A Volcano Is Erupting

In Edward Rothstein’s article, When Mother Nature Stops Being Maternal, he discusses the American Museum of Natural History’s exhibition, which is premiering this Saturday, “Nature’s Fury: The Science of Natural Disasters.” This exhibition displays four natural disasters: earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes, with the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) as major components. This exhibition began at the Field Museum in Chicago with artifacts from the American Museum of Natural History.

There are artifacts, photographs, videos, and even interactive sections of numerous natural disastrous events, such as the 1979 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the 2004 tsunami, which was caused by a 9.3 magnitude earthquake, in Thailand, Hurricane Sandy, and even debris from a tornado. The interactive portions of this exhibition seems the most interesting to me, including a touch-screen table map of New York City after Hurricane Sandy and a “build your own volcano” simulation.

This exhibition portrays not only the event but also the effects of the natural disaster. This exhibition will educate those on the causes and effects of natural disasters. However, Rothstein’s conclusion seemed a bit dramatic, making an allusion to the the “Sharknado” films. After reading this article, I found a different appreciation for natural disasters. Despite the cataclysmic impact natural disasters have on humanity and the environment, there is a depressing beauty to this exhibition.

14 Responses to "A Volcano Is Erupting"

anandpoonai says:

November 15, 2014 at 9:42 am

This exhibition seems very interesting, as well as a vital learning experience for a young audience. When many people think of natural disasters, it is evident that a negative connotation is tied in because of the deleterious impacts it puts on humanity. However, this exhibition really captures something that not many people would see in a natural disaster; that something is art. The pictures you added in your blog, I thought, really caught my eye and I think the way these natural disasters take form are really interesting. I really like the interactive component of the exhibition because it allows viewers to engage more thoroughly and maybe get a different perspective on natural disasters. Your last line really stood out to me. “Despite the cataclysmic impact natural disasters have on humanity and the environment, there is a depressing beauty to this exhibition,” holds a lot of truth, and I really like how you implemented a slight oxymoron of “depressing beauty” to represent a unique emotion of others.
Erynn Hughes says:

November 15, 2014 at 11:22 am

It’s crazy that such destructive natural disasters are created as a result of four fundamental elements: earth, air, fire and water. I find that many people nowadays don’t know or aren’t aware of the exact causes of these disasters, although it would make sense to have an understanding of these events when preparing for imminent threats. I think that this exhibit is such a great and interesting way to educate people, rather than read startling articles or boring textbooks. In a way, this exhibition brings acts of mother nature to life on a scale small enough for viewers to comprehend what actually takes place in a natural disaster. I would especially want to see the filmed images of the Iowa tornado approaching and passing over me, so that I could imagine the 125 mph winds gusting debris around me. As you said, “there is a depressing beauty to this exhibition,” because the number of natural disaster victims has grown over the years due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of these phenomena. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Sydney Marino says:

November 16, 2014 at 12:39 pm

I think this is purely amazing. Technology has gotten us so far into the arts, its crazy! The idea of looking at NYC after Hurricane Sandy is incredible, because, as a person who loves science, I could view the entire city and make observations about the event. Also, build your own volcano? Guess we can’t do that at science fairs anymore! It would be interesting to see different forms and pressures of volcanoes. Overall, this educational, yet fantastic, art exhibit is on point. It will really attract all kinds of people, while educating them about any natural disaster. Hopefully, this could give us some insight on how to prepare better for the next time we have a hurricane.
krystalau says:

November 16, 2014 at 5:33 pm

I love that this is another example that shows museums incorporating technology into their exhibits. I agree that this is a great way to educate people about natural disasters and to show that even destructive things can be beautiful too. I believe many people do not know how and why natural disasters occur, and what their affects are if they never experienced them, and this is a great education tool. The Natural History Museum is one of my favorite museums, and I hope I get the chance to see this new exhibit!
nicholasleung says:

November 16, 2014 at 7:59 pm

I would love to see this exhibit. The Natural History Museum always does amazing things with their exhibits (my favorite from them was their mythical creatures exhibit). It is a bit depressing-sounding to be in an exhibit that portrays disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, but I think going to the exhibit itself may be a better experience. Perhaps it may even take a more optimistic or scientific approach, rather than depressing and social. Nature is beautiful and powerful, and I’m glad there are still exhibits that glorify it.
Bethany Freynk says:

November 16, 2014 at 8:05 pm

This exhibition sounds fascinating. Many young people are no longer interested in “natural history” and would never visit this museum unless they had a reason to go. Such an interactive exhibit, that brings earth science with current events together, is intriguing to audiences of all ages. I am definitely more likely to learn about natural disasters through this experience than from reading a text book. Also, as someone who was affected by Hurricane Sandy and saw homes torn apart by the disaster, I believe that it will be stimulating to comprehend the science behind the occurrence. I have never been interested in meteorology or geology, but when displayed in such a creative manner, even I am excited to visit The American Museum of Natural History this winter. I hope the museum does not receive any negative feedback for displaying the deteriorated objects from peoples homes and bringing up such an emotional experience for many New York families.
christosbakalexis says:

November 16, 2014 at 8:33 pm

This is definitely an example of the art world pushing even further towards a new time, a time in which beauty can be found in what is normally found to be depressing, terrifying and catastrophic. As a young child i was always intrigued about tornadoes and volcanos, those 2 in particular were my favorites but i never viewed them as art. As much as they interested me, intrigued me and caught my attention not once did i view them as art forms, so for an exhibit to do so is particularly interesting. The exhibit can prove to be both educational and depressingly beautiful.
Ann Privorotskiy says:

November 17, 2014 at 12:11 am

Natural disasters have always been among my greatest fears. Tsunamis in particular reoccur in my dreams and there’s this frightful acceptance that we as humans are helpless against nature. This exhibit looks very cool and I definitely think that the reference to “Sharknado” was completely uncalled for. Natural disasters are a real issue in today’s society, despite all the technological advancements made. I think it’s great the Museum of Natural History wants to educate people on this topic because hopefully, the more information people acquire on it, maybe the closer we’ll get to finding ways to combat it. Definitely will plan on checking this exhibit out.
Isabel Vulakh says:

November 17, 2014 at 9:13 am

Wow, this is a very interesting exhibit! I think it is great that the Museum of Natural History is showing an exhibition on natural disasters. This exhibit serves as a commemoration for the victims and as a creative learning tool for those who are interested in learning more about natural disasters. It is an educational and interesting exhibit that shows the rare beauty and art of natural disasters, and informs visitors of their destructive aftermath. I would love to see this exhibit with my own two eyes.
stephenesses says:

November 17, 2014 at 10:57 am

This exhibit seems very fun and interactive. I have always been amazed by natural disasters, and they are really a fascinating topic. They are scary as well, because you rely can never know where they will happen. In New York, it is very rare to have a natural disaster, and as we saw with Hurricane Sandy, the results can be horrifying. It gives us more of an appreciation that we don’t live in a place that has to deal with them on a regular basis. The exhibit is another way to illustrate the impact that a natural disaster can have and I think it is really a great idea, and seems very interesting.
holdencoreystein says:

November 17, 2014 at 11:25 am

This exhibit looks very exciting and interesting to observe. Natural disasters, I feel, truly captivate people’s senses and imagination because of their raw power, size, and destructive potential.I think one of the main purposes of art is to make its observers imagine something that does not exist in their present world. Natural disasters satisfy this purpose and even go beyond rational limits. After Hurricane Sandy, I think this exhibit will captivate and attract many New Yorkers and visitors of the city alike. I actually might go see the museum’s exhibit for our IDC review project.
michalsudo says:

November 17, 2014 at 11:51 am

You did a great job in formulating your title; it really grabs my attention by evoking both a sense of curiosity and even a little fear. I also have to agree to your final sentence “there is a depressing beauty to this exhibition”. I mentioned that one of my favorite forms of art is the photography of the natural environment, and this is technically just that. The photography of natural disasters is not the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of pictures of nature, and really shows that we can stretch art to incorporate almost anything; even the most horrid events can be captured and defined as art. Thanks for sharing this article; it gives me another option to consider when debating which art form would be the most interesting, and intellectually cultivating to review.
layanahnsouli says:

November 18, 2014 at 1:21 pm

This is yet another element of the “outside world” being brought into an artistic environment. Over the past few months, we have continually witnessed the ever-changing scope and range of artistic representation. This has been happening throughout history, but we have been able to actually witness it through these New York Times Art Blog assignments. While we can witness beauty in this exhibit, it is definitely crossing a controversial boundary. This boundary is crossed whenever art portrays disastrous elements in a beautiful manner.
Beatrice Margolin says:

November 18, 2014 at 1:22 pm

This seems like such an interesting exhibit. The interactive aspects of it, such as the “build your own volcano” simulation, seem both educational and engaging. I definitely think that people should be more knowledgable about natural disasters and their impacts on the world, as they kill and displace populations and help shape history as we know it. As they continue to be an occurrence in our global community, we should all be more aware. I would love to visit this exhibit in the future.