Comments on: Art Museum Interactivity http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/ The IMA blog is a space to discuss everything related to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:32:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paying Attention | Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/comment-page-1/#comment-27209 Paying Attention | Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:05:16 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=2885#comment-27209 [...] post last Wednesday about the pros and cons of art museum interactivity really made me pay attention. [...] [...] post last Wednesday about the pros and cons of art museum interactivity really made me pay attention. [...]

]]> By: The art of video games | Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/comment-page-1/#comment-27062 The art of video games | Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:10:25 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=2885#comment-27062 [...] In fact, without those games, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I do now. Inspired by Noelle’s post last week, I thought I would explore the various ways that creativity can be expressed in a video game. [...] [...] In fact, without those games, I probably wouldn’t be doing what I do now. Inspired by Noelle’s post last week, I thought I would explore the various ways that creativity can be expressed in a video game. [...]

]]> By: Nancy Proctor http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/comment-page-1/#comment-26725 Nancy Proctor Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:49:13 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=2885#comment-26725 I don't think it has to be a choice between 'interactive technology' and the 'traditional museum experience'. People are different and 'change every day' as the octogenarian choreographer, Merce Cunningham, said last year when asked why he had incorporated the iPod shuffle into his 'eyeSpace' performance (http://eyelevel.si.edu/2008/04/merce-c.html): some days I might want a more solitary and passive experience, just soaking up the art in the museum; on others I might want to engage more actively and play a game with my companions that helps me discover things I might not have otherwise have found. And interactivity, as you rightly point out, does not have to be technology-driven. I love Tate Britain's paper brochures that suggest 10-object tours of the collection on various themes: the 'I haven't been here in ages' tour and the 'I come here all the time' tour; the 'I've got a hang over tour' and the 'I've just broken up' tour; the yellow tour and the funny faces tour... - they all recognize how complex and mercurial we are as individuals, not just as demographics. Because the focus is on the content and visitor experience, the technology becomes invisible (until, of course, I want to share them with you, and am then frustrated that they aren't online!). But that said, I am incredibly excited by what I have seen happening in the American Art Museum with the 'Ghosts of a Chance' game. (Detailed summary available at http://tatehandheldconference.pbwiki.com/SAAM%27s+ARG+-+Detailed+Info) Every time people play the game, they transform our museum from Acropolis - that remote, forbidding treasury of precious objects - to Agora, a space of community, encounter and exchange (and thanks to Steven Zucker of SmartHistory.org for that analogy!). In a world that is increasingly networked and collaborative in the production of knowledge, museums can play a valuable role in creating platforms for and 'curating' the conversation around their collections. I personally think this is as essential to fulfilling our educational missions and ensuring our survival as relevant institutions as safeguarding and expanding our collections. As Colleen Macklin from Parsons said in the Smithsonian 2.0 conference (http://smithsonian20.si.edu/schedule_webcast6b.html), we must not be stingy. Hoarders and walled gardens will find themselves as isolated and forgotten as remote islands in the digital ocean. On which note, it's great to see your Davis LAB is open and so successful as a forum that it is already needing more chairs! Congratulations! I don’t think it has to be a choice between ‘interactive technology’ and the ‘traditional museum experience’. People are different and ‘change every day’ as the octogenarian choreographer, Merce Cunningham, said last year when asked why he had incorporated the iPod shuffle into his ‘eyeSpace’ performance (http://eyelevel.si.edu/2008/04/merce-c.html): some days I might want a more solitary and passive experience, just soaking up the art in the museum; on others I might want to engage more actively and play a game with my companions that helps me discover things I might not have otherwise have found.
And interactivity, as you rightly point out, does not have to be technology-driven. I love Tate Britain’s paper brochures that suggest 10-object tours of the collection on various themes: the ‘I haven’t been here in ages’ tour and the ‘I come here all the time’ tour; the ‘I’ve got a hang over tour’ and the ‘I’ve just broken up’ tour; the yellow tour and the funny faces tour… – they all recognize how complex and mercurial we are as individuals, not just as demographics. Because the focus is on the content and visitor experience, the technology becomes invisible (until, of course, I want to share them with you, and am then frustrated that they aren’t online!).
But that said, I am incredibly excited by what I have seen happening in the American Art Museum with the ‘Ghosts of a Chance’ game. (Detailed summary available at http://tatehandheldconference.pbwiki.com/SAAM%27s+ARG+-+Detailed+Info) Every time people play the game, they transform our museum from Acropolis – that remote, forbidding treasury of precious objects – to Agora, a space of community, encounter and exchange (and thanks to Steven Zucker of SmartHistory.org for that analogy!). In a world that is increasingly networked and collaborative in the production of knowledge, museums can play a valuable role in creating platforms for and ‘curating’ the conversation around their collections. I personally think this is as essential to fulfilling our educational missions and ensuring our survival as relevant institutions as safeguarding and expanding our collections. As Colleen Macklin from Parsons said in the Smithsonian 2.0 conference (http://smithsonian20.si.edu/schedule_webcast6b.html), we must not be stingy. Hoarders and walled gardens will find themselves as isolated and forgotten as remote islands in the digital ocean.
On which note, it’s great to see your Davis LAB is open and so successful as a forum that it is already needing more chairs! Congratulations!

]]> By: Despi http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/comment-page-1/#comment-26637 Despi Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:12:04 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=2885#comment-26637 Great post, Noelle! An interesting topic! I love interactives, mostly because I have worked on some. But I am also quite a traditionalist when it comes to my own art viewing. I like to look, getting closer than the gallery attendants might like, and really inspect things. Then I peruse labels to see if there is anything good for me there...then if I happen upon a kiosk or a video I poke around, but I like the option of my art-viewing experience being uninterrupted. I think that is what makes technology such a versatile option. I can bring my iPod with a video or audio guide and not bother anyone. Similarly, the Davis LAB is a fun place to be and explore in a different way, separate from art-viewing. But, I am not such a typical museum visitor...I think many people, especially kids, would really rather have something to focus their visit. What is most "important", what should I absolutely see before I leave...stuff like that. I think finding a way for the differing styles to coexist is the biggest challenge. Great post, Noelle! An interesting topic!

I love interactives, mostly because I have worked on some. But I am also quite a traditionalist when it comes to my own art viewing. I like to look, getting closer than the gallery attendants might like, and really inspect things. Then I peruse labels to see if there is anything good for me there…then if I happen upon a kiosk or a video I poke around, but I like the option of my art-viewing experience being uninterrupted. I think that is what makes technology such a versatile option. I can bring my iPod with a video or audio guide and not bother anyone. Similarly, the Davis LAB is a fun place to be and explore in a different way, separate from art-viewing.

But, I am not such a typical museum visitor…I think many people, especially kids, would really rather have something to focus their visit. What is most “important”, what should I absolutely see before I leave…stuff like that.

I think finding a way for the differing styles to coexist is the biggest challenge.

]]> By: The Davis LAB eye candy | Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/comment-page-1/#comment-26494 The Davis LAB eye candy | Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:42:00 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=2885#comment-26494 [...] on this post - ArtBabble, The Davis LAB, the design (which I love), kiosk software, Noelle’s great Wednesday post and more. Share and [...] [...] on this post – ArtBabble, The Davis LAB, the design (which I love), kiosk software, Noelle’s great Wednesday post and more. Share and [...]

]]> By: Ed http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/comment-page-1/#comment-26329 Ed Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:25:24 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=2885#comment-26329 Noelle, you may have inspired a future post. For now, though, I'll just say that I agree with Daniel. Part of the beauty of a great educational game is the integration of engagement and enlightenment. When we do develop such experiences, it will be our intent to strike a good balance between achieving educational goals and offering an opportunity for exciting, engaging, and perhaps novel interactions. Noelle, you may have inspired a future post. For now, though, I’ll just say that I agree with Daniel. Part of the beauty of a great educational game is the integration of engagement and enlightenment. When we do develop such experiences, it will be our intent to strike a good balance between achieving educational goals and offering an opportunity for exciting, engaging, and perhaps novel interactions.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2009/01/28/art-museum-interactivity/comment-page-1/#comment-26257 Daniel Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:44:53 +0000 http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=2885#comment-26257 The digital content experienced in a museum setting should focus on building a better connection to actual work of art. If the IMA were ever to develop an interactive game or multimedia guide, that would be the driving theory behind all of the content development. But, when you consider the delivery of online content, it's completely different. Of course we would rather someone come and experience the new Robert Irwin installation in person, but we also have an opportunity through web delivery to reach people all over the world and spread the stories of art and artists. Someone in another country can hear directly from Robert Irwin regarding the installation, his career and so on. IMA's focus has been on this approach to the visitor experience. The digital content experienced in a museum setting should focus on building a better connection to actual work of art. If the IMA were ever to develop an interactive game or multimedia guide, that would be the driving theory behind all of the content development. But, when you consider the delivery of online content, it’s completely different. Of course we would rather someone come and experience the new Robert Irwin installation in person, but we also have an opportunity through web delivery to reach people all over the world and spread the stories of art and artists. Someone in another country can hear directly from Robert Irwin regarding the installation, his career and so on. IMA’s focus has been on this approach to the visitor experience.

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