I encourage people to visit museums. I say it again: Please visit your local museum. Kids are surprisingly attuned to studying objects that they can reach out and touch, and museums allow this tactical feature of exploration. Furthermore, seeing paintings in person does more than just teach you about art history, it teaches you about the history of civilization. One of my favorite museums is the Oakland Museum of California. It was at this museum that I cut my teeth as a painter of epic landscapes. I’ll never forget the dramatic moment when I stood for the first time in front of Thomas Hill’s great panorama of Yosemite Valley. This painting, almost ten feet wide, stands in my mind as one of the great unheralded masterpieces in the history of art. His conception of space and the ability to illuminate a third dimension on canvas was unparalleled. Hill was a master artist who created many paintings for purely commercial reasons. In my mind this doesn’t denigrate the integrity of his art; in fact it only enhances my understanding of arts’ greater purpose – to touch lives. Visit the museum if you get a chance and ask to see the Thomas Hill painting. It will take your breath away.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
MUSEUMS: A TREASURE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
I encourage people to visit museums. I say it again: Please visit your local museum. Kids are surprisingly attuned to studying objects that they can reach out and touch, and museums allow this tactical feature of exploration. Furthermore, seeing paintings in person does more than just teach you about art history, it teaches you about the history of civilization. One of my favorite museums is the Oakland Museum of California. It was at this museum that I cut my teeth as a painter of epic landscapes. I’ll never forget the dramatic moment when I stood for the first time in front of Thomas Hill’s great panorama of Yosemite Valley. This painting, almost ten feet wide, stands in my mind as one of the great unheralded masterpieces in the history of art. His conception of space and the ability to illuminate a third dimension on canvas was unparalleled. Hill was a master artist who created many paintings for purely commercial reasons. In my mind this doesn’t denigrate the integrity of his art; in fact it only enhances my understanding of arts’ greater purpose – to touch lives. Visit the museum if you get a chance and ask to see the Thomas Hill painting. It will take your breath away.
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4 comments:
Thanks for this reminder. Im my neighborhood we have a small volunteer-run museum, The Cement Works Museum. It not only houses artifacts from the history of cement production but many everyday items from bygone days.
My granddaughter is a budding artist at 12. I encourage her in many ways but had not considered trips to museums. I will certainly put that on our agenda for the coming year.
Hey guys,
You both look great! I haven't seen you since my trip to Jamaica several years ago. You treated me like a friend and welcomed me with open arms. The cool thing is you never let on that you were famous. It was a trip of a lifetime that I will certainly never forget. Thank you. Please tell Nannette she looks better than ever. The movie was simply fabulous!
Watching history unfold today Hill's painting was just shown at the Inaugural luncheon behind President Obama's table.
The significance of the painting was explained and one day I would like to see the painting in person.
Yes, museums are extremely important. Art museums contain within the canvas and paint memories of our past and connect us to visions of our future.
We spent a great deal of time taking our daughters to museums when they were young. I encourage other parents to instill in their children the importance of preserving our past. Whether historical, artistic or scientific, museums they hold the beginning of dreams of one generation and through the eyes of the viewer give rise to the dreams and hopes of another generation.
Take a tour today!
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