I love the idea of treating the other objects in a museum as if they're art. I remember wandering around the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art many years ago and doing the same thing. Thanks for the reminder!
I wrote about wandering around a museum at the start of the year. I paired the idea with a creative writing exercise, if you're interested:
I loved the museum section in your book and it is great to revisit it! I was planning a visit to a museum for next Friday... will definitely try some of these!
Some years back, I picked up a book called 'A Burglar's Guide to the City,' by Geoff Manaugh. It's basically a guide to "building hacking": making use of *all* parts of a building, even the ones (especially the ones) that maybe aren't meant to be used at all (at least by the general public): ventilator shafts, stairwells, empty offices, that sort of thing. It really opened my eyes to the pleasures of imagining what's behind the curtain of our built environment... by noticing everything we don't need to imagine (because it's right THERE, just overlooked). Your group exploration of DMA is right in that ballpark!
I love this post. Alain de Botton (atheism 2.0) suggests that museums, art and cultural events stand in for the religion most of us have left behind. In one lecture he points out how a museum randomly arranged an exhibit and suggested to them better ways to arrange their art installation. I love the idea of interacting with classic art pieces like the Mona Lisa (I.C.U.P. and L.H.O.O.Q.). It reinvents, reimagines and reinvigorates the masters and our appreciation of art. Museums are a near religious experience for me. But I feel even more connected to museums and eager to visit if I’m allowed to dislike or disagree with some of their choices. Religions on the other have frown upon you rejecting any part of their dogma (cafeteria Catholics).
Many years ago a group held a Hemingway writing contest. The idea was to make fun of his writing by imitating his style and choosing some outrageous topic. The prize was a trip to Venice. I often marveled at why they would want you to make fun of Hemingway instead of honoring him. I think I figured out that to imitate someone is the highest honor you can bestow. And to write in his style (even in jest) requires attention, study, reading and results, finally, in appreciation. (And this is one of the reasons why I have an appreciation for graffiti and street art).
I'm a foodie who loves to cook or bake something new when inspiration strikes. Unfortunately, I often find myself short of just ONE key ingredient in a recipe. And it's almost always at a point in time when I can't leave the house to get to an open store. I've always thought there should be a specific name for this situatation/state of being. Something more descriptive than 'frustrated'. Anyone?
I love that your last name is rice and you love to cook. I’m guessing rice is never one of the ingredients you are missing? I like replacing items in a recipe or just freewheeling it. I would never buy buttermilk but you can hack it by adding lemon to whole milk you might have on hand. Lemon loaf bread is one of my fave things to bake over the winter.
In only the week since I discovered TAoN, Rob, it has truly enhanced my experience of being alive.
Thank you!
PS: I love how generous you are in referring your readers to other people's blogs and websites.
Thanks so much Pablo!
Oh man I love the idea of asking museum guards about their favorites. I could devote a whole newsletter to this!
I would read that! (As I recall we also tried to get them to name least favorite works but no one bit. Probably wise.)
I love the idea of treating the other objects in a museum as if they're art. I remember wandering around the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art many years ago and doing the same thing. Thanks for the reminder!
I wrote about wandering around a museum at the start of the year. I paired the idea with a creative writing exercise, if you're interested:
https://thewriterswalk.com/p/walking-around-a-museum
That's great, thanks Sarah!
I loved the museum section in your book and it is great to revisit it! I was planning a visit to a museum for next Friday... will definitely try some of these!
That's awesome, have fun and let us know how it goes :)
Some years back, I picked up a book called 'A Burglar's Guide to the City,' by Geoff Manaugh. It's basically a guide to "building hacking": making use of *all* parts of a building, even the ones (especially the ones) that maybe aren't meant to be used at all (at least by the general public): ventilator shafts, stairwells, empty offices, that sort of thing. It really opened my eyes to the pleasures of imagining what's behind the curtain of our built environment... by noticing everything we don't need to imagine (because it's right THERE, just overlooked). Your group exploration of DMA is right in that ballpark!
Geoff is awesome, he's a friend of TAoN (and in the book) -- but I never made this connection before. You are so right!
And Burglar's Guide is so good, anyone reading this should check it out :) Thanks John!
I love this post. Alain de Botton (atheism 2.0) suggests that museums, art and cultural events stand in for the religion most of us have left behind. In one lecture he points out how a museum randomly arranged an exhibit and suggested to them better ways to arrange their art installation. I love the idea of interacting with classic art pieces like the Mona Lisa (I.C.U.P. and L.H.O.O.Q.). It reinvents, reimagines and reinvigorates the masters and our appreciation of art. Museums are a near religious experience for me. But I feel even more connected to museums and eager to visit if I’m allowed to dislike or disagree with some of their choices. Religions on the other have frown upon you rejecting any part of their dogma (cafeteria Catholics).
This is really interesting and insightful -- thanks!
Many years ago a group held a Hemingway writing contest. The idea was to make fun of his writing by imitating his style and choosing some outrageous topic. The prize was a trip to Venice. I often marveled at why they would want you to make fun of Hemingway instead of honoring him. I think I figured out that to imitate someone is the highest honor you can bestow. And to write in his style (even in jest) requires attention, study, reading and results, finally, in appreciation. (And this is one of the reasons why I have an appreciation for graffiti and street art).
I'm a foodie who loves to cook or bake something new when inspiration strikes. Unfortunately, I often find myself short of just ONE key ingredient in a recipe. And it's almost always at a point in time when I can't leave the house to get to an open store. I've always thought there should be a specific name for this situatation/state of being. Something more descriptive than 'frustrated'. Anyone?
I love that your last name is rice and you love to cook. I’m guessing rice is never one of the ingredients you are missing? I like replacing items in a recipe or just freewheeling it. I would never buy buttermilk but you can hack it by adding lemon to whole milk you might have on hand. Lemon loaf bread is one of my fave things to bake over the winter.
This is a good one -- I identify ; )