Art Speak

Hey y'all. Thursday was pretty awesome—I had so much fun seeing all of you lovely ladies, learning about the Cylinder, and getting to experience Ala Ebtekar's work in action. My favorite aspect to the night was the combination of different mediums to give a more realized portrayal of the Cylinder and its history. Rather than just examining the visual and historical aspects of the Cylinder, the event allowed me to look further into the symbolic function of the object through a current lens.

the scavenger hunt on sunday was amazing. even though we did get lost a couple times, and had trouble figuring out the clues, thats what the point of a scavenger hunt is right? also, getting lost gave us the opportunity to ask for help from the museum staff, which is a good introduction.

i observed the sheer multitude of different kinds of art during the scavenger hunt. the museum has pieces that range from japanese calligraphy to carved stone deities and even art made out of human skulls. it amazes me that this variety of incredible artwork can be easily accessed from where i live and now, where i work. it's so cool!

i used this piece for my art meditation and originally was drawn to it because of the intricate linework and details, and because i am usually more into modern art as opposed to the classics. however, after looking at it for 10 minutes, i realized that there were elements of classic art in it as well, because woodcarving is probably one of the oldest art forms out there.

i really really enjoyed getting to know you guys more. i am so grateful to be working in a place with such an amazing group of girls. i think sharing a common goal of completing the scavenger hunt really helped us connect on many levels. i look forward to having more fun and learning more about you guys tomorrow!

Hi everybody! 
So I'd like to take some time to talk about the AMAZING scavenger hunt that we had on Sunday. First off, I'd like to say that I loved that it gave me the chance to not only get to know my beautiful fellow interns, but also to really explore the museum and spend time to appreciate it's many fantastic exhibits. Also, despite the fact that I am the most directionally challenged person to roam this earth, I love scavenger hunts and wandering through new places. Admittedly, we got a bit lost a couple times, but we did eventually make it through and ...shhh...*that's all that really matters*. 

As a frequent museum-goer, I have been to the Asian Art Museum countless times: on school field trips, family outings, with friends, etc. But honestly, this was the first time that I've really gotten the chance to take in all the treasures that this museum has to offer. I find that more often than not, people are so caught up in the chaos of everyday life, that they forget to slow down and appreciate the small details. This scavenger hunt really enabled me to focus on these details, details that I surely would have otherwise missed! Seriously, I had no idea that there were quotes etched into the stone walls of the Loggia. We spent some time reading through all these quotes and decided on our favorite. 

"Nature is a revelation of god, art is a revelation of man."

Wise words...

As we walked through the Japanese galleries, we took special interest in a very special glass case filled from top to bottom with tiny figurines called "netsukes". These miniature figurines were quite honestly my favorite part of the scavenger hunt. The attention to detail and intricacy found in each figure is simply outstanding. Each one seems to tell story and I just couldn't help but feel drawn to their captivating appearances. 

I found this one especially adorable. I love all things octopi. 

Another piece that really caught my eye was the bronze rhinoceros, which can be found in the China galleries. I had seen many posters advertising this piece, but this was the first time that i was able to see it in person. I absolutely love how its skin looks especially thick, just like a real rhino. Also, the fact that the ears stand up with such alertness conveys the feeling that the rhino is feeling awesome and enjoys doing its rhino doings. Upon closer inspection, I learned that this statue had been crafted in the Shang dynasty. 

I had a great time, can't wait until Thursday~

-Marisa

I've been a part of many scavenger hunts throughout the years, but I definitely wouldn't call myself an expert. You have to have a true eye for that sort of thing, and a little bit of luck as well. I mean, not to say I wasn't good at the couple of fun ones we had in elementary school, I definitely was. But, that was because those were easy. They definitely don't compare to what happened on Sunday.

All four of us, the interns I mean, were given instructions to find some stuff around the museum. What we didn't think about, was the fact that museums usually tend to be GIANT. We obviously got lost a couple of times, but we were able to make our way around and complete the list. It took a lot of effort, and a couple of wrong turns, but we finally finished.

I loved being able to explore the museum on my own, given that amount of freedom was amazing and it even made me a little  apprehensive. Yet, our group did fine, as I knew we would. The best part of the whole experience wasn't just getting to spend fun time in a great environment (and learning about very cool artifacts!), but learning more about the other interns. It was truly great meeting other girls with the same interests as myself. I'm looking forward to spending more time with them. 

Uh yes, I took this creepy photo of the other interns and posted it on the blog...

There were a couple of things that I observed that really caught my interest. The most important to me was something I noticed while meditating before the scavenger hunt, that I got to look at again while on it. The Nine Planetary Deities are stone representations of the deities of different planets, I believe, and I find them fascinating. On the way home from the museum I took some notes about them in my notebook.

Which one is which? Who knows? Another mystery to solve I guess. I'm excited for my future adventures at the museum. I had an amazing time. 

-Cami L.

Hello, all! I thought that I'd take a bit of time to reflect on the scavenger hunt. Here are my thoughts:

This was a really fun activity. I enjoyed exploring the museum and getting to know all you lovely people. What I found really interesting was seeing the variation (and similarities) between each of the different galleries. In fact, when we ended our quest, the sign at the beginning of the India Galleries said that term "Asia" cannot be used to describe one place. I got to see this diversity while meandering through the museum. Even with art from the same place, the time period deeply affects a way a piece looks. We were in the China Galleries when we saw this early representation of the Buddha.

(Sorry for the mediocre picture quality—I have shaky hands...)

I observed that this statue of the Buddha greatly differed from those of later periods. It was smaller and less intricate and showed the Buddha's entire body instead of just a head. I'd like to learn more about the changes in representations of the same object/person throughout time.

A part of the scavenger hunt that I really enjoyed was being able to search for pieces that stood out to us in a gallery and taking the time to quickly sketch them. The drawing process in itself was quite meditative. I saw this pot in the Korea Galleries and was intrigued by the shape, detail, and color. Here's my very rough drawing of that.

Greetings, dearest reader! I hope that this short biography finds you a bright shiny day complete with blue skies and the soothing sound of a gentle breeze rushing through an endless field of sunflowers. My name is Marisa Ling and I am currently a junior at the tender age of sixteen. 

I am terribly excited to set forth on the path as an Artspeak intern at the Asian Art Museum. Since FOREVER ago I've had a great love for all things art and I am ecstatic that I am able to not only learn more about art, but also to meet others that share my passion. 

When i'm not in school or doing art, I enjoy sitting in trees and waving to people as they pass by, crying my eyes out while watching anime, going on food adventures with fellow food adventurers, and massaging cats. 

Thanks for reading, and DFTBA. 

Hi I'm Natalie and I'm basically an old person trapped in the body of a sixteen year old girl. This causes me to have a fondness for embroidery and classical music and grammar/vocabulary. As of the moment, my favorite words are soliloquy, ricochet, and pulchritude. I'm also kind of obsessed with pictures of hedgehogs taking baths.

Anyways, I couldn't be more thrilled to start this internship! I mean...who else gets the opportunity to work in the Asian Art Museum, learn about art, and meet some super rad people? Art is such an integral part to culture. It's so interesting to see how the people, beliefs, and time period influence a piece of art. I'm absolutely excited to be part of this program. I hope I can learn about art and get to know all y'all (and figure out how to write a decent blog post!)

And now here's a photo of me making a derpy face for your enjoyment!

i am so excited to get to know you all and learn a ton!

thanks so much for the chance to get to do this, i couldn't be happier.

When I sent in my application for the Art Speak internship at the Asian Art Museum, I thought I would never get in.  Even writing this blog post feels surreal, I can't wrap my brain around it. Just the fact that I've been given such an amazing opportunity is something I don't think I will be able to completely understand. And yet here I am, writing this! This is my first blog post, like ever, so I think I'm just going to take this time to introduce myself.

My name is Cami L, and I'm completely stoked to be here! I spend a lot of time either on Netflix or doing my homework, so not much has been happening in my life. With this program, I hope to expand my knowledge of the art community not just from this century, but throughout the ages, and to engage and interact with the creators/innovators of today.

Did I already say that I'm stoked to be here? I really am.