Philadelphia Museum of Art - Essay Example

Philadelphia Museum of Art: History Thorough of the place including exact and relative location Located at the western end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, it is one of the largest art museums in the United States of America. It has two buildings, the main and the Perelman buildings. The main building has 200 interesting galleries with classic paintings, highly carved stone pieces with rooms entirely rooms allocated for distinct architectural works from around the world. The Perelman building which sits across the main building, is renovated, modernised, enhanced and elegantly preserves Art Deco facade to the delight of visitors (Hiesinger, p37). Philadelphia Museum of Art has the advantage of being located in the area of great art and ancient architectural history. A few blocks away are the Park houses, a group of ancient historic houses built in the 18th and at the start of 19th century as well as the Rodin Museum, the dwelling place of works by the renowned French Sculptor Auguste Rodin and the only such facility of the great artist outside Paris. The location therefore makes Philadelphia Museum of art an ideal place to visit with exhibition variety that are of great interest to the lovers of art. Brief history and comparison to the site today-if it has changed, why? What would have made the use of the place or people there change. The museum was started in the wake of the great Centennial Exhibition of 1876 that took place in Fairmont Park. After the conclusion of this exhibition, the Memorial Hall that had been set up as art gallery for exhibition purposes was kept open as a museum to the delight of the people of the commonwealth. At the time, collections were limited to books, antique furniture, industrial objects, European ceramics, enamels, pottery, textiles and paintings. At the start of the 1900s however, the museum evolved and published its first collection handbook and started the first ever education program targeting the general public (Temkin et al p125). It was then that membership programs were introduced and the memorial hall gained momentum as a serious museum. The present day Main building, was constructed in 1919 and the first phase opened in 1928. In the first year of its opening alone, it saw an attendance record of one million visitors and has since witnessed extraordinary growth both in the number of visitors and art collections with several gifts from the likes of George Grey that boosted the museums art collection. The building undertook a renovation theme in the 1960s through to the 1970s in the preparation of the institutions centennial celebrations. The interest in art at the time was the main reason why the Memorial Hall was initially converted in an exhibition and later kept as a museum at the end of what was a temporary centennial celebration. So the change in the use of the building was driven by public interest in art during the period that is 1870s. This is the same interest that attracted other art facilities like the Rodin Museum that is just a few blocks from Philadelphia Art Museum and the only facility of such a kind by the celebrated French sculptor, Robin outside Paris (Fairmount Park, p 12). With such huge interest, the number of visitors from outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grew and this was a major interest stirrer to residents of the this Commonwealth that had no interest in art or any form of exhibition and later led to the increase of art lovers that has to this day made Fairmount Park a place of major art events. Significance to the city of Philadelphia Philadelphia Museum of art being the one of the great landmarks of American culture has played role it has in the American film industry especially the well documented Rocky Films, bringing both pride and joy not only to the city, but also to entire United States of America. It also played a very significant role in the shooting of the movie Philadelphia and Mannequin. Being a place that is liked and appreciated by many people, the museum has been chosen by many people for concerts, parades and many public events. All these have had the benefit of marketing the city of Philadelphia in the process attracting more visitors and helping the city grow its revenue from tourism. The museum has been very instrumental in the cultural heritage and the general artistic exploration of not only Philadelphia but also the United States in general. These have been achieved through collaboration and research, educational programs and lectures, symposiums and also fellowships. The centre has also helped in the preservation of America’s artistic history for well over 300 years. Its collection has continued to grow rapidly over the years and is presently considered has one of the country’s finest public holdings. The art works of great American artists like Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first African American to have his painting enter a collection of a comprehensive art museum; J. A. M. Whistler and George Inness in 1895 and in 1889 are all preserved in this centre. To this effect, the city of Philadelphia can look at itself as the proud custodian of great American history and the country’s significant art heritage. As a heritage site, the museum provides residents of the city especially the school going population of Philadelphia with rich historical knowledge through regular visits that serves the city the important purpose of helping rise a population of well informed children. As a renowned site, the museum is a reference point to residence that have made it part of their identity as a people, distinct from other citizens of the United States. To this effect, it brings the city and its residents an element of identity that cannot be quantified in monetary terms. Most striking features and your impression The most striking feature at the Philadelphia Art Museum is the variety in art collection that incorporates to the least of many expectations, contemporary art. Being such a historic institution, having a collection of modern art is a big show of evolution and relevance of this museum (Modern masterpieces from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, p 5). The theme exhibited in the decor at the museum is another outstanding feature. From the decor, the museums past, present and future is well presented and a visitor gets a clear picture of what the institution stands for. Could anything be done to improve the place of the Philadelphia Art museum? Are there any such plans being developed Yes, taking art online is one thing that could bring in new generation of art lovers to the museum without physically travelling to this great facility. It is impressive to see that these plans have been fully adopted by the museum (www.philamuseum.org). It is also important to exhibit works that appeal to the new generation art enthusiasts, something that the museum has embraced through the exhibition of Art in the Billboards, Graffiti and Art in the Nursery (Ramljak, p56). Having regular special event is another element that can serve to raise the number of visitors and attract new generation lovers of art to the museum. Presently the institution has organised such events like the ‘Van Gogh up close’, an event aimed at showcasing the legendary artist’s works for close scrutiny by lovers of his works. Similar events have also been lined up for contemporary artists which are a major steps in growing the popularity and interest both in art and the museum as an institution. Marketing its collection and events in social media is another way of improving the popularity of the museum. With almost the entire youth population of American of social media, having upcoming exhibitions and art collections on these sites will reach out an otherwise isolated group of existing and potential art enthusiasts whose attraction and regular visits will ensure continuity in the success of the museum. As generations come and go, there is always need to tap into the next generation by stirring their interest in art to ensure that the great American art heritage is kept appreciated in years to come. This is what marketing through the social media seeks to achieve. It is important to note the Philadelphia Museum of Art has embarked on this road. Works Cited Fairmount Park. Philadelphia: Fairmount Park Guard Pension Fund Assoc., 1942. Print. Hiesinger, Kathryn B. Collecting modern: design at the Philadelphia Museum of Art since 1876. Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Museum of Art;, 2011. Print. Delhi, India. Modern masterpieces from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. New Delhi: National Gallery of Modern Art, 1980. Print. Philadelphia Museum of Art - Information : Whats New." Philadelphia Museum of Art. N.p., 20 Mar. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. . Ramljak, Suzanne. Crafting a legacy: contemporary American crafts in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Museum of Art ;, 2002. Print. Temkin, Ann, Susan Rosenberg, and Michael R. Taylor. Twentieth century painting and sculpture in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia, Pa: Phildelphia Museum of Art, 2000. Print. 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