D.C. Presentations

 

For my D.C. presentation I chose to focus on how materials, colors, light, and other elements give identity to the National Art Museum, National museum of African Art, and the American History Museum. 

The interior of the National Art Museum draws one in automatically when entering because the building itself is art.  You are surrounded with bridge pathways connection sections of the museum.  Art is scattered throughout the building with sculptures hanging from the ceiling.  The space is very open and modern.  The building allows for a lot of natural light which dances on the floor in unique patterns made from the unique shape and pattern of the skylights.

The African Art Museum guides one through spaces with color.  Bright yellows and blues are brought into the lobby space with minimal art on the walls.  Geometric shapes form the windows and ceiling decorations.  As you enter into the galleries the spaces are divided nicely with different colors all giving one a African feel.  Also, the furniture within the space are all plain wooden tables with chairs shaped like bongo drums which help connect the space with the African masks and art.

The American History Museum had a very modern lobby space.  Material used for the space include marble, glass, and metal.  When first walking in you are welcomed with a huge art piece depicting the America Flag in a gray metal material that tie into the rest of the space.  As you move through the lobby and see the welcome desk it is not so welcoming or does it look like a place to get information.  All in all the lobby space gave me the feeling of a airport terminal, not a historical museum.  As one moves through the exhibits however, sculptures and historic artifacts help to attract and bring identity to the spaces.

All in all D.C. was a wonderful trip and really helped me to start to see and understand the spaces we have been visiting and working with in Greensboro. So key things from this trip I hope to bring back to the IOB is looking at materials, colors, light, and other elements that connect with the lobby space of the building and can start to bring a better sense of the building.