Museum Fest: Opening the doors of the AD&A

June 14, 2017 by adamuseum

Technology is revolutionizing every aspect of life and its influence has, year-by-year, trickled into the perpetually churning mechanisms of Museums. No longer entrenched in its former educational stigma, Museums are emerging as highly interactive and inclusive receptacles for innumerable forms of culture. Current developments in society present an inversion of the past idea of the function of museums, symbolised through our evolving use of these institutions. Even in the relative past of the last generation, people would visit museums for […]

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Painted Pathways: A Walk Through Isla Vista

June 12, 2017 by adamuseum

Isla Vista: this small college town nestled between the ocean and mountains, adorned with multiple murals, is also home to some impressive man-made spectacles. They brighten up the houses and encapsulate the creative and lively energy that its residents exude. Looking back to our previous post on artist Jane Gottlieb and her colourfully housed traditions, a short walk around IV will give you a taste for such similar artful possibilities without a trip into the Santa Ynez mountains. The AD&A […]

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Fantasy Gardens: An Afternoon with Jane Gottlieb

May 8, 2017 by adamuseum

Winding up the hills into the Santa Ynez Mountains, you might spot a brightly colored house perched proudly like a bird of paradise looking out from beneath the greenery. It is here that the AD&A interns met the Santa Barbara based artist Jane Gottlieb this week. Standing outside her house and studio wearing purple from head to toe, she greeted our cars from her gate, her blue eyes twinkling behind pink framed sunglasses complete with purple lenses. The interior of […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: art, Artist, Exhibition, Fantasy Gardens, Jane Gottlieb, Photography, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens, ucsb

The Broad: Curating Conversations

March 18, 2017 by adamuseum

Walk into any household in the world and you will most likely find collections of varying magnitude and category. Whether it be stamps, rubber ducks, sea shells or beer bottle tops, the human race has an innate tendency for collecting things. In the case of the Los Angeles based philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, their collection of post war and contemporary art accumulates to over 2000 works which are either displayed in a dedicated 50,000 square feet gallery space or […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: art, Art History, exhibitions, internship, Los Angles, museum, The Broad, ucsb

Teaching Texture

March 7, 2017 by adamuseum

It was my first lesson as an Art History Education Outreach intern at Isla Vista Elementary and I had decided to play a small clip of Bob Ross painting pine trees as an example for my lesson on texture. I was happy to hear one of the kindergarteners exclaim, “Hey, that looks pretty good!” My lesson plan was focused on teaching how a painter might create texture in their work and how to identify differing textures in artwork. After the […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: art, Art History, critical thinking, education, internship, museum, texture, ucsb

Behind the Scene: Carlos Diniz’ Collection in the Architecture Design Collection

February 10, 2017 by adamuseum

Carlos Diniz (1928-2001) is recognized as one of the most influential American Architectural Illustrator and Graphic Designers of the 20th century.  He has been working with lots of well-known and pioneering architects of the 20th century, such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), and Frank Gehry. His works are mainly landmark, historical structures and developments through the1960s to 1980s. The AD&A Museum holds his archive. While the collection is not being exhibited this year, I believe it is worth being […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Architecture, art, Art History, Carlos Diniz, museum, ucsb

Building Character: Art Museums & Social Media

February 1, 2017 by adamuseum

Although every museum offers a unique experience, I think the most memorable visits to art museums stem from their ability to be fun. For many, visiting an art museum can be an intimidating experience. One way to undermine this “intimidation factor” can be to merge more traditional aspects of art and museums with contemporary attitudes. This is something I already see being achieved in the AD&A Museum through our programs. Our museum helps combat the intimidation surrounding art and museums […]

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The Human Face Behind the Masks: A Night with Michael Westmore

January 24, 2017 by adamuseum

  Walking into the exhibit Lifeforms: The Makeup Art of Michael Westmore at the AD&A Museum, one is transported into the world of Star Trek, where aliens and humans work together to create peace and protect the universe. The captivating masks, the dramatic Borg appendages, and the detailed sketches all are the creation of makeup artist Michael Westmore, who worked on television and movie productions for the Star Trek franchise for many years. I was fortunate enough to hear him […]

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Creating Change through Art

February 2, 2016 by adamuseum

  I loved the arts. Music, paintings, spoken words, theater, dance, photography, I learned to appreciate them all. I had the support of my grandfather, my third grade teacher and my high school art teacher. I never envision myself graduating with a degree in Art History, that kind of degree was not very popular within the community I was in. The lack of funding has decreased the support and exposure high school students like myself have in their education. Many […]

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