Richard S. Moscorelli

Museum Night at the Harn

 

     I chose the Harn Museum for my event for a couple of reasons. First it is close to where I live and secondly I am able to share the experience with my family. I experienced many things at the Harn Museum. There are so many things to explore at the Harn that it is going to take several times going to get a good feel for what is available to my family and I.

     I went to two Museum Nights at the Harn with my daughter. The first time we went together we experienced Chineese cultural activities. African activities were showcased the second time we went to Museum Night. During the two trips we tried the various foods which were offered. I tried all of the food and liked a majority of it.

My favorite part during the experience was the ability to see exceptional artwork twenty miles from my home. I had heard of the Harn Museum but I had never gone to look at any of the exhibitions. My favorite part was the Harn Museum itself. I really enjoyed the ability to share the museum with my daughter Makayla and give her the oportunity to experience some of the things I am doing in school so that she can gain a better understanding about the art as well.

     The part of the museum which expanded my ideas of a unique culture was the section on small Indian art work. I needed a magnifying glass to look at the pictures. What I saw behind the glass amazed me. The detail in the art was very intricate down to the smallest details. My daughter did get a chuckle out of a few of the pictures.

     I went on a docent lead Art Blast while on the second trip. The piece the docent went over was a spiritual piece from an artista from Cuba. The Palo religión was depicted on the artwork. It represented moving from the physical world into the spirit world. There were also some depictions explaining how the religión was practiced on the art as well. It was very intriguing to me.

     I had heard of Voodoo before but never experienced it first hand. This was a piece of African religión that had been brought over from the slave trading days and here it was on a wall in front of me. Historical context of an African religión put on a wall twenty miles from my home. Very cool.