Education at the MCA

One of the fun things about being an intern at the MCA are the intern talks. Members from each department give talks about who they are, now they got their job and what working in that department is like. It is a unique opportunity and I am trying to take as much advantage of it as I can.

So yesterday I went into the museum, just to hear the talk by the education department, which includes serving schools, adults, and families. And I am very glad I did.

The first cool thing was that I didn't fully realize the museum was closed! I went in through the employee entrance, everything as per usual, until I got in the elevator and it wouldn't let me go to the main entrance floor as I usually would. I had to scan my id. I got out of the elevator. And woa. Everything was dark. Everything was locked. I was in the museum and it was closed. Flash to From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler! Except there is no bed for me to sleep in. Anyway, totally cool.

Then the actual talk, which really opened my eyes to how an art museum can be more than a place to experience beauty, emotional connection and widening of horizons, the MCA wants to be a place that creates a communal contection and experience. Looking at art has always been a solitary experience for me. But the education department thinks that art can bring people together and can change the way they look at the world.

Then we had to look at a piece of art and create a family oriented activity. At the head of this entry is a picture of a sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle, which I actually saw on display at the Garfield Conservatory a few years ago. One of the other groups had a piece by her called Vivian, which is shown right here, and is my favorite piece on display at the museum right now. Same sort of figure, but instead of mosiac, it is worked with scraps of fabric and yarn. Beautiful and imaginative and ya just wanted to reach out and feel the texture!

Anyway, I was paired with an intern from the education department. Unfortunately she mostly works with adults, not children or families. Our painting was Kim MacConnel's Taco Bill, shown here, and is now a new favorite. Five panels of commercially available fabric with paintings of familiar objects (like many tvs) painted in repeating patterns over them. Colorful and kitchy and fun. We had to come up with a movement based activity. I suggested a game where one person does a movement, the next person repeats the movement and adds another, the third does the first two and adds their own and so forth. It shows the development of pattern. The education people loved it! Triumph!

Before we parted ways I made sure to tell them both how much I enjoyed the talk, and asked if I could ever volunteer for events. They are going to be in touch. I really felt a connection with what they are doing, and hope that I can gain some useful programming experience. I look forward to many more such experiences during my time at the MCA.