more natural
and earthy tones and not very vibrant colors, this complimented many of the landscapes
that were depicted.

3) Give a brief, one paragraph description of a special, temporary exhibit (for help, ask
museum staff what these are; they are usually in one of the first rooms). {100 words}

The exhibit Salt 13 featuring Katie Paterson was composed of a few different ideas as
she referred to them. My favorite part of the exhibit was the disco ball in the center of
the room, at first I did not understand the significance of it, but after reading the
explanation on the wall, I learned that it was made up ten-thousand images of solar
eclipses and printed onto mirrors. The images were taken from drawings that dated
back to the eighteenth century, photos from the nineteenth century, and images from
current technology, I thought it was really cool that they used all of that to make current
artwork. Another idea were six phrases that were printed on the walls and placed
throughout the room, eventually these phrases will be turned into graphical artwork. The
other two ideas will include a candle that will represent the smell of space, and music
bounced from the moons surface, both of these can only be experienced on February
17,2018.

4) What do you think the museum administration and/or exhibit curators want you to learn
or gain from the exhibits you viewed? {100 word minimum}
 To gain a better understanding or regional and foreign cultures. Also, to understand that
there are other ways to learn about history besides written history books. To learn to
interpret and think critically about what you are looking at, the painting of the Native
American and the dog was interesting to me because I wondered what they were
looking at. So, I took more time to explore the painting and I began to notice more
things about it, a storm in the distance, a single cornstalk, a shared pose between them.
I also think they want you to ask questions and take time to ponder why things are a
certain way.

5) What kind of information is provided about the works? Where might you look for further
information if you were interested? (Name three possibilities)

The artist, usually where they are from, when it was created, the title/name of the piece,
medium, some info about the piece, how the museum procured the piece.

I asked one of the people working there about a piece. I noticed they had books placed
in each area, those might be possibility. You could look online for info about the author
or the piece. They also had devices that you could borrow for free for audio tours or you
could do a guided tour where you can ask questions.

6) Choose several works that particularly appealed to you. Explain why you were drawn to
these works. Comment on the subject, style, medium, time period, etc. Who were the
artists? What message do you think the artists were trying to convey in the works you
chose to discuss? This question must be answered in its entirety. {This should be at
least 500 words}

Lo! The Poor Indian, by William Holbrook Beard, oil on canvas, it was painted in
1879.This painting depicts an American Indian man sitting on a hilltop with his dog.
They both appear to be sitting in a similar lounging position. The man a bow, has no
shirt, is wearing moccasins, and has an animal fur draped fur on his lap. The man and
dog appear to be looking off into the distance and they share the same somber, almost
sad look as they look out at a what appears to be stormy skies. I think that artist was
trying to portray a message of sadness and tragedy, maybe a sense of hopelessness.
There is only one cornstalk in the picture that could symbolize an end or loss of
something or a famine.

Madonna and Child Seated in Landscape, by Adriaen Isenbrant, oil on panel, painted in
ca. 1525. The painting depicts the virgin Mary seated on a rock breast feeding the infant
Jesus. Mary is in a bright red flowy gown and is cradling her baby and is staring lovingly
into his eyes. You can see the city in the background and nature to the sides. The
painting is encased in a beautifully crafted wooden frame. I think the details show that
that artist is trying to show the tender care, love and bond between mother and child.

Sarcophagus, no artist listed, it is made out of Greek mainland marble, it was created
ca. 325-330. This is a late Roman Empire sarcophagus that was created for a child.
There are four angel figures carved into the sarcophagus that surround an image of the
deceased child, the angels are meant to guide the child safely into the afterlife. The
angels are arranged around the image of the child so that summer and spring, which
 represent renewal and growth, are closest to the image of the child, and fall and winter,
which represent death and decay, and furthest away from the image of the child. I think
the artist was portraying an intense religious belief in an afterlife and that they wanted to
ensure the peaceful arrival of the child into afterlife.

Vishnu with Avatars, no artist listed, made out of sandstone, created ca. 12 th century.
This piece shows the Hindu God Vishnu standing with his palms open, and he is
surrounded by avatars. Vishnu seems to be holding a lotus flower in one hand, and he
looks very peaceful and welcoming, but strong looking. I think the artist wants you is
trying to convey that Vishnu is a protector and that the people around him are going to
be safe.

Madonna and Child, by Filippo Lippi, it is egg tempera on panel, it was made 1437-
1438. This painting depicts the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus both with a glowing gold
crown like light around their heads, Mary is wearing a red robe and Jesus is wrapped in
a red blanket. Mary is holding baby Jesus and looking at him. I think author is trying to
convey a mother and childs bond, as well as the godliness that these two individuals
are believed to have possessed among their religious communities.

7) How did the artworks you looked at relate to material we have discussed in class?
(They do relate in many ways, you just need to look for those relationships). {Minimum
of 150 words}

I saw some artwork and sculptures that related to India and the Hindu Gods that I would
not have understood before taking this class, I was actually able to explain them to my
husband. I noticed that I was able to look at different parts of artwork and try figure out
what it meant instead of just staring at it for a while and moving on. Like why it was
important that the summer and spring angels on the childs sarcophagus separated the
winter and fall angels. We have been talking about how there is a disproportion of male
and female artists in museums and did take notice of that. I noticed that the
predominant religions or the time or the region played into the artwork like we talked
about in class.

8) What was your personal reaction to this experience? Would you enjoy attending this
type of event again? Why or why not? {Minimum 100 words}

I really enjoyed it. When I lived in Germany and we would travel to different places we
would go to a lot of museums but for some going to one here did not sound fun to me. I
was actually surprised by the amount of artwork they had and the diversity of the work
that was there. I guess I had it my mind that because it was not in a different country
then they would not have as much to offer. I definitely would enjoy attending another
museum because it is a chance to look at pieces of history that I would not be able to
see any other way. I grew a love history and museums when I lived overseas and I
havent even thought about what I have missing right here at home.

As always remember that I want to see reflective thinking on your part. Show me you are
aware of your limitations, your biases, etc. Show me that you are thinking about your own
responses and why you respond the way you do.