Journal #2 - Palmer Museum Visit

I have been to many places in my life but I have never once stepped inside an art museum.  I did not really know what to expect when visiting the Palmer Art Museum but when I walked through the doors I was pleasantly surprised.  I went to public school my whole life up until high school and in pubic school you have to take an art class every year so I am no stranger to art, although I had never really thought much about it.  It wasn't until my senior year art history class that my whole perspective of art changed.  My teacher Ms. Hackerman was artistically genius.  She knew everything there was to know about art not just by studying art in books but by experiencing the art first hand.  You name it and she has seen it in person.  She gave me an appreciation for art and having never stepped inside a art museum before I was jumping at the opportunity to take a look inside the Palmer Art Museum.

I knew going into the museum I wanted to write about the first thing that honestly made me go "wow look at that".   Being inside an art museum is like an experience all its own.  Its so quiet and your surrounded by such interesting things its hard to believe I've gone my whole life without experiencing it.  I was walking aimlessly through the corridors just looking around taking it all in when I saw it.  It was the most breath taking sculpture I have ever seen.  Placed strategically right before you walk up the steps to the up stairs portion of the museum is a blue, orange, and yellow glass piece that you can not help but stop and look at.  Its called Peacock Blue and Yellow Seaform Set with Yellow Lip Wraps by Dale Chihuly.  It is amazing how the artist uses blown glass to create such an ascetically pleasing sculpture.  The colors are so bright and vibrant it catches the attention of anyone walking by.  Below there is a picture of the artwork:

I found this sculpture very rhetorically interesting because of its ability to catch the attention a passerby.  When I look at it it instantly reminds me of the ocean or a coral reef.  Its beauty provides a carefree attitude to those who look at it.  The artist created this work in 1995 which explains the more modern feel to it.  Chihuly is known for his blown glass sculptures of many vivid colors.  It is very different from other sculptures in that when you look at it you are not reminded of a certain time or date you just look at it for the pleasure of looking at it.  That is the beauty of working with blown glass you can make it any shape or color that you want unlike marble or stone which is only a small variety of colors and is limited in its shape.  Unlike ancient roman sculptures which are very specific to their time this work of art depicts a modern theme that no time that can not contain a time limit.  Its beauty creates a very neutral stance in that anyone can look at it and think something different about it.

Pathos I think is the most important part of a rhetorical piece because as human beings we depend heavily on feeling.  We base a lot of our decisions based on our emotions.  Walking around the museum there was a lot of interesting pieces of art but none caught my attention as well as Peacock Blue and Yellow Seaform.  Just looking at made me happy, I think the vivid colors and peaceful ocean shapes made me feel calm.  Its almost like the sculpture has the ability to reach right into your soul and control your emotions without even trying.  I think it is impossible to be angry looking at such a bright and cheerful work of art.  It makes you appreciate the good things in life and not dwell on the bad things.

Dale Chihuly is known for his work with blown glass.   All of his sculptures are blown glass that incorporate vibrant colors and create a calming affect.  His consistency of blown glass sculptures that make people happy pad his his credibility.  He has the rare ability to create breath taking art that draws in peoples attention and makes them feel good about themselves and the things around them.  It is hard to make people happy and Chihuly perfects the art.

I think the sole purpose of this piece to give pleasure to museum goers.  It is a nice piece to look at and it creates a feeling of happiness for those who look at it.  Peacock Blue and Yellow Seaform to me is only persuasive in the aspect that it persuades you to be happy.  There is no alternative motive to the sculpture, it is not trying to get you to buy something or believe in something.  All the glass sculpture does is provide pure happiness for everyone to share.

My first trip to the Palmer Museum of art or any art museum for that matter was a huge success.  I saw alot of paintings and sculptures that I had seen in books or class before, but seeing a painting in a book is nothing compared to seeing it in person.  I did not know what to expect going into the museum I thought it would be a lot of stuck up art enthusiasts sitting around with their monocles judging the art but I was wrong.  The museum was almost empty and I felt free to roam around and do whatever I wanted.  It was very quiet, I liked having time to myself to think and just enjoy the art around me.  I can definitely see myself going back whenever they have a new exhibit or art work.  I honestly didn't even know the museum was there until you told us to go there.  I am very happy I know about it now though and I can't wait for my next trip.