Make The Most Of Your Children’s Trip To The Museum

Posted by admin on Jan 12, 2013 in Museums | 4 comments

At the Louvre

Contrary to common belief that museums are boring and only for intellectuals, museum visits can actually be fun and exciting for the entire family. Aside from museums showcasing art and history, there are interactive science museums, botanic gardens, zoos and aquariums, and other specialty museums that offer varied subjects of interest that spark one’s inquisitive nature. Moreover, these museums provide one of the best venues for experiential learning enhancing lessons children study in school.

Here are some things you may want to keep in mind when taking your children to a museum.

Before going to the museum:

Do some research. Visit museum websites to check schedules of exhibitions and to ensure that there are artwork or exhibits that your children would find interesting. There are also art museums that offer tours for families that include plenty of interactive activities for children so you may want to look for those.

Know the rules. Most art and history museums strictly prohibit touching art pieces and artifacts, eating and drinking inside the gallery, and may also prohibit use of cameras. Though most science museums are interactive and provide a more exploratory experience, they still do have certain rules that they implement. Always ask what the rules are prior to visiting a museum so you can discuss these rules with the children at home.

While at the museum:

Show enthusiasm. When children see excitement on your face while marvelling at an exhibit, they are more likely to be as enthusiastic. Articulate fascination with particularly enthralling artwork so the children can be encouraged to express their own thoughts about them.

Let your child guide. It’s not unlikely for parents to want to tour the entire museum while a child prefers to linger in just one area. If your child shows great interest in a particular exhibit, do allow him to explore that area more.

Foster creative discussion. Ask open-ended questions that promote discussion about the exhibits such as What is the artist conveying through his work? Or How does the exhibit work? These questions stimulate your children’s creative and analytical thought and encourage them to explore the exhibits more.

To make the most out of your museum visit, reinforce art appreciation at home. Appreciating and learning about art shouldn’t be limited inside museums alone. At home, you may encourage your children to create their own masterpieces. Ask them which artwork or exhibit they particularly liked and provide them with materials they could use to create their own version of that artwork or exhibit.

At the Museumsquartier, free exhibit

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Great Tips to Create Good Logo Designs

Posted by admin on Dec 13, 2012 in Logos | 0 comments

A logo design is made with the help of a number of elements like symbols, graphics, typography, font and other similar things. All these elements mix together help in creating a great design for the logo of a company. A good design of the logo can do wonders for the company. However a bad logo can also harm the reputation of the company to a great extent. The logo helps in maintaining a good relation of the prospective viewers with the brand. It helps in the conveying of the philosophy of the brand and the elements of the product to the target group of the company.

Some elements which should be considered while coming up with a high-quality logo design are as follows.

Simple and Creative Design

The design of the logo must be simple yet creative. There are many logo designers who make colorful logos with no meaning behind them. This creates bad impressions on the audience. They cannot relate with the thoughts behind the logo. Therefore keeping the logo simple will be helpful in making the audience understand about the product and what the product is all about. The elements like font, typography must be used in a subtle manner. The logo must be appealing to the customers of the company. Using the elements, the designer will have to make a logo which will be simple and creative. This will make the logo an instant winner.

Philosophy in the Business

The logo is like the identity of the brand that it projects. Hence, it is very important to introduce the philosophy of business and values in the design. The logo must be such that it will be able to include the brand and the associated marketing message in it. This will help the company to convey the message in a good way to the customers.

Memorable

One must try and make the logo a memorable one. There are many logos which look simple and plain but they have lived on. A good designed logo will help in recalling a brand in the minds of the audience.

Utility

Logos which are made by a particular company are been used in different mediums. From websites, business stationery, brochures and in other things, the logo has been used. Therefore the logo must be made in such a way so that the owner of the brand will be able to see the usage of the logo. Normally the logo that is created in full colors and an option is given of black and white. Therefore it is important that the graphical essentials are flexible and can be used effectively in a number of mediums. The logo must also be of compact nature so that it can be re-sized without having to compromise with the aesthetic value.

Therefore these are some of the important elements which a logo designer will have to bear in their mind while designing a logo for a company. 

This is a guest post written by Alexandria Gaskarth. She is a regular writer and she writes freely on any topic. She has done a thorough research on Logo Design while writing this post. 

Fine & Dandy Warhol: Top New York Art Galleries

Posted by admin on Dec 6, 2012 in Art Gallery | 0 comments

Since Andy Warhol first came onto the scene, New York has continued to be one of the most important centres for art in the world. While it may no longer be quite as ‘out on its own’ as it was in the sixties, New York is still a great place to catch the best in contemporary art. Here are some of the best galleries in the city.

The David Zwirner Gallery
Located in the trendy Chelsea area, the David Zwirner Gallery was established in the 1990s and has since gone on to become one of the best known venues in New York. Occupying the entire ground floor space of several buildings, the David Zwirner Gallery tends to specialise in minimalist art, with Donald Judd and John McCracken just two of the famous names who have exhibited there in recent years. Expect to also see plenty of contemporary photography from Philip-Lorca diCorcia to Thomas Ruff. The David Zwirner is at 525 West 19th Street.

David Zwirner Gallery

New Museum of Contemporary Art
The beauty of this venue is that the actual building itself is a genuine work of art in its own right. Indeed, you may find yourself spending much of your time admiring the outside. Once inside you can expect to see plenty of work from up and coming artists such as Cory Archangel, Urs Fischer and Elizabeth Peyton while there is often the odd show from more established artists such as Jeff Koons. The museum is situated at 235 Bowery and is open from Wednesday to Sunday. Admission alas is not free but payment by credit card is accepted.

Sperone Westwater
Located just a stone’s throw from the museum of Contemporary Art is the excellent Sperone Westwater Gallery. Covering some eight massive floors of gallery space, the Sperone Westwater was designed by Norman Foster and generally dedicates its walls to a range of art genres from Renaissance to Minimalism and from Abstract Expressionism to contemporary installations. Situated at 257 Bowery, the Sperone is open from Tuesday through to Saturday.

The Drawing Center
While the famous area of Soho is not quite as relevant as it once was it still retains a number of vital exhibition spaces. Perhaps the finest of these is the excellent Drawing Center which, as the name suggests, focuses on the art of drawing. With recent exhibitions from giants such as Gerhard Richter and Leon Golub, the venue is no less keen to throw in the odd show from more obscure artists such as the conceptual artists Matt Mullican and Liam Gillick. While at present the space is relatively small, plans are being made to extend the venue to include the second floor. The centre is located at 35 Wooster Street and is open from Wednesday to Sunday.

The Drawing Center

Art in General
If your taste is not limited to one particular genre then definitely the place to go is the aptly named Art in General gallery. Located in the west end of Chinatown — obviously worth a visit in itself — the Art in General gallery is renowned for its penchant for Eastern European artists. With a general focus placed on themes such as ecology and politics, the artwork here tends to be far less commercial than some of its competitors. The work is often ephemeral, employs the cutting edge of new medias and accentuates the role of the public in the exhibition of artworks. The gallery is situated at 79 Walker Street and is open from Tuesday to Saturday.

This article was contributed by Lloyd, a freelance travel writer and blogger, who is currently producing articles for SO Switch.

Painting and Kids: How to Keep them Interested

Posted by admin on Nov 14, 2012 in Featured, Kids | 2 comments

never too young

If you gave a kid a choice between a paintbrush and easel and a hot, new iPad, without blinking an eye, he would most probably pick the iPad. Children are known to have short attention spans, and pretty much anything which involves moving things with a tap or a click of the finger will win over low-key activities such as painting on any given day.

But we adults know better that painting does a whole world of good to any child. It is a medium for kids to express their ideas and emotions as they explore colors, different processes in painting, and the outcome of those methods. And when they create a masterpiece of aesthetic proportions, it makes them- and us, of course- beam with unabashed pride. How do we get them interested in painting, then?

You can start them off by introducing them to different artists. You can visit museums, websites, or read books on painting. You can have them watch art programs on TV which are especially designed for kids. Help them find inspiration in everyday objects or experiences.

Try getting them cool art supplies. Get some brushes and paints in different colors and sizes. Having them paint on an easel will make them feel like a true artist. You can even customize or personalize it for them.

Once the painting bug has bitten them, you can keep them interested by showing genuine interest in their artwork. If you feign admiration, they will see through you. Value their efforts with sincere affirmation.

Encourage them to talk about their painting by asking open-ended questions. For instance, ask them, “What happened when you mixed red with yellow”? You can even have them create a story from their masterpiece.

You wouldn’t be able to count the benefits of painting on kids with the fingers on your hand even if you tried. They’re simply too many to count. Painting opens up new worlds of exploration and learning. Tap into that, and your kids will never be bored again.

Auguste-René Rodin on Google Doodle

Posted by admin on Nov 12, 2012 in Google Doodle | 0 comments

Google doodlers honor François-Auguste-René Rodin with a doodle of his most famous sculpture, The Thinker. Born on November 12, 1840, Rodin had already exhibited a penchant for the arts and had started drawing at the age of ten. In his teens, he formally studied painting and drawing at the Petite Ecole which specialized in art and mathematics. Under the tutelage of Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran, he learned how to draw in his own unique style recollections of objects he had previously observed. He left Petite Ecole in 1857 and attempted to be accepted at the Grand Ecole. However, all of his three applications were denied, so he went on to producing ornamentals and architectural embellishments as a craftsman instead.

Five years after, he turned away from art when his sister Maria died leaving him in anguish. He joined the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament where Saint Peter Julian Eymard saw his immense talent and encouraged him to pursue his craft as a sculpture. Rodin heeded his advice and took classes with Antoine-Louis Barye who was an animal sculptor who paid particular attention to the musculature of animals while in motion. This meticulous attention to detail greatly influenced Rodin’s art.

It wasn’t until he went to Belgium though, and subsequently to Italy, that a definite artistic direction came to effect. During his travels in Italy, he greatly marvelled at the art of Donatello and Michaelangelo whose artistic influences are evident in Rodin’s works. In this pivotal period, he worked on The Age of Bronze which brought him both acclaim and criticism. The life-size male figure was created with such realism that he was accused of using a cast from a living model. To disprove his critics, his subsequent works were either larger than life, St. John the Baptist Preaching, or in a much smaller scale, The Gates of Hell. It was for The Gates’ lintel that he originally designed, The Thinker, his most-famed work and one of the most well-known in the world.

Though widely criticized for his sculptural works’ seemingly lack of theme, Rodin’s fame continued to grow and he was commissioned to create many other sculptures for prominent people. All his sculptural masterpieces exhibit great realism and intense emotion which show man’s magnificence and tragedy in harmonious discord. Undeniably, Rodin’s greatest contribution to the arts is providing freedom from structured and traditional art.

Bram Stoker on Google Doodle

Posted by admin on Nov 8, 2012 in Google Doodle | 0 comments

Horror and Gothic Romance fans are no strangers to the works of Abraham “Bram” Stoker. This contribution is honored by Google when his most notable creation Dracula was featured in Google Doodle for Bram Stoker’s 165th Birthday. The novel’s central character Count Dracula is one of the most loved gothic characters since its creation. Even those who are not familiar with the novel itself are enamored by the mysterious and sinister Count which has been featured in various film, novel and art adaptations. The most notable film adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula were the ones released in 1931 with Bela Legosi and the 1992 film which starred Gary Oldman and Wynona Ryder.

A large number of Dracula Art can also be found in various forms from sketches, paintings, digital art and even wax figures. The Huffpost Arts and Culture webpage featured some of the most horrifying prints to celebrate Stoker’s 165th Birthday. These include “The Vampire” by Edvard Munch, “The Nightmare” by Henry Fuseli, “A Vampire” by Ernst Stöhr printed in Ver Sacrum Magazine 1899, “Demon Seated in a Garden” by Mikhail Vrubel, “The Vampire” by Philip Burne-Jones, “Camilla” by D.H. Friston, and “Le Vampire” by R. de Moraine. Dracula fans can easily find other artistic interpretations of Count Dracula from the works of concept artist Alexandre Tuis, Fan Art from Castlevania, movie posters from Mondo Art or digital images from deviant art and imagekind.

Bram Stoker’s other novels include The Snake’s Pass, The Lady of the Shroud, and The Lair of The White Worm. He also wrote short stories which include The Crystal Cup, The Chain of Destiny, The Shamrock, and a non-fiction book entitled Duties of Clerks and Petty Sessions in Ireland. Stoker’s interest in art was also observed during his lifetime as a founder of the Dublin Sketching Club in 1874.

Austrian National Day on Google Doodle

Posted by admin on Oct 26, 2012 in Google Doodle | 0 comments

Austria’s rich culture makes it an ideal destination for art and music lovers. It is home to music genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, expressionist painter Anton Kolig, and pop artist Kiki Kogelnik. This country has a combination of Renaissance, Baroque and Modern structures, sculptures and paintings stashed within its cities as well as majestic natural landscape that can inspire Noveau artists. Google Doodle’s feature for Austria’s National Day 2012 gives us a glimpse of their rich art and culture.

One would notice the prominence of various structures in the Google Doodle and a touch of Austrian culture subtly placed in between the structures. The architectural designs varies from elaborate stained glass look, patterned roof tiles, gothic and rustic or traditional design, just like the ones that would greet tourists visiting Austria. Hints of the beautiful Austrian Alps and countryside can be seen at the backdrop of the doodle. Those who are familiar with the movie musical The Sound of Music would probably be reminded of the Von Trapp family’s hike in the alps to escape the Germans. Fans of this musical may also see the real Von Trapp Family House in their travels to Austria. People who would like to see real life versions of the doodle structures can visit the city capital Vienna, Salzburg or Graz.

The city of Salzburg was dubbed as the Baroque Jewel of the country as it houses a good number of Baroque palaces, churches, homes and museums in this area. Graz is considered as the Renaissance Jewel of the country but the rich mix of artistic and architectural styles in the area makes it difficult to put a label on it. Last 2003, it was granted the title of Cultural Capital of Europe. The Kunsthaus and Island in the Mur are two of the notable modern architectural creations found in Graz.