Museums · 12-21-2014
I recently attended a curator’s tour of the exhibition, King of the Comics, at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum. The exhibit examines William Randolph Hearst's role in the birth of newspaper comics and traces the 100-year history of King Features Syndicate, the company he founded. King creations in the exhibition included: The Katzenjammer Kids, Happy Hooligan, Little Jimmy, Bringing Up Father, Krazy Kat, Polly and Her Pals, Tillie the Toiler, Popeye, Blondie, Barney Google and...
Museums · 11-30-2014
The best Black Friday bargain was the free exhibit featuring the Lincoln Cathedral Magna Carta at the Library of Congress. One of only four existing manuscript copies that date to 1215, the document is “a world treasure – an artifact whose creation became the foundation of the rule of law for England and for much of the modern world.” This British Charter of Liberties had a “powerful influence on the founding documents of the United States.” In addition to telling the story of how...
Museums · 11-05-2014
Recently, TIME reporter Allie Townsend selected the 100 most influential toys from 1923 to the present. (Now I know why I can’t cook, I never had an Easy-Bake Oven. But I still have Silly Putty, Jacks, a few Matchbox cars, and a Barrel of Monkeys.) It’s interesting to compare the toys on Time’s list to those inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. The National Toy Hall of Fame is part of The Strong, a wonderful “interactive, collections-based educational institution devoted to the...
Museums · 10-10-2014
A few years ago, my fifth grade gifted and talented students completed a unique research project. Specifically, we sent letters to museum directors asking for input about one object, artifact, work of art, or a creative selection from their museum's collections. The selection could be a personal favorite, possess significant cultural relevance, be a "best" example of its kind, tell a story, promote a new idea, or expose students to a new experience. The purpose of the project was to provide...
Museums · 10-02-2014
I have written previously about how combining museums and teenagers can be a daunting combination. Typical teen behavior during museum visits can be viewed as resistant, at best. However, two museum educators are challenging that common assumption. In their experience, youth who begin tours in a defensive mood are often the ones most engaged, and those who appear “checked out” are often “profoundly impacted by their museum experience.” These educators have learned to take resistant...
Museums · 09-16-2014
A few years ago, my fifth grade gifted and talented students completed a unique research project. Specifically, we sent letters to museum directors asking for input about one object, artifact, work of art, or a creative selection from their museum's collections. The selection could be a personal favorite, possess significant cultural relevance, be a "best" example of its kind, tell a story, promote a new idea, or expose students to a new experience. The purpose of the project was to provide...
Museums · 09-11-2014
Art, history, science, natural history, living history, botanical garden, arboretum, children’s, and sports are just a few of the types of museums with free admission on Museum Day Live! Download your pair of free tickets today. Over 1,500 museums are expected to participate this year!
Museums · 08-16-2014
Using creativity across disciplines was the theme of a museum forum I attended at the Hirshhorn Museum's ARTLAB+. Hosted by the Museum Education Roundtable (MER), the event included presentations by inspirational facilitators from the Columbus Museum of Art, ARTLAB+, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. Equally engaging was the environment within ARTLAB+, a design studio that offers teens the opportunity to create...
Museums · 08-07-2014
We voted for the 50 artworks we wanted to see across America! Now our selections will be seen by millions of people every day throughout the month of August "when we are commuting to work, taking the kids to school, hailing a taxi, shopping in a mall, catching a bus or pursuing other routine activities." I am fortunate that many selections are within a thirty minute drive, including one in my hometown (within walking distance)! Please don't take our John Singleton Copley away! For a map of the...
Creativity · 07-21-2014
The Columbus Museum of Art’s mission is to create great experiences with great art for everyone. To ensure great visitor experiences, staff members at this Ohio museum focused on the concept of creativity as a core value to engage audiences. As a result, “the museum has become a place people use (like a library), rather than simply a place to visit.” Question: Why creativity? According to Cindy Meyers Foley, Executive Assistant Director and Director of Learning and Experience, the case...