Dia de los Muetos Event

Rachel and I got a chance to go to the Dia de los Muetos Event last Thursday. Although the weather wasn't the greatest, it didn't stop people from checking out the museum. At the Children's Museum on the Navy Pier, we brought our recording devices to capture the event at hand. Upon arrival we listened to some of the mexican music that was being performed. The music and dancing encapsulate evening on the second floor while a flurry of activities, such as paper mask making, clay sculpture creating, and many more workshops dominated the lively event.

We got a chance to interview Keith McCormick, the Director of Cultural Programs, who was in charge of the evening's activities. It was a great way to showcase cultural heritage from around the world and getting kids and adults to participate in the activities together. Overall he wanted to welcome everyone, locals or walk-ins, to experience and share their creative talent or have a good time in the museum with their kids. I had a lot of fun exploring the museum since it was my first time. Rachel even recorded my plane creation activity. I was overly impressed with all the space and play tables and props that were set up around the museum. It truly was a great place for kids to explore all day.

Overall it was a good evening interviewing people. We recorded a few families and kids and got a great insight about the activities and the programs the museum has to offer. Quinn, a staff at the museum, had the chance to tell us about her experience in art education and how it has gotten her to love the program. In the end we learned a lot about the children's event and highly recommend bringing your kids to Chicago Children's Museum. You can check them out on at www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org.

New Project: AIC Teen Project

So I'm currently working on a new project for Cyberpedagogy class. My group will be working closely with the Art Institute of Chicago's Teen Educational program. We have several ideas was want to implement, mainly to get a better feel about teen programs and how they/we want to incorporate technology into a better learning program that the institute currently offers–or create a better structure of teaching for the "modern" programs of educational teachings. Currently I have several places I'd like to look over. The first two I want to research the Ann Arbor Art Center (where I worked for four years as a contracted art teacher) and the Art Museum at the University of Michigan (which my housemate has worked before and could provide more insight about the educational programs). Nonetheless it should be an exciting project to work on since I look forward to working with kids again and be able to contribute to the AIC.

New Electronica Instrument as a teaching tool?

I thought this was a cool piece of technology which could provide educational implications if done correctly (great for teen programs that want to explore electronic music). Article shows a new form of music performance. The Eigenharp is an instrument where DJs and musicians behind keyboards and computers can actually play their songs with a "musical instrument." Very cool and tech savy:
http://www.9to5mac.com/made_on_a_mac_eigenharp

Here is a video sample of their performance with three Eigneharp Alphas:

Museum walkthrough

I got a chance to walk through the art institute today and instead of the Modern Wing I focused on the exhibits in the older section of the museum. I got a chance to visit the Impressionism exhibit again (it's been ages) and felt great to see van Gogh again. Although exciting to see and literally wanting to touch it, I noticed they have a glass barrier in front of it. Darn. I guess I'll have to talk to some staff people if there is a way I can physically touch his impasto oil style (I kinda sound creepy now).

The overall walkthrough of the original museum felt nostalgic and peaceful when walking through the various parts of the rooms and floors. I got a chance to to walk through the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Art, American Art before 1900s, exhibits from the Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art, and American Modern Art. I did trip an alarm in the Chinese Art gallery (oops) since I was trying to read a plaque of a chinese stone door piece. But what I observed is that there wasn't much of a interactive technology display in the older areas. Besides the usual Pathfinder screens at the main entrance and the occasional people with audio tour equipment, I didn't see anything else groundbreaking or new. I was a sad panda.

Something things I'd like to see would be some sort of interactive pathway through the museum. Perhaps several more screens in between exhibits of where you can make your own route and upload it to your ipod or iphone or email it to whatever mobile device you have. Then maybe a lighted pathway on the floor: this would not only entertain the kids but help visitors go to certain exhibits and routes to particular places (bathrooms, staff, etc). This would be tricky since it can't be too bright, no noise, and yet still noticeable for people to see and follow. Like several people already suggest, more screens around certain rooms and perhaps update the interactive children's center.

The website can also be updated with current exhibits, showings, lectures, and such since I know more about it on paper than online (plus I saw that there are auditoriums in the museum–that's pretty cool since I didn't know!). There is a lot about the musuem that can be shown more or be better accessible online (think overall improvement of the sites UI).

First trip to Modern Wing...Sweetness

The Modern Wing of the Art Institute was a cool experience to check out. And it's been several years that I came back to the museum in general. I wanted to run to the second floor and check out the Impressionist art work (and blankly stare at all of the paintings including van Goghs) but I had to explore the new addition. The architecture of the building was quite impressive and new. I got a chance to see the Architecture and Design exhibit and the Contemporary Art exhibits. I was also desperately hungry too which I couldn't walk as far. So my hopes to the second floor will have to be another time.

In addition to the new building it was quite interesting to see the latest technology available at the museum's disposal. Rachel showed us the Education Center, which housed the latest media equipment for classrooms and events. Checked out the Educator Resource Center and listened to Japanese music in Studio B classroom. Rachel also showed me the Pathfinder Kiosk (displayed on a Mac screen, righteous) which shows me a path to whatever exhibit I want to see plus more. Now only if they added a 3D walkthrough then that would be helpful on the kiosk...

Nonetheless this needs more time to explore. I plan to go again this weekend and hopefully say hello to Vincent on the way.