VISITING MUSEUMS: BALTIMORE

If you are from Maryland, or Baltimore itself, then you know of some of the great museums this city has to offer. As an outsider here are some things that I learned while visiting:

-The Baltimore Museum of Art. go there. It may be under renovation currently, but it's plans are big for when they reopen the entire building. But even though it is under renovation, it's still a great museum. It's not overwhelming even though they offer a lot (Contemporary, German Expressionism, Impressionism, European Painting and Sculptures, Modern, and Antioch Mosaics) Their Contemporary Wing includes very amazing artists from a collection of Andy Warhols (that will blow you away) to new artists like Jonathan Latiano who really knows how to fill a space with Installation art. My favorite was one of my idols: Robert Longo. They have two lithographs of his Men in Cities drawings (I may have cried...). Anyways, they have a cool exhibition on Sterling Ruby too which is worth looking into. Like I said it's not overwhelming, the collections are amazing and you can definitely take your time walking around and really see everything and not feel like you're missing out. 

Contemporary Wing of Baltimore Museum of Art

-The Walters Art Museum. I found this museum to be very similar to the Metropolitan Museum in New York minus the Contemporary Art and Photographs. It has a great amount of history shoved into one four story building. They offer a lot of really different stuff there such as a Chamber of Wonders and Armor as well as a Sculpture Court and of course Medieval Art, Renaissance and Baroque Art, Asian Art, Ancient Worlds (Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian, and Near Eastern), and 19th Century Art. I was quite impressed with their collection for all of these sections. It's definitely a large museum and even though each area might not be large, there is still a ton to take it. It holds the interest of everyone (unless you only like Contemporary and Modern works).

-American Visionary Art Museum. Now this museum is kinda off the beaten trail but it is really interesting and has a very different spin on art. This museum currently has a Singularity Exhibition going on with many different opinions of what Singularity is. Which is great, because you get to almost step into the artists shoes and figure out what it means to them and what exactly they are trying to portray. The diversity of materials and styles is amazing, you can go from wood sculptures to ballpoint pen drawings, to installation within a few minutes and still be in the same exhibition. It's all very offbeat artwork and really shows how these people are more interested on their work as a project to learn something instead of being an artist and showing your work. They also have an entire building to Kinetic pieces, which move and are cars or floats or on bikes. Really neat stuff, people are so creative. 

Visionary Art Museum Entrance

That's all of the museums I was able to go to but I'm sure Baltimore has a ton more to offer. I know they have an amazing Science Center right near Inner Harbor as well as the awesome Aquarium. Overall the city is very nice and clean, you really feel like you can walk all around it.

Citations:
Baltimore Museum of Art Image: http://bmoreart.com/2012/09/from-september-urbanite-new-bma.html
Walters Art Museum Image: http://blogs.ischool.utexas.edu/newmedia/category/early/cabinets/
Visionary Art Museum Image: http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/maryland/baltimore/american-visionary-art-museum

HOW TO VISIT AN ART MUSEUM

A lot of time artists go to museums for inspiration. Other times people may go just to practice sketching. Tourists seem to be running around trying to see everything and only really slow down for the "main stream" artists. Some slowly read every bit of information and stand in front of pieces for a long time pretending to examine them. But what is the best way to get the most out of your trip to a museum?

I've found that since most museums have so much hung at one time it's best to plan out your trip ahead of time. On almost every museum website you can find a map of the museum with the current galleries as well as special exhibits.

If you are going to be inspired by things you don't know then I suggest walking through the museum and stopping when you're intrigued. This way you aren't bumbling around an entire museum looking at every little piece. Don't skip any sections because you may find inspiration in something you never expected.

If you're going to practice sketching be aware of the layout of the museum so that you leave yourself enough room around you. Also it's important for this to know which artist you are going to copy ahead of time (unless you just want random inspiration sketches) so you know where to go to make the most out of your time. I find this helpful because you can plan out which artist you want to learn from (because techniques change quite a lot from artist to artist).

If you're a tourist, you've probably planned out a good portion of what you want to see or get out of the trip to the museum so make sure to note where all of the famous pieces are located throughout the museum. This is pretty simple because museums never really hide any "main stream" art and all museums employees will know where the pieces are. Just be prepared for crowds.

If you're there to learn, read up ahead of time. Know what it is you're going to see before you do so that when you see the piece you can really see it and get the most out of it because you can right away apply what you read instead of reading about it and trying to see it all at once.

Overall, make sure to bring a sketchbook to sketch and write things down. Also don't bring a huge backpack because it will probably have to be put in with coat check. Just be aware you are in a public place and you aren't the only one who is there to appreciate what is there. Everyone wants to get the most out of their trips to museums so be courteous (don't say things like "a 5 year old could do that") and soak in as much as you can.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE AN ARTIST'S BLOCK

Majority of us have experienced an Artist’s Block. It’s the worst feeling when you have absolutely no ideas or inspiration. It’s the lowest time of an artist’s career and life. The other day, my friend asked me what I do when I have no inspiration or clue of what to create. Here are some things to try out (what’ve you got to lose?):

- Check your sketchbooks. That’s the whole idea of them right? To write down ideas and things that inspire you so that you are always in the creating mood. Even if you don’t remember why you have a to-go menu of a pizza place you went to three years ago glued into your sketchbook, it has the possibility to spark something.

- Google things. Remember that one time you went to the MoMA and saw an exhibit on Futurism? It might not have been inspiring then, but it could be now!

- Go to a museum (even if it’s a local museum and not the Louvre). Take your time and really break down the paintings you are drawn to. Maybe the brushwork will stand out? Or the color palette? (If you don’t feel like leaving the house, check out Google Art Project)

- Try painting in the style you’ve always hated. If you HATE abstract, try it out. While you’re working or after when you look back, you’ll realize you actually can appreciate parts of it, or why you love painting in another style.

- Talk about it. Accept that you’re stuck and talk to you’re friends (especially you’re non-artist friends, cause they always give random and out of the box ideas of what to create). Go see what you’re artist friends are creating (but don’t get down on the fact that they’re creating and inspired and you’re not). Being in the studio whether it is your studio or someone else’s will start to get your creative juices flowing.

- Go back in time. Remember that crazy art history teacher you had? Remember how they were so boring and tedious about the work that you barely paid attention? But, you kept the books so later on if you felt like reading all about the Baroque period you could? Well hopefully that is true, because art history is the basis of all art. So go back to your roots and be in awe of that gorgeous Caravaggio painting you loved.

- Read any book. There are tons of random art books out there. Go buy WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution (edited by Cornelia Butler and Lisa Gabrielle Mark, Co-published by The MIT Press) or go buy a comic book for all it matters. You could be inspired by the style or the one pose the Black Widow is doing or the issues they bring up.

Whatever you do: don’t get down on yourself and start thinking that you can’t get any good ideas because you suck as an artist. Everyone has these moments of pause. Just take advantage of the quiet to really see art in a new way. I hope my ideas are helpful, and feel free to leave a comment of what helps you get through an artist’s block!!