Category Archives: cabinets of wonder

Tenement Museum

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….”

amnh

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?”


Soho Children Museum and NY Hall of Science

This weeks assignment is to see one children museum and NY Hall of Science.

I started with Soho Children Museum on Sunday. I think Sunday was a great day to see that museum. There were many children, who are running around or shouting. Seems like, it is a playground not a museum. It was really fun to see them like that. On the walls there are so many pieces that they made and most of them seems really good. Kids were mostly playing with things. I think that’s why they were going crazy, but I believe that it is really good for them.

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One of the interesting thing was, there was a green screen wall, which was really fun to play with. Another thing was the signs and the language that they used. There were signs like this “please close me” it sounds really friendly.

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I think another important thing is, kids are leaving something there, it can be a drawing or a note, but visitors who came after them sees those things and maybe that might affect them in a good way or when ever they come back, they see their things on the wall, I believe that makes them really happy.

My second stop was NY Hall of Science. It was amazing! I spend two hours inside and didn’t want to leave that place. There were so many things for all ages. It is all hands on learning. Also, there were some ITP style pieces like motion detection or sound pieces. I think technology is playing a really important role in that museum. Also, there were some things that needs multiplayer for interaction, and I believe that, those pieces improves interactivity between kids.

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I was trying to play with one of the driving game, and I had a conversation with one of the kids mom. She said, her son was playing this so long, and should let us to drive. I told her to not worry. Her answer was really good, she said that he should also needs to learn sharing. Its clear that people brings their kids there to learn something, but they are not learning  by just interacting with machines, they are also learning by interacting people around them.

A Parent in Children museum

” Seems so crowded and loud inside, I hope he is going to have fun. Hey, come play with this. Hahaha is in it fun. Oh, did you see this painting? Wow he is 4 years old, that’s amazing. Lets go to downstairs. Be careful at the stairs. Oh, look at that, there is a fish behind me, this is called green screen….”

A Kid in NY Hall of Science

“Oh my god! I want to play with that spaceship. Hey dad, look at me I am landing to Mars!!! Hey dad! Come here Mars is really cold, come touch it!!!!! Did you see the lines between us, how did it happened? I want to ride this car, do you want to race with me?”

A Grown Up in NY Hall of Science

“That was a long trip, I hope it worth’s. Hmm, am I in right place? Oh I saw their sign. I should keep walking this way. Seems like nobody is inside. Lets check it out. Seems more for kids, hmm lets try this. Wow that is really cool. I want to try this video also, hahaha that was funny. Alright lets push these buttons. Wow I knew I was wrong!! Wow look at that!! that’s me in different colors. I am having so much fun!!”

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web sites of Moca and Magnum

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.

Cultural Museums

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….”

Central Park Zoo

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).

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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.”

Visit to Moma and Andrea Rosen Gallery

I have started my visits with Moma. This wasn’t my first visit to there. I entered the building and it was a really wide hall with high ceilings. I got my ticket (student discount- $12) and tried to get in, but they didn’t let me, cause I forgot to drop off my bag. I went to drop it off but this time, I told me they can’t get my laptop. So, I carried it around with me, without a bag.

First thing that I checked was the bathrooms. One of the good things about Moma is, all the bathrooms and fire exits are located almost at the same location, for each floor, and it is not hard to see them (except the ground floor). I tried one of them, and I know this is always a problem of Moma, they stink, also they are not clean enough.

I kept walking around, some of the art pieces were hanging in very high locations. This might be something that they do on purpose, but if I can’t see them that doesn’t make any sense. Also there were some pieces hanging on top of the doors, and of course few people were noticing them.

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One good thing about Moma, each section has a concept so you don’t get confused. However, in some rooms there are two doors which goes to different sections, and that confuses me a lot. Deciding which one to choose, sometimes missing some good pieces, never finding your starting point are all problems that are caused by this. Maybe some sort of notifications on the floors or maybe some arrows would help this. Also I always get sleepy in Moma, it might be because of lightning or something else.

I saw a touch screen in one of the exhibitions, which was hiding in one of the corners. I am a little bit obsessed with touch screens. I believe that, they are great source to get lots of information, easily. So, they might use it more effective.

Exhibition on 6th floor was amazing. Architecture and lightning was really great. Also pieces were really interesting. If you haven’t seen it yet, you should check it out.

Also I have visited Andrea Rosen Gallery in Chelsea. I think because of the space constraints, they are not as fun as museums. They have old buildings with high ceilings, but their rooms and layout of buildings are not giving the same feeling. There was a nice exhibition in their 3rd gallery. Artist used lots of cigarettes to create his pieces.

One thing about galleries, I have been to 3 of them today, I realize that people don’t spend that much time in them, and they are usually free.

A teacher with 30 kids in Moma

” Oh god, how am I going to keep all these little monsters together.

-Hey Mark, don’t touch it!

It is going to be a tough day. Hmm lets take them to 2nd floor, there should be some interesting pieces there, then I can take them to 5th floor to show some of the great paintings. I wish there was a guide to help me now. Maybe there are some in some certain hours, why didn’t I search it?

- Kids we are going up to 2nd floor. Please be quite and don’t touch, step on anything. Everybody hold hands of the person next to you.”

Someone who speaks no English

“I heard about this museum a lot. I hope it worth’s. Let’s see how much is the tix. Ohh good, its also written in my language. Hope they can understand body language.

- 2 please?

Yes! I got the tix now. That was easy. There is a sign here, I think I need to drop off my bag. Lets start from the top floor. Oh, look at this painting. This artist is one of my favorite. Let’s take a picture with it. I’ll stand by next to it. I need to find somebody to take our picture.

-Sorry, photo?

Oh, glad that he understood. Oh, that’s a nice pic. I’ll show it to my friends back in home.

This is a very nice piece. But wait a sec. This info is written in English and Spanish. I don’t know both!!!”

Someone with disability

“I am happy that I came with my daughter. She is helping me to ride my chair. Let’s take the elevators. Oh, nice they are big enough. I want to see this special exhibition. Oh, doors are not automated? Really?? Oh, thanks to this young guy, he opened it for us(this part is a real story). Seems really good, but now we need to go out of the room. Why don’t you use automated doors? Oh, this piece seems really good. Is this the same artist with that one. Ohh, it looks nice but I can’t see top of it cause it is hanging at a very high point. I need to go to bathroom. Oh nice, they have spacial bathrooms for us.”