Regionalism Exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art
Hours: M - F 9 am - 5 pm
Cost: $10 Adults, Temple Students: Free!

Well, my Museums and American Culture class is over, but I think I'm going to try to continue this blog. We'll see how it goes.

In our class, we mostly visited museums with more of a focus on history than art, although PAFA is not a history museum, it's existence is one of historic significance, especially to Philadelphia. It hails as America's oldest art educational institution and museum, was part founded by none other than Charles Wilson Peale, the legendary Thomas Eakins taught there and part of its collection resides in a Historic Landmark Building designed by the architect Frank Furness. I intend for this post to be a two-part piece because I didn't get a chance to see the American art collection here and plan on going back for a second visit. This time however, I spent my time wandering through the contemporary "Regionalist" Exhibition, Here, in the Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building.

While I originally opted out of the docent led tour so that I could view the pieces at my own pace, I ended up being led through the exhibit about halfway through. For anyone wondering what a docent is, they are typically volunteer guides who can provide context and information about museum objects/artifacts/art that the viewer might not be able to get from the information provided by labels or summaries.
Although I like to think that, being an art student myself, I am adept at visual interpretation, my docent  was able to point out details that I would've missed and undoubtably enriched my experience of the exhibition. I absolutely believe that docents promote the comprehension of museum objects, that being said there were a couple places in my tour where I think the docent's presence hurt my viewing experience. For instance, in one artist's work, a post-apocalyptic Philadelphia City Hall was shown, but the artist intentionally swapped out Billy Penn with another statue. What the docent said though, was that the statue wasn't Ben Franklin. I realize this may be a common misunderstanding, but incorrect information given just the same. After that slip-up though I couldn't help but wonder if there was any other incorrect information I wasn't catching. The other weak area of my tour was that the docent spent a lot of time on works that he liked, and provided very little information other than the artist and region of works he "didn't get." I realize that we all have our own interests, but I kind of would have liked something a little more than what could already be read on the labels. Other than that though, I had a great time, all the art was awesome and I learned a great deal about artist collectives and how their region affects their art.
My favorites included Erika Nelson from Kansas City, MO and her "World's Largest Things" exhibit. Organized very much as an old Curiosity Cabinet. Sue Chenoweth from Phoenix, AZ. Stacy Lynn Waddell from Raleigh/Durham, NC and I think my favorite exhibit from Philly was Jennifer Levonian's piece where she used watercolor paintings and animation in a video about gentrification in Kensington/Nolibs.

Last but not least, the other highlight of my visit was another curiosity cabinet type of piece in the lobby of the building which you get to play with! I love being able to really get into a piece of art, literally! This student piece had drawers, cranks and even paper and pen, so much fun.

The Academy of Natural Sciences and New Media

The Academy of Natural Sciences
19th St and Ben Franklin Pkwy
Hours: 10-4:30 M-F; 10-5 Sat & Sun
Cost: Adults: $12; Students & Children <13: $10

Our visit to the Academy of Natural Sciences today filled me with awe and wonder. It has been too long, since I was a kid at least, since I've been here and I had totally forgotten about the dioramas. I have to admit when I think about natural science dioramas, what comes to mind are the ones I saw this summer at the visitor centers at the Cape May lighthouse and Peace Valley Park. They mostly just feature local animal life and are limited in scale and detail. I have to say, the dioramas at the Academy were certainly impressive in both their size not to mention breathtakingly beautiful and three-dimensional making you feel as if you were really out in nature with these animals. During our visit, we brought up the question of new media in the museum setting and how in the '30s when many of the diorama were being produced for this museum, this form of viewing exotic animals in their natural habitats WAS new...these days, we have television documentaries that show us the animals eating, sleeping and playing, but is this a better experience? Different, yes, but not better. Perhaps what drew me into the dioramas was the lack of technology - of sounds, lights, electronics - the things that are now the norm everywhere you go. It was the quietness and intimacy of the animals and their lands, how I focused so hard on finding that point where the ground met the painted backdrop and let my eye wander over the intricate details of the scenes. You just cannot get that kind of stillness and focus when the animals are all over the screen of a television, you can't really look at what is there like you can at the museum. Maybe its that my background is art that I'm so appreciative of the skill, precision and care that has gone into every item within these containers, whatever it is, I know that watching TV is nothing like this experience. Not only did we get to look at and talk about the natural history dioramas, but we also got a sneak peek at some elements of a exhibition slated for early 2012, "Shh...Secrets of the Diorama," and it looked really cool, with touchable objects and a cross section of an actual diorama animal - these are all examples of how interactive media can be used in the museum settings without necessarily reverting to flashy electronics - and it looked like it would work really well.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary

Hours: 10 am – 5 pm

Cost: Adults: $12, Students: $8

This weeks tour of Eastern State Penitentiary was not only a museum lesson, but a lesson in prison and reform history as well. Our tour guide, Toby, was extremely knowledgeable about its history and current reform practices giving Eastern State relevance in today's world. Our tour lasted about an hour and a half and yet we only went through a fraction of the space and it made me think - is it necessary to preserve the entire crumbling structure when they might be able instead to keep just a part of it while still being able to educate and also make space for something else?

Similar to Eastern State's story, Moyamensing Prison (New County Prison) opened just a few years after Eastern State in 1835, was located at 10^th and Reed streets in South Philadelphia, and housed some very famous prisoners, among them were Edgar Allan Poe and “America's first Serial Killer” H. H. Holmes was executed here. The Debtors' Prison was an architectural wonder, built in the Egyptian Revivalist style, of which there are not many. They both were shut down within ten years of each other as well, the difference is that Moyamensing sat abandoned only five years after shutting down, while Eastern State lie dormant for decades and it was decided that it would be preserved. Toby mentioned that after Eastern State closed, one of the plans for the site was to sell it to a developer and while this never came to fruition, it is the exact fate of the Moyamensing Prison site. Today, in the place of this once formidable structure stands a Senior Center, an Acme, and a Wells Fargo Bank, all that is left is a low stone wall around the back of the shopping center and an historic marker in front.

I have a very sentimental attachment to Moyamensing Prison, even though I have never set eyes on it, it is where I do most of my grocery shopping and while I sometimes wish very much that the structure was standing because looking at photographs doesn't do it justice, I realize that it would have been taking up valuable city real estate and having a grocery store there now is certainly quite convenient for many of the neighborhood residents, more convenient than say having a crumbling historic prison. I appreciate that the city erected an historical marker reminding the community of this monumental structure's existence, and it's rumored that the famous Egyptian Revival facade of the Debtors' Prison was placed in storage at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D. C. If the rumors are true, perhaps I'll be able to see at least a part of the great building which once stood in the place of my local supermarket. Either way, I'm glad the space is being used by the South Philly community.

As far as Eastern State relationship with their community goes, I've heard that the residents of the area get free admission to the day tours. If it's true, I can guess at many different reasons for it. For one, it is a way to kind of give back to the community by educating them on the history of their shared community and to promote community unity, pride and get residents involved more. Or it could be their way of making up for the things that the neighbors might not like so much, like the spooky characters and crowded sidewalks of visitors waiting to get into the “Terror Behind the Walls” during October. Perhaps its a bit of both. 

Moyamensing Debtors' Prison

The Powel House or "Do We Have Too Many House Museums?"

Powel House
244 S. 3rd St.
Philadelphia, PA
Hours: Thursday - Saturday 12 - 4, Sunday 1 - 4
Cost: General Admission $5, Students $4

         The Powel Museum is a preserved house of Samuel Powel, Philadelphia's last mayor before the Revolutionary War and it's first Mayor after the Revolutionary War. He rubbed noses with the great George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and anyone else who might have been important around that time. As the house was about to be demolished in the 1930's, a wealthy woman decided to fight to preserve this historic house, and won. By this point, much of the interior woodwork and moulding had been sold off to other big museums, so not only did they have to restore this house to it's original state, but they also had to reconstruct the interior architecture. Today, the rooms are in a somewhat furnished state, with what remains of the Powel's original pieces and artwork mixed with various other period pieces. The tours for most folk remain only on the first and second floors, but we had special permissions to view the third floor (Powel's bedroom area) and the fourth floor (women servant's living quarters) which are not reconstructed and are either bare, or used for storage at the moment.

         As we were guided through the house I began to both compare this house with the historic Edgar Allan Poe House, which I visited this summer, and thought about how each museum chose to display itself and why that might be the case. The most drastic difference between each of the houses are that, while the Powel House retains some original objects of the time period, the Poe house is entirely bare. The second largest difference is in the sites administration. While the Powel House is a non-profit organization, the Poe House is run by the National Park Service and is funded by taxpayer dollars, and is free of charge to visitors. Because the Poe House is not dependent on donations and visitor door admissions, they do not have to sell themselves as hard (though they do have a gift shop!) as a museum like the Powel House that does.

            When Dr. Bruggeman asked us, “Do we need another house museum?” I considered an issue that hit closer to home, or rather work.The Dilworth House, located directly next door from where I work at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, has been surrounded by controversy regarding its preservation and future. To begin, the building is currently abandoned, and I get many questions about it from visitors at the Athenaeum. Its appearance fits in with the rest of the “ancient” Society Hill residences, however, it is clearly abandoned and has no back wall. When I tell people that this home is not actually near the same age as the surrounding homes they are very shocked. The Dilworth House, built in the 1950s, belonged to a Philadelphia mayor famous for helping to revitalize the Society Hill area of Center City, today the property is owned by a developer who is trying to build a condo, if not for the resistance of the neighborhood. The Society Hill Civic Association is not trying to preserve Dilworth's residence as a House Museum, rather they do not seem to have any ideas for it's future, only that they do not want it turned into a condo. This is a case where I think that if the neighborhood association is successful in having this structure preserved, they need to do something with it, whether use it as a community education center or a House museum. If they are not able support it, then let the developer do with it what he may.  

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Hours: Tuesday and Thursday thru Sunday: 10am – 5pm

Wednesday: 10am – 8pm

Cost: $10 General Admission; $6 Students

Today's visit to the Penn Museum was my second. The first time I visited was for Art Heritage I (that's Ancient Egyptian arts to the Middle Ages for all non-art majors) and I had a very different viewing experience, not to mention I was able to explore more of the museum exhibits than I had previously. From the Main Entrance on the museum's first floor I visited the “primitive” cultures which starts out with Native Americans, goes into indigenous South American tribes, and finally to the African exhibit. From the African exhibit I looped back around to the Main Entrance, walked upstairs through the gift shop into the Egyptian Amarna exhibit which I sped through - stopping only at the mummies - having already seen this before. I spent some time walking through the Buddhism exhibit which displays artifacts from Asian countries influenced by Buddhism. It is also set up so you walk in a big circle, there is no “turn around” point. I was curious about the coinciding special exhibits of “Iraq's Ancient Past” and 9/11's “Excavating Ground Zero,” which seemed fairly scandalous, however, they actually put up a plaque in between the two explaining that there was a scheduling conflict and there was nothing at all political about the two presentations. The third floor holds all of the “civilized” ancient Greek, Rome, Etruscan and Israeli/Canaan galleries. It seems preposterous that the hierarchy of cultures within the museum are still as they were in the museum's early days with the most “primitive” at the bottom and “civilized” at the top. It seems as though the museum has enough similar artifacts from each culture that they could create a mixed culture exhibit of funerary practices or feast rituals/objects, these are things with commonalities among all human cultures, past and present. Does it offer a linear context in which to view objects, no. Rather it would perhaps shed a global perspective of life on the objects, more akin to our modern world.

Charles Willson Peale: Independence Hall & Second Bank Portrait Gallery

Independence Hall

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm

Sat & Sun 9am-6pm

Cost: Free

Second Bank

Hours: Wed-Sun 11am-5pm

Cost: Free

On visiting the second floor of Independence Hall, where Charles Willson Peale kept his museum, the floor was furnished to recreate a different time and although it was not set up like his museum, luckily there are his own paintings of the space, which is pretty straightforward – a long room, to help envision how the museum was set up. We then went half a block to the Second Bank Portrait Gallery where many of the portraits that had been hanging in the Independence Hall museum are now located. It is here that the National Park Service uses many of Peale's paintings to do a partial reconstruction of his museum. The portraits are located at the top of the wall, just as Peale had them, and below where his specimens would have been, there is a layered wall lit from behind so that you can see images, drawings and so forth of the objects that would have been below the portraits, along with plaques describing Peale's museum and his influence. Something that I think is interesting is that the Second Bank Portrait Gallery is something of a museum preserving parts of another museum. Unfortunately the space could not be kept and many of Peale's natural history objects were sold off by his family after his death. In Susan Crane's essay, “Time, Memory, and Museums” she suggests that, “time is frozen in museums to the extent that its objects are preserved, their natural decay intentionally prevented.” Many different things could have been done with the remaining paintings that the City of Philadelphia bought from the auctioning of them, but the Second Bank chose to display his paintings in a similar fashion to the way Peale had, in a space not unlike the space in Independence Hall, and educate on his museum. In that aspect, the room preserves Peale's museum and the memory of Peale. Perhaps if all his museum objects he had had been destroyed or sold off all over the country or world, the memory of Peale's place in history would also be fainter than it is today.   

The Wagner Free Institute of Science

The Wagner Free Institute of Science

Website: http://www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org

Hours: Tues-Fri 9-4

Cost: Free

The Wagner Free Institute of Science is a little known Victorian-era natural history museum just off of Temple's Main Campus. Established in the 1800s by William Wagner, a wealthy businessman, the museums intended mission is and was to provide a free education in the sciences for anyone interested. The museum has an extensive lecture hall and library while upstairs you can view specimens ranging from geodes and fossils to taxidermied mammals and skeletons of all sorts of creatures. Underneath the exhibit cases are drawers, also containing intriguing items of the natural world. Nearly all of the specimens were collected and organized within the museum in the 1800s by Wagner himself or his predecessor, Dr. Joseph Leidy.

During our visit to the Wagner Museum, I noted from our class discussions that the interior of the specimen area was organized by Darwin's taxonomy which forces the viewer to see the objects in a way that creates a relationship with the objects around it, for example, the human skeleton is in a case in the center of the room close to where the visitor enters the room. Beside the human is a chimpanzee, then the following primates get progressively smaller and less related to human beings.

One of the things that sets the Wagner apart from other natural history museums that I've visited was this: all of the labels are written using the specimens latin nomenclature, most do not list the common name which makes figuring out what things are pretty difficult. This was mentioned in our class discussion afterwards as being a hinderance for anyone not knowledgable in latin and that part of the reason for this was that it forces the viewer to enroll in the free classes and lectures that are taught at the institute to access the knowledge of the viewing room. In general though, the Wagner museum is unlike any other natural history museum I have ever seem because it has preserved its methods of exhibiting since the late 1800s and therefore is a specimen of that time period itself.