Visual art is often defined by the space in which is found. It can be contained, protected, and kept captive by the space; or it can be let free into the open air to truly be experienced, and the organic nature of its presentation becomes part of the viewing itself. The emergence of the public museum in the American city was a physical manifestation of the shifting national attitude towards art. Art was once a thing restricted only to the educated upper classes. But the museum movement beginning in the early 19th century introduced the idea of art as a public commodity, something that should not be hoarded away in dark halls but displayed for the education and betterment of the general population. This philosophy of art made available for the greater good is made plainly apparent by the multitude of public museums now present in American cities, and in the design philosophies of the architects contracted to build them.
This looks really interesting - I think it would be cool to take the paper through many different stages. Talk about the narrative of art and how it went form the upper classes to something available to the masses, but I think you should also dip into the ideology behind this (if that's true?) that art can be considered all around us in the visual aspects of cities that people experience everyday. Taking this into the design of different museums (which it seems like you're aiming to do) and showing how different architects have tried to either open up their spaces to the visitors or create more hidden, intimate spaces within a public space would be an interesting approach as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting topic, and I think it may be good to challenge your own claims within the paper. Some museums might be free, but is the space that they create really democratized? Do museums create an atmosphere that is truly open to all, or is there still a feel of upper-class sophistication and intellectualism? What programs are in place to increase the exposure of art to lower income populations?
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of examining the effect of architect's personal design philosophies on museums. Really explore this as a sort of alternative perspective on your topic. I think that your paper could end up not revealing anything especially provocative if you stick solely with the idea that art was introduced to the masses when museums were built. Talking about architect's impacts would really give this a great extra dimension.
ReplyDeleteI think this topic is very exciting. I like the idea of art + museum + public + Architect. You will want to consider collectors of art in America in the 19th century (Luman Reed, and others) as well as places like the New York Historical Society in order to jump to the present moment. Have you seen the new Norman Foster gallery proposed on the Bowery?
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