This weeks assignment is to go to Tenement Museum in LES. This is an interesting museum, because you need to join one of the tours. It is great because you hear stories about the place, so you don’t need to read any boring writings.

We took an early tour in the morning with Eyal, Juri and Liesje about Moore family. Moore family is an Irish family, one of the immigrant families who lived in that building. There are so many interesting stories about the place. Mostly they focus on water and cleaning. It’s because their basic problem was health which caused by cleaning. One of the interesting things that I learned was LES has the first sewage system in New York.

There are so many stories about the house, seems like there were a lot of families in that building during the time. Walls ceilings, floors are so great. I couldn’t stop myself to keep looking at them. I think they all tells a story, especially the wall papers. Tour guide told that, they found almost 25(?not sure about the number now but it was a lot) different layers of wall papers, means that 25 different stories, life’s, families and tastes.

They are using projection and sound to give a sense of those times, which is really interesting. They are using windows to project in a really old room. I think it was great.

Also they don’t have enough lights in the building, I think that also gives a sense of their life’s. I think keeping it old, not using a lot of technology really works for their purposes.

An Immigrant

“I think I am really lucky that I am not an immigrant like them. Yes, I have some hard times, but at least I have a clean place to live. Well seems like some things are not changed to much, but at least it is not that bad. Look at this apartment, how can you leave in this place with 4 other people and with out water. That’s imposible…”

A Kid

“What is this place dad? Why are the rooms so small? Who is living in here? Why does it a museum? I can’t see anything interesting… Why didn’t they have water? Was New York a bad place dad?…”(I was like this when I was a little kid, if I don’t get why, I would keep asking questions to my father till I drive him crazy)

An Irish American

“I am so thankful to my grandparents. I don’t have to deal with all these stuff now. They had really hard times, but we made it, now me and my family have a great life. I guess, I they can see us, they would be really happy. I think that was the reason that they moved in here, to make us happy….”

4th weeks assignment was to visit AMNH. This was not my first time there. First of all it is really hard to find it, because if you search it in Google Maps, it doesn’t shows the real location. I did the same mistake and search it on Google Maps again.

I took the entrance which is in the lower floor. I start with earth and galaxy simulations. It is a really interesting exhibition. I think because of it’s structure (it’s made of metal and white materials) this place seems very clean and modern. Then I went to first floor, and tried to find the Indian American hall. It is almost impossible to find a place inside. Even maps doesn’t really helps.

Luckily I found the hall and start walking around. Room is very dark, and seems very old. I think color of the walls and lights gives you that old and boring feeling. Also, I think it was the emptiest hall in the museum. There are many interesting stuff inside, but it doesn’t take that much attention. Also this hall doesn’t have many thing that most of the other halls have, like screens, projections or at least a speaker. There is no technological interaction and seems like people are looking for that.

Than I start walking around. Animals exhibition is always interesting, cause all the animals are really big, and realistic. Kids spend a lot of time in front of the screens and people loves taking pictures with them. I think the reason is, they can never see most of the animals in there in real life, so they like spending time by just exploring them.

I think the most interesting part is the dinosaurs. They are huge and seems so real (I mean, like the ones that we see in movies). Also might be because of the windows and white color that they used, this floor is really bright. That changes a lot of things.

There are also some nice screens in that exhibition, that shows really interesting stuff about ancestor trees. But one negative thing about them is, that floor is so quite and when ever you start touching on the screen, speakers go on and make a lot of noise. I think headphones or directional speakers might be a good solution.

Two last thing about AMNH, their stores are full of toys, and some interesting stuff, which is really fun to look at. Last thing is, finding bathrooms is as hard as finding halls and seems like there is no easy way to solve that problem.

18 years old tourist boy

“I heard a lot about this museum, lets check it out. $16 for student, isn’t it expensive, anyways I want to see it. I hear about the dinosaurs, I want to check them out first.  Wait, this earth exhibition seems interesting. Lets check it out. Nice. Oh, it has been half an hour. I should keep moving. Whats happening in this floor, oh I see different cultures all around the world. Europe, Asia, oh seems like South America has more space. It has been 2 hours, and I couldn’t find the dinosaurs yet. I should keep moving…”

A little kid

“Hey mom, come here look at this bear!!! Are they really this big? Why? Ohh look at those penguins they seem really funny! hahah. What are these? Masks? I didn’t like it, it is not fun. Can we go home? Oh Really? Dinosaurs? Where? Let’s go see them!! They are hugee!! Are they real mom? how do they know they were like this? Did they see dinosaurs?”

A school Teacher

“Alright kids, come here! We need to get in to a line first. Now, let me give you some information about AMNH. We’ll se many different things today, about cultures, animals and dinosaurs. Lets start with Animals. Yes, they look so real. Lets sit down here and watch the animals a little bit. Ok, time to move. What do you guys think about the elephants. They look giant ha? Anyone wants to take picture?”

I first go to Moca’s web site, seems very simple, not flash and easy to understand. Everything is framed, and it is hard to get lost. Links works well, and they have a slide show on the front page, which is. I guess useful.

Magnum Photos web site almost has the same problems. If you click on any links, you’ll see each sub-link has different identity. Also if you click on a picture, it will load the whole page, which makes you wait to load, and also annoys. Also, even their frames changes on each link.

This weeks assignment was to visit 3 cultural museums. Nancy gave us different options. I chose The Asian Society, The Jewish Museum and National Indian American Museum. The reason behind this choice, I want to see different cultures and how they develop their cabinets of wonders.

So I started with The Jewish Museum. The way they design it was so good. It was 4 floors, and everything was in an order. Security was completely douche, but some workers were really nice. Most of the workers were old, so sometimes it is even hard to communicate with them. There is this heavy feeling inside. Music, architecture, colors, lights makes you feel so bad. Especially, I didn’t want to enter to massacre room. It was really sad, and gave me a headache.

Then I went to The Asian Society. It was really small. but exhibition was really good. Most common thing about these two museum, they are small and I think well organized. Signs were enough and bathrooms were clear and not hard to find. However, I think Jewish museum was more cabinets of wonder type and Asian society was more like art museum.

Then I went to National Indian American Museum. As a building it was huge, but as as an exhibition, things that they show was pretty much the same. There was one room, which you are allowed to touch stuff and try to create your things was really good experience. I spend some time in there, playing with stuffs. Both Asian Society and National Indian American museums has great shops, they have really interesting stuffs but a little bit expensive.

Both Jewish and Indian American museums has touch screens, but they are not using it very effective.

As a kid in Nationa Indian American museum

“look mom, can you see these clothes, they are beautiful. Hey what is this room. Oh it is fool of games. Hey mom, did you see that? i did it. What is that button, hmm? ohhh great, look at those lights!!What is this guy making in here? He looks like the ones that I saw on pictures…”

As a researcher in Jewish Museum

“Ohh, I am so glad that I am here. This place is fool of stories. Lets start from the first floor. Seems like more childish. Nice, look at those kids, they are discussing about art pieces with their teachers. Lets go to 3th floor. Look at that, there is a virtual cafe that I can sit down and listen stories about Jews in different places on earth. Lets try to listen their stories…..”

As a Pakistani, who grow up in America, at Asian Society

“I am so happy to see my countries art in New York. Lets check out this big room. Colors look beautiful. Wait a second. Why are those painting are in black? Our culture is more colorful. Oh nice, I like this one, a rug made of pictures. What are those hats, colors looks similar but…. Oh nice she made this hats with gifts that she got. I am so happy to see modern artists from my culture….”

This week I have visited Central Park Zoo. I have never been there before and also it has been a long time that I haven’t been to a zoo.

I went there on Sunday. Weather was amazing and park was really crowded. After I found the zoo, I tried to find the ticket booths. They are not as close to zoo as it should be. Also, they need a bigger sign for entrance, it is hard to understand, where is the exit or entrance, or am I going to kids zoo.

Anyways, I found the entry and start touring. I think, greatest thing in Central Park Zoo, everything is located around a circle, so you can’t miss anything. Also they give a map with tickets.

This time, I didn’t notice any toilets, but also I didn’t look for it.

Zoo has different buildings around the circle, for some, you have to get in to buildings. Those buildings has huge wooden doors. Main visitors of zoos are kids and parents with strollers. I think it is hard for them to open those doors. Most of the buildings are hot and smell really bad. Also, there were tons of strollers around, but paths were so narrow, so it was hard to walk around.

There were some areas for benches, so I think they have enough seating.

Also there were some signs that people can physically interact with. I think that was fun, but other than writings on the walls, they need more physical objects, that people can play with. Also, there were a lot of signs, which reminds me what to do all the time.

Also, other then their ticket incomes, zoos are really lucky, because their products in their gift stores are easier to sell then some art museum (they have a lot of toys).

A 8 years old kid

“Ohhh I am going to see lots of animals today. This place seems very crowded, I think I should hold my mothers hand. Wow look at those ants. Hey there is something up there…. I can’t see it. Oh here we are my favorite animal, leopard. Oh where is it? Hmmm I can’t see it. I think he is sleeping. pffff”

A mother with a stroller

“What a nice day. I am sure this place will be crowded. Here we are. Lets start with this room. Ups, what a heavy door.

-Excuse me sir, can you help me?

Ok, lets see, well, its hard to stop and see stuff, all the windows are crowded.

-Oh, sorry.

Can’t they make this roads a little bit wider? Also how am I going to go up to these stairs?”

A 17 years old kid

” Seems like they have penguin feeding in an hour. I shouldn’t miss it. Ok, lets start from here. Wow, somebody can say shut up to these kids! Hmmm, what does this sign says. Oh what is this? “try to find leopard” him what happens if I pull this, ohhh it shows me the leopard! So, nice.”