A question for discussion: Should sculptures be touchable? Especially outdoor sculpture that is already exposed to sun and rain and wind and snow and ice?
The East Museum of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC has, what has become, a touchstone. A place near the entrance, where two exterior walls come together in a point, has been touched by so many people that the pink marble has been discolored and worn.
When I visit (not often enough) I notice and remember this artifact of the many visitors and add one more touch. A museum is best when it is used. This one remembers its users.
To typingtalker I would suggest that outdoor sculptures should ideally be something people can approach and interact with. Other types of sculpture may not suffer the abuse of human hands so well, depending on material and type of construction. But I do agree with you, a museum, and by extension art, is meant to be interacted with on some level, even if that is just visually.
Here in Indianapolis we also enjoy one of Robert Indiana's Love sculptures at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The scale of it is what I enjoy, photos don't do it justice (much like the Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) in Chicago).
The flower is of the Bougainvillea plant. Very common in Israel with its semi-desert climate. The plant grows amazingly fast and you can trim it to fashion. And if you don't trim it then you are doomed :-)
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A question for discussion: Should sculptures be touchable? Especially outdoor sculpture that is already exposed to sun and rain and wind and snow and ice?
The East Museum of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC has, what has become, a touchstone. A place near the entrance, where two exterior walls come together in a point, has been touched by so many people that the pink marble has been discolored and worn.
When I visit (not often enough) I notice and remember this artifact of the many visitors and add one more touch. A museum is best when it is used. This one remembers its users.
To typingtalker I would suggest that outdoor sculptures should ideally be something people can approach and interact with. Other types of sculpture may not suffer the abuse of human hands so well, depending on material and type of construction. But I do agree with you, a museum, and by extension art, is meant to be interacted with on some level, even if that is just visually.
Here in Indianapolis we also enjoy one of Robert Indiana's Love sculptures at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The scale of it is what I enjoy, photos don't do it justice (much like the Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) in Chicago).
The flower is of the Bougainvillea plant. Very common in Israel with its semi-desert climate.
The plant grows amazingly fast and you can trim it to fashion. And if you don't trim it then you are doomed :-)
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