Art Speak

Hi everyone! So I've been really lame and forgot to post my introductory blog post until now (sorry). But, alas, I suppose it's better late than never so here goes.

My name is Natalie and I'm one of the Teen Advisory Board members this year. I'm also senior at Lick-Wilmerding High School. I was an Art Speak Intern last year and the experience was really good so I've come back for more! If you ever have any questions about the internship that I could possibly answer, please ask me—I don't bite! Outside of the AAM, I like a plethora of different things that I have a hard time keeping track of: science, embroidery, feminism, eating, drawing, math, and baking to name a few. I'm excited to be working at the AAM again this year!

Ok I thought this was really cool because it's an example of generative design—a mixture of art and math woohoo!!!

xoxo,

Natalie

Last Sunday was slow, relaxing, and I was surprised at the huge change compared to the Target Sunday, which was hectic and chaotic. There were less visitors, but that allowed us to be more intimate with the kids and family. We were able to provide more help and services since there were less people. I also thought that it was a lot of fun helping the kids/ families make their capes because at the same time, we were making art, which is always enjoyable. I found that it was easier to approach this group because there were less people. I asked the kids and families if they needed help with anything. I know that some kids are shy and are afraid to ask for help, even when they need it, so I made sure that they got the help they needed. 

The highlight of the day...

There was one family in particular that I was helping where two of the siblings were fighting and I was helping the eldest sister with her cape. One of her siblings hurt the other and they cried, and the eldest sister stopped what she was doing to ask if he was okay and comforted him. I was really surprised by her maturity. This really touched my heart because I'm an older sister as well, and to see that kind maturity in such a young girl made my day. I told her that she was such a good older sister and that she must really love her siblings. I don't know if that made her happy in any way, but I just told her what would make me happy if someone said it to me.

- Queena 

This last family sunday was a slow one. just a handful of families came by and made capes and the other stations(specifically the info table) saw even less action. However I would hardly call last sunday boring, or unsuccessful. We really got to know the families that did come by and got to help the kids on a one on one basis. Instead of having to manage three whole tables, packed with kids, between three of us, we all got to spend time with each individual child and make sure that each family was set up and comfortable. On top of this i got to really know my co-workers a lot better in the long stretches of emptiness in-between waves of small groups which is really something we haven't gotten to do yet. So all in all it was a slow day, but still a fulfilling one that got us one step closer to feeling comfortable in and knowledgable about our beloved museum!

-Sophia!

We're officially superheroes! It was fun going around searching for animals that matched the descriptions on the art cards, though there was prompts like "animal that has four arms" that was a bit harder to find, and I didn't have enough time too look for it at all. The animals I spotted varied. There were fish, octopus, lion, and way more. But I decided to make my cape based on the characteristic of a duck just because that was the first animal object that I came across looking to be friendly. Maybe it would've been different if we had more time to look around, who knows. 

I think my cape turned out pretty good, just that the duck is missing its glasses that it was suppose to have and the legs. But it doesn't need legs, it's unique without them, it'll belly-hop its way around. 

Can't wait to see how the day will turn out seeing little kids do this project!

This last Thursday was really great! We started the day with these cards that directed us through the museum looking for animals! From majestic lions and fearless dragons to cute puffer fish! The museum is full of art work based on our worldly companions. After filling out our art cards (which everyone will get to fill out this Sunday) we got to make capes! That's right, capes, based on an animal that we found among the art! My personal favorite animal is an octopus so of course my cape was made for one. I can hardly believe that I get to do this kind of stuff on a weekly basis. I'm truly lucky for it and can't wait to share he art activity with everyone who comes this family fun day!

The animal I really wanted to draw and make on my cape was a tiger, but unfortunately, I couldn't find one. I did see a griffin-like creature, but it had a lion head. I found that creature to be my favorite and I named it Tanpopo, which means dandelion in Japanese. I thought that the art cards were fun and very interactive. The art card I liked the best was "Find an animal that you would like to put in your pocket and take home." because I instantly knew what I wanted to choose for that. It was the little netsuke of the octopus and fish in the basket. I thought that was the cutest netsuke out of the whole collection.

Unfortunately, I left my cape at the museum and forgot to take a picture of it... so I don't have a picture! But when I go back to the museum, I will surely post a picture of it.

My inspiration looked something like this...

- Queena

As I walked through the galleries in search of my favorite animal, I noticed many small animals hidden within an art piece. Some animals were not as apparent as others which made it more exciting to look for these hidden treasures. Animals have influenced art and is commonly incorporated into many cultural art works. I enjoyed using the Art Cards during the gallery activity because it was fun to follow the directions given and it showed me a different way to look at the artworks. My favorite Art Card was “Find an animal you would like to put in your pocket and take home”. 

After finding my favorite animal, I sketched a superhero with the characteristics of the animal. I chose a fish from a beautiful, white porcelain bowl. The carving of the fish was so detailed yet the bowl remained simple. This inspired me to create a half human and half fish superhero with force field projection powers to protect herself and her beloved sea animals. Then I made a cape with felt pieces for my superhero!

 Superhero Cape! 

-Ivy

So my name is Teresa Yang Lam and I currently am a senior at Galileo High School. I am currently am working with the Table Advisory Board at the Asian Art Museum and I can't wait to learn everything about the museum itself! I use to come here all them time until High School kicked in and got me so busy. Darn growing up haha. During this internship I hope to learn a lot about how plan events and work on communication skills on a bigger level. If my friends were to describe me it would be a crazy genius but very affable. My teachers and other advisers would say I'm outgoing and determined. Come by to the Asian Art Museum; I can't wait to meet new people and I don't bite!

This last thursday has been by far my favorite day at during my internship at the Asian Art museum. The day started off with a simply scavenger hunt, to help us get to know the museum. Throughout the scavenger hunt we took group pictures that should hopefully show up in other peoples blogs. Then we moved on to an art meditation, which basically is a style of viewing art that consists of viewing a piece for several minutes before making so written or verbal response to it. While art meditations usually result in free form responses, last week we were asked to write a haiku about the pieces we chose. I myself choose a simple depiction of Buddah with a gash on the side of its head, presumably wear and tear from time. my haiku about the sculpture was:

                                                             shh he dies here now

                                                             the beast time has come

                                                             no mercy is here

The rest of the day was dedicated to a private session with one of the museums storytellers and that was what truly made the day so amazing. Ive always had a love for the story telling at the Asian Art museum, especially those about Hindu inspired art. So getting to spend so much time with a story teller listening to a selection of Hindu stories about redemption, love, loss, and self fulfilling prophecies was incredibly special to me and getting to sit down with Amit, our story teller, and ask him questions about his life and story telling made it all the better!

-Sophia

(also sorry my picture may be upside down but its really one of my favorite from the scavenger hunt)

September 14

From upstairs to downstairs, back upstairs again. That was quite a lot of walking. The Scavenger Hunt led me to so many places within the museum; places I've been to as well as places I didn't before the scavenger hunt. There was lots of interaction with staff and volunteer members of the museum during the process of this game. One of the staff members that we greeted named Kyle said that his favorite art work within the museum was the Japanese felt costumes. I think the one I had the most difficulty with was the one where it asks us to find an object that makes us laugh and I ended up with a headless statue, I think it was because we had to move on. 

Closet or window?

It's colored with red and brown

Oh look, there's flower