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| Screenshot from blog.bokcenter.harvard.com |
Creating conversation in art museums has always been particularly interesting to me. Rika Burnham and Elliot Kai Kee's
Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experiencehas informed the bulk of my thinking on how people learn in art museums. Mostly, I came away from reading the book with the knowledge that different methods of imparting information to the visitor will result in a different experience. Discussions and conversation, led by gallery guides but sustained by the visitor, held directly in front of paintings, leads visitors to discover meaning for themselves. On the other hand, lectures and gallery talks provide visitors with perhaps useful, scholarly information.
In a recent post on
Eye Level, a blog by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, staff talk about their
"Is This Art?" gallery experiences. Generally an hour long, these experiences start with a group of visitors looking at one piece of art. From there, people share their reflections, observations, feelings, and the conversation takes off.
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| Screenshot from eyelevel.si.edu |
What I love most about this approach is the acknowledgement that every conversation needs an introduction. And that an experience with a piece of art also needs an introduction. I'd recommend taking a further look at how they structure their "Is This Art?" sessions, and see if it might work for you. I'd also love to hear if you've tried your own techniques to start conversation in your art museum!
