Re: Museums vs. internet
EDTECH Editor-Eiffert
Hi Everyone,
Perhaps the question posed should be "Why aren't authors writing about
how the Internet and museums enhance or embrace one another?"
Jan, I found your daughter's plight interesting and a bit perplexing
that she couldn’t’ find documentation of the value of museums. I agree
totally with your position about museums being important for holding
"primary documents." A good example is the Canadian exhibit, touring now
until 2008, in which the works of Emily Carr are being featured. She
studied with the noted "Group of Seven" artist of Canada in the early
1900s. Her writings and drawings of the First Nations in Western Canada
were thought to be some of the only works that depicted the lives of the
natives (First Nations).
As someone who was interested in her art, I was thrilled when I had the
chance to visit the art museum in Vancouver B.C to see her work a few
years ago. I had become familiar with her work through my teachings of
Canadian History to 6th graders, and via the Internet, to view her
paintings. Both the internet and the museum were essential. They made a
much richer appreciation of the Carr's art for me, but until I had seen
the actual paintings the experience was not complete. (I would also do a
much better job of teaching that unit today if I still were teaching in
that assignment area.)
In addition to the tour, a never before work that was stored by the
museum has been published. (Carr died in 1945.) It looks to be very
interesting. See article
http://press.arrivenet.com/industry/article.php/822115.html
Today her views depicted in her paintings of the First Nations are being
challenged by contemporary artist and natives. Bill Reid, (his mother was
a Haida, one of the Pacific Coast natives) challenged Carr's
interpretations in her paintings. Reid is well known for the sculpting he
had done prior to his death in 1998. At another museum in Vancouver I was
able to see Reid's work and read about his thoughts and ideas. That was
the 1st I had heard about the controversy.
The information and knowledge I gained through visiting the museums only
made the works of both artist more interesting to me. The fact that I can
follow it on the Internet now at home will not make me stay away from the
museums that may further deepen my understanding. On the contrary, I want
to see more and learn more to make my own judgments with 1st hand
knowledge.
Jan, I hope your daughter found the information she was looking for.
Sally Grochowalski
Technology Teacher
Morley Stanwood Schools
junkin...@sbcglobal.net
x- From: "Hillmer, Jan"
>Hi everyone,
>My daughter is in college, studying classics and art history with an
>interest in museum work, particularly education. Anyway, last night she
>emailed the request below. I've already sent her to the following
>sites: www.eductaionnext.org, www.edutopia.org,
>http://www.naea-reston.org/, http://www.getty.edu/museum/. I also wrote
>to her about how the museums literally hold 'primary documents.' As a
>historian, there is importance in the primary documents, and likewise,
>with a piece of art, the work itself carries visual information that
>cannot be conveyed by digital museums, etc. however, the digital museums
>give access to those who'd never be able to see the artwork in person.
>Anyway, I suggested she join this forum, but in the meantime, I thought
>it would be a great subject for discussion.
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