What else would you like to have known about the culture(s) whose works you are examining or about the objects?
Browse the site below and choose works of art to talk about by answering all the questions below. Also include a picture of the artwork. Please write a 3 (double-spaced 12 pt font) page summary of your visit using the questions below as your guide. You may exceed the 3 pages, but don’t make it too long. Paste a scan or photo your museum entry stub (please request stamped proof of entry if free) and a photo of yourself in front of your favorite work of art, or in the exhibit space, and insert into your paper. You also might want to take a photo of the ticket immediately in case of loss. Japanese Friendship Garden: www.niwa.org Japanese’s friendship garden: www.niwa.org The teahouse near the entrance and exhibition spaces at the bottom of the garden, sometimes have exhibitions of Japanese arts, by all means visit them (especially look at the views from them), but for your paper discussion please focus on the garden and examine the symbolic elements of the Japanese Garden and what/how they signify. Go slowly and carefully through the garden, especially the top part, which is full of symbolic elements. Don’t miss the Zen dry garden which is viewed from the upper teahouse. The garden is a sophisticated art form in Japanese culture. Don’t forget to pick up the little booklet at the entrance which identifies the objects in the garden, and discusses the symbolism; the staff won’t usually point it out to you. I have included a lesson plan from the Japanese Friendship Garden as a resource. ————————————————————————– Questions to address in your paper, using essay form and proper writing: 1. Where did you go? 2. What kinds of non-western art were on display there in general? For example, if you went to the Museum of Man, you would state that there were exhibits on Ancient Egypt, the Kumeyaay, and Maya cultures. 3. Select an exhibit for discussion, for example the “Temple, Palace, Mosque” exhibit in the San Diego Museum of Art, or one of the other Asian rooms in the SDMA. Then you will focus in on it. 4. How are the works displayed and lit? Glass cases, on walls, touchable objects, drawers, roped off areas? Etc. 5. How is the gallery or space set up to educate you about what you are seeing? What did you think of the labeling and presentation? Are they accessible to viewers unfamiliar with non-western art? Were there informational pamphlets or catalogues to access? If you go to the Japanese friendship garden describe the house and the gardens, their function, and how they fit in with Japanese spirituality as far as you can determine it, and then answer the rest of the questions. 6. What else would you like to have known about the culture(s) whose works you are examining or about the objects? 8. How do the works on display compare to things we have discussed in class in terms of themes, styles or types of works of art. For example, are there any correspondences in terms of depicting holy figures or sacred concepts, or presenting other abstract concepts (love, power, wealth, appreciation, etc). 7. Describe/discuss the object/work of art you liked best and say why you liked it. Photograph yourself with it if possible (or the exhibit space) and insert into your paper
