Since I’ve always been interested in photography, I was excited to go to ICP. I liked it, but it was a lot smaller than I anticipated. The two exhibitions we saw, Zoe Strauss and Lewis Hine, were pretty cool. I liked them being shown together because they’re opposites; Strauss photographs present day Philly whereas Hine photographed early 1900’s New York. Descending the staircase from the Strauss exhibit to the Hine one is like going back in time. One piece that caught my eye in the Strauss exhibit was “Man Shot in Leg on Gurney.” It shows a man, clearly just shot in the leg, sitting on a gurney, about to be transported to the hospital. What is remarkable is the man’s demeanor and body language. He’s totally cool about it, smoking his cigarette as if nothing happened, as if it’s just another day. This makes me wonder about everyday life in Philadelphia: is this a common occurrence? It also reminds me of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and R.Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet. In the latter, a man is shot in the arm, but reduces his injury to “just needing a bathroom.” He comes out a few minutes later with a band-aid on and carries on as usual. In short, I liked seeing Strauss and Hine together. It’s really inventive for the museum to juxtapose them in the way they did. I would definitely go back.

I’ve always really liked jazz, so I was excited to see the Juilliard faculty play. Most of my jazz experience previously consisted of Duke Ellington, Chet Baker, Lady Ella, Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, etc. It was completely different, though, seeing live jazz rather than just watching video clips. There’s a certain spirit in the room when a jazz quartet is playing; they’re interacting with each other and really digging it. It’s visible on their faces, in their mannerisms and in their movements. Seeing their interactions and chemistry is, to me, a great part of the jazz experience. It’s almost like a friendly competition; they fight for solos and try to out-do each other, but it’s all in good fun. My favorite piece was probably “Ah, Rio.” The Brasilian twist to American jazz was refreshing as well as intriguing. It reminded me of “Girl From Ipanema,” a song with similar percussion and general feel. I think blending cultures is something more musicians should do, and I think this quartet did it really well. The rest of the set list was awesome too. I also thought the musicians were really engaging and heartfelt. It was so sweet for the drummer to memorialize his lost companions through the ballad; it was clear that the bond forged through music is nearly unbreakable.

This experience made me want to learn sax and play jazz. Seriously, I am trying to find someone to teach me. To be able to have the kind of connection I saw on Tuesday with someone would be so cool. This was a really inspiring event. I hope to go to some jazz clubs in the future  😀

I didn’t really know what to expect from the Brooklyn Museum; I had no idea what kind of art it contained. I think having no preconceived notions was a good thing. It prevented bias and promoted open-mindedness. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into the Beaux-Arts court. I immediately began circling the room, trying to find my favorite painting, and indeed I did. “In Danger” by Mesdag caught my eye for its intense and captivating portrayal of the harshness of Dutch waters. It depicted a dark, ominous sky, and intimidating, choppy waves. Just barely visible is a sailboat, evidently in great peril, attempting to navigate the treacherous waters. This being one of my first impressions of the Brooklyn Museum, I was contented when I sat down to began the nights proceedings.

The rest of the night was equally as impressive. I forced myself to look at the paintings, see the artists’ emotions, opinions, and biases, rather than succumb to my short attention span. I’m quite thankful I did this. I realized the incredible significance of those paintings; I realized the power a painting can wield. In many cases, they were protests and commentaries, portraying sympathy for the subject. In Eastman Johnson’s “A Ride for Liberty-The Fugitive Slaves,” escaped slaves are depicted on horseback, the horse galloping wildly. It is clear they are riding for their lives and the lives of their children. This piece is powerful. Johnson conveys his sympathy for the slaves and his disapproval of the institution of slavery. Seeing these kinds of pieces made me understand the attraction of art and the profound effect it can have on its audience.

I came away from Night at the Museum feeling confident in my ability to perceive and analyze art. I also felt like I acquired an appreciation for the labor, both physical and mental, that goes into creating a meaningful painting. Night at the Museum allowed me to be impressed with myself and with the institution of art as a whole.