Medium of the art/Technique of the artist: Upon entering the Harn museum the average person walks strait ahead into the main gallery. Then, once walking through the hallway, you are met by Islandia, Goddess of the Healing Waters. It is the first piece of art that a museum go-er would likely see. I believe that this piece of art in particular must be seen in person to capture its true value. Pictures are flat images that only show one side of a tangible thing. The Islandia statue has textures and colors and slight reflection of light that can only be admired to it's highest value if viewed in person. To be completely honest, I was initially attracted to the artwork because of the way the light protruded from the statues chest. This type of light cannot be seen in only one picture. To me, this statue represents the equality of women. It portrays women as a goddess with powers of healing which shows the usefulness and strength of womankind. The artwork made me feel empowered because of the statues representation of not only equality, but also strength and healing.

Design of the Museum: The design of the museum works very well in its goal of portraying it's artwork. In general, the works are spaced out from each other so that each piece of art can be admired separately. I particularly enjoyed the amount of space in the museum because it allowed me to walk around freely to enjoy the art instead of being packed into a small hallway. I liked the design of the African art wing the most because of the way that the art was displayed. There were mostly statues in the center of the room and pictures on the outside. There were also walls that permitted me from seeing other statues while i looked at one. I believe the museum did this so that only one piece of art could be individualized from others. In addition to the layout of the art I also was fond of the lighting which shot at most of the artwork from every angle which allowed for easy viewing from every side. The African artwork hall made me feel welcomed to viewing the art. Once entering the hall through the arch I felt joy as a spectator of the artwork. Finally, I liked the view of the garden at the end of the hall. In a low lighted room full of African figures it was wonderful to have the natural light peer in from the large windows.

Art and Core Values: One of the things I value most as an individual is enjoyment. Anywhere that I go I look for ways to have a good time. I believe that this image of the statue and I represents that core value. The statue itself depicts a "chinese" style outfit that was made in a Ghanian coastal town. This style was originally popularized by Brazilians and were worn at carnivals. I believe that the multicolored dress represents a good time because of its vibrant and playful vibes. While this is something that I personally would not wear, it is something thats represents the kind of excitement I stand for. If this statue instilled any emotion in me I would have to say it would be joy. The image just exudes fun with it's bright characteristics. This statue helps me better understand the importance of the value of enjoyment because it reminds me that I should live everyday to the fullest and squeeze the most amount of work and play out of every day.

Art and the Good Life: In the image Named "Cast of Thousands" there is a picture of many Brazilians that are put to work in the Serra Pelada gold mine. The good life theme that can be seen here is the theme of ethics, or in this case a lack of ethics. One can see that in the picture there is a lack of ethics through the unbearable conditions such as the lack of space and harsh environment. Real images such as this one show the true struggles of life that are sometimes hard to depict through paintings or sculptures. The picture was taken in 1986 but it looks older due to the use of black and white gel imaging. I believe the artist may have used this technique to link the thought of the struggles in older times to the time when the picture was taken. At first glance the picture may make someone believe it was taken in the 1800's when in reality it was not long ago. It is difficult for many of us living in America to believe that poor ethical values like the ones portrayed in the art exist today. The image makes me appreciate all of the good ethical aspects of my life and it makes me grateful that I do not have to live my life in a manner such as the one pictured.