Introduction: I have never been to the Harn Museum of Art until I went on Sunday, Feburary 29th 2017. When I walked in, I chose to do the self-guided tour rather than the cell phone tour. The museum in a whole was a very beautiful place with a lot of features that immersed the viewer into that culture presented.
Medium of the Art / Technique of the Artist: When I first walked into the Harn Museum, I saw a lot of paintings and a couple of sculptures along the walls, but this particular piece of art caught my eye. This garment is called asherab nabuak and it is from the Amazigh People in Siwa, Egypt. In Siwa, women have a seven day wedding ceremony where they are notorious for wearing colorful and intricate garments. The garment pictured below is one that a bride would wear on her third day of the wedding ceremony, when she welcomes her family into her new home . Seeing the asherab nabuak in person let me see the detailed embroidery that the garment is known for. I could see all of the buttons, stitches, and patterns on the tunic. The black panels on each side with the red and green stitched patterns resembled the honor and grace for the women of Siwa, Egypt. I personally love weddings and I have only seen or been to weddings in the United States. Seeing the asherab nabuak and reading about the culture of weddings in Siwa was really inspiring to me.
Design of the Museum: To my surprise, the Harn Museum had modern touches that were fascinating. I have never been in a museum with modern architecture that complements the artwork displayed. The museum consists of intimate gardens which were both walk-able and non walk-able. The garden pictured is called the "Asian Water Garden" and it is the backdrop for the Cofrin Asian Art Wing. This part of the gallery was full of ancient Asian artwork which was accompanied by a giant spacious room and wooden floors. Each artifact was stored in a glass case so viewing them was easy and enjoyable. Towards the back of the Asian Art Wing, there was a glass door that led to a garden that resembled that of a traditional Asian garden. The garden was an enjoyable experience that featured an easy-to-access footbridge and gorgeous waterfall backdrop. The Asian Water Garden made me feel like I was traveling through Asia without leaving Gainesville, FL.
Art and Core Values: After I graduated from high school, I made the courageous decision to move from Asheville, NC to Gainesville, FL. I was born in Florida and knew that I would one day come back to live here again, but moving away from my family in North Carolina was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I personally value family and having a strong connection with my parents. This oil painting by Ernest Fiene similarly resembles what the Blue Ridge Mountains look like in October. When I first saw this painting, it struck close to home. When I was in high school, I used to take a drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains almost every weekend to see the colors along the horizon. This past August, I moved to Florida right before the autumn leaves started to change. Autumn is my parents and I's favorite time of the year so this painting made me think of them. The artwork instilled a sad, but hopeful feeling in me that even though I miss my parents dearly, they are proud to have a daughter that is seeking a "good life" with a higher education here at the University of Florida.
Art and the Good Life: This oil painting by George Grosz represents New York City in post-World War II. Grosz is notorious for being an expressionist painter which is seen through this artwork shown below. You can easily see the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in the painting. Grosz presents a cloudy and dark depiction of the famous American city, New York City. Even during World War II, Grosz is portraying how Americans still rise to the occasion even in great turmoil. He uses his talents to represent one of the hardest times that America had to face, but it was also a time that brought everyone together. America came together is a time of need. In the good life, this painting would represent unison and harmony.
Photo cited: cover photo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/93283041@N00/15920130795
Credits:
Created with images by jared422_80 - "Gainesville - Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art - Roadside Sculpture"