The Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery have announced the digitization of ancient near eastern inscriptions. The inscriptions currently preserved as Squeezes of text from archaeological sites such as Bastam, Persepolis, and Samarra.
The original inscriptions were preserved by Ernst Herzfeld, a German archeologist in the early 20th century. He developed a technique of layering a series of moistened sheets of paper to create a wet pulp which was then pressed upon the inscriptions to create a 3-dimensional mold. The Freer and Sackler archives currently hold 393 squeezes.
In 2010 the Smithsonian received a grant to electronically preserve the squeezes. Using a new imaging technique, Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) allows digital copies to be made which allow the viewer to zoom in and enhance the image without damaging the original squeeze.
The Freer and Sackler Archives is dedicated to furthering the study of Asian and Middle Eastern art and culture. RTI has aided it in providing world wide access to a section of its collection to scholars and history enthusiasts.
Showing posts with label Smithsonian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smithsonian. Show all posts
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday, April 16, 2009
SI extended hours
The Smithsonian Institute has three of the most popular US museums; the Air and Space museum, the Natural History museum, and the American History museum. This summer these museums will be open later than ever before. The museums had previously closed at 5:30 pm. Now, three times a week they will be open one to two hours later.
FINALLY!!
What has the Smithsonian been waiting for? I recently lived in DC and can honestly say that, as a local, it was nearly impossible to visit these museums. They were open while people were at work and then mobbed by tourists and children throughout the weekend. With these extended evenings it is my belief that locals will frequent these museums more often. Let's face it, locals are always happier when they can avoid tourists.
FINALLY!!
What has the Smithsonian been waiting for? I recently lived in DC and can honestly say that, as a local, it was nearly impossible to visit these museums. They were open while people were at work and then mobbed by tourists and children throughout the weekend. With these extended evenings it is my belief that locals will frequent these museums more often. Let's face it, locals are always happier when they can avoid tourists.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Taking Shape: Ceramics on Southeast Asia
The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery has an excellent exhibit outlining the process used in Southeast Asia to make ceramic pieces from cooking pots and storage jars.
Taking Shape houses approximately 200 ceramic pieces. While this is a very interesting exhibit, one which I would suggest to anyone interested in organized communities and/or ceramics, the most interesting part of the exhibit was how the materials are presented.
The Sackler Gallery is now primarily as an art museum. It focuses on Asian cultures, but as an art museum, as opposed to a cultural museum. Most exhibits are arranged in a similar fashion as any major art museum, which would focus on the visitor seeing the object, while ignoring the other senses. Taking Shape stands out in this crowd of exhibits because it tries to follow the theory of learning through discovery. This theory believes that people will absorb more if they are active participants in the "lesson".
In this case the "lesson" is the information in the exhibit. The exhibit designers ask the visitor to participate in the exhibit by watching and listening to a video showing the actual creation of the ceramics they are standing among. The visitor is then encouraged to touch various ceramic pieces so that they can experience the difference between earthenware and stoneware. Including materials that involve the sense of touch is a pleasant surprise in the middle of the exhibit. It helps to reignite the curiosity that originally brought the visitor into the exhibit. In addition to the use of touch and sound the visitor is given a pamphlet that asks them to "find" specific objects and information in the exhibit.
I personally believe in the learning by discovery theory. Thinking about my own learning style I can't help but see how having multiple senses involved in education has helped me remember various information. To experience an exhibit that follows this theory please visit Taking Shape. The exhibit will be available to the public until 2010.
"Taking Shape presents ceramics made over a span of 4,000 years by women and men living in the region that today comprises Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Burma."
Taking Shape houses approximately 200 ceramic pieces. While this is a very interesting exhibit, one which I would suggest to anyone interested in organized communities and/or ceramics, the most interesting part of the exhibit was how the materials are presented.
The Sackler Gallery is now primarily as an art museum. It focuses on Asian cultures, but as an art museum, as opposed to a cultural museum. Most exhibits are arranged in a similar fashion as any major art museum, which would focus on the visitor seeing the object, while ignoring the other senses. Taking Shape stands out in this crowd of exhibits because it tries to follow the theory of learning through discovery. This theory believes that people will absorb more if they are active participants in the "lesson".
In this case the "lesson" is the information in the exhibit. The exhibit designers ask the visitor to participate in the exhibit by watching and listening to a video showing the actual creation of the ceramics they are standing among. The visitor is then encouraged to touch various ceramic pieces so that they can experience the difference between earthenware and stoneware. Including materials that involve the sense of touch is a pleasant surprise in the middle of the exhibit. It helps to reignite the curiosity that originally brought the visitor into the exhibit. In addition to the use of touch and sound the visitor is given a pamphlet that asks them to "find" specific objects and information in the exhibit.
I personally believe in the learning by discovery theory. Thinking about my own learning style I can't help but see how having multiple senses involved in education has helped me remember various information. To experience an exhibit that follows this theory please visit Taking Shape. The exhibit will be available to the public until 2010.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Afganistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul
The Smithsonian National Gallery of Art, in collaboration with the National Geographic Society, is hosting an exhibit from the National Museum of Kabul from May 25 - September 7, 2008. The exhibit is meant to show how northern Afghanistan, Bactria, has developed through time. From its ancient origins over 2,000 years ago as the Oxus Civilization through to Tillya Tepe, the "Hill of Gold". The capital of Bactria, Balkh, was a grand city which Marco Polo describes as:
Due to it's location Bactria has been influenced by three centers of civilization, India, China and Mesopotamia. This influence can be clearly seen in the artwork produced from the area. The artwork displayed at the Smithsonian range from 2200bc to the second century ad.
The Greeks brought their language and culture into Bactria in the fourth century bc. This is when Alexander the Great and his armies conquered the area. His successor, Seleucius I, founded the Greco-Bactrian city of Ai Khanum, "Lady Moon". The city became the eastern outpost of Greek culture and was able to flourish due to it's location on the Oxus river, a point on established trading routes, including the Silk Road.
Ceremonial Plaque depicting Cybele Ai Khanum, temple with niches), gilded silver, beginning of 3rd century bc.
Mongolian nomads overran Bactria around 145bc. Tillya Tepe became one of the centers for this nomad group. Excavations have shown Tillya Tepe to be a center for burials for the nomadic chieftains. Some pieces found here include:
A golden crown from Tillya Tepe Tomb VI, 1st century ad.
One of a pair of boot buckles depicting a chariot drawn by dragons. Tillya Tepe, Tomb IV, 1st Century ad.
Overall I felt that the exhibit was well organized. The pieces chosen to represent a culture that changed throughout a vast amount of time were well selected. As the visitor I left feeling more informed about an area I had previously had little to no knowledge on, and I wanted to continue to dig for information about the Bactria area.
"a noble city and very large, Formerly it was nobler and larger, it was the most vast and beautiful city in the region... And I tell you that in this city King Alexander the Great took as his wife the daughter of Darius, king of the Persians, according to the people of this city."
--The Description of the World, 1298
Due to it's location Bactria has been influenced by three centers of civilization, India, China and Mesopotamia. This influence can be clearly seen in the artwork produced from the area. The artwork displayed at the Smithsonian range from 2200bc to the second century ad.
The Greeks brought their language and culture into Bactria in the fourth century bc. This is when Alexander the Great and his armies conquered the area. His successor, Seleucius I, founded the Greco-Bactrian city of Ai Khanum, "Lady Moon". The city became the eastern outpost of Greek culture and was able to flourish due to it's location on the Oxus river, a point on established trading routes, including the Silk Road.
Ceremonial Plaque depicting Cybele Ai Khanum, temple with niches), gilded silver, beginning of 3rd century bc.Mongolian nomads overran Bactria around 145bc. Tillya Tepe became one of the centers for this nomad group. Excavations have shown Tillya Tepe to be a center for burials for the nomadic chieftains. Some pieces found here include:
A golden crown from Tillya Tepe Tomb VI, 1st century ad.
One of a pair of boot buckles depicting a chariot drawn by dragons. Tillya Tepe, Tomb IV, 1st Century ad.Overall I felt that the exhibit was well organized. The pieces chosen to represent a culture that changed throughout a vast amount of time were well selected. As the visitor I left feeling more informed about an area I had previously had little to no knowledge on, and I wanted to continue to dig for information about the Bactria area.
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