Indianapolis Museum of Art Blog » Indianapolis Museum of Art http://www.imamuseum.org/blog The IMA blog is a space to discuss everything related to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:51:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Raindrop: Can You See Behind the Scenes? http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/09/26/raindrop-see-behind-the-scenes/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/09/26/raindrop-see-behind-the-scenes/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:05:08 +0000 Ed http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=17860 We recently launched the Raindrop web application as part of FLOW: Can You See the River, a project conceived by Mary Miss. Our team started on the project about a year ago, when Mary and her studio began meeting with us and scientists from Butler University and Williams Creek Consulting to build an app illustrating the concept that “All property is riverfront property.” When Mary and I began discussing the project, we talked about the challenge of catching a person’s attention and then engaging them with a visual experience that could lead them to deeper levels of information and insight about the natural world. This is essentially what a good visualization does, so I was excited to be part of the team building this technological bridge between art and science.

Let’s begin with a tour of the functionality. When you start the app, it loads some resources while displaying the title screen, and then you have the chance to view an introduction or skip ahead to the map screen.

Because the project centers around the White River near Indianapolis, we only assembled hydrological data for the area around Marion County for the application (I’ll go into more detail later). On the map screen, a prompt appears to inform you that tapping on the map will simulate a rain event. When the map is tapped, the app displays the series of streams, storm drains, and/or sanitary lines that would carry a raindrop from that location to the White River. It also displays the area (known as a drainage basin or watershed) from which other raindrops would follow the same path. Another prompt then appears to let you know that tapping on the raincloud icon allows for selection of storm intensity. As little as a quarter inch of rain can cause sewers to overflow into streams in this area, so when this option is selected, the path displayed will change to reflect this so you can see where you don’t want to go fishing. You can also toggle the display of the 100-year floodplain, which shows you where you can keep your feet dry during a big flood event. In addition to selecting a location on the map, pressing the compass icon locates your device via GPS, and typing in the address bar uses the Google Maps address look-up feature. Tapping on a question mark icon provides some information about pollutants that threaten the path upstream, as reported by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Pressing the “i” icon at the top opens the informational menu. From here, you can learn more about the app, check current weather alerts and conditions, find out how weather differs from climate, get some tips on how to improve water quality, and visit the project website.

Now we can get into some behind the scenes stuff. We wanted to try to reach a broad audience with Raindrop, so we decided to put the time that we had into developing a cross-platform mobile application. These are known as web apps, in contrast to native apps. If we only had an iPhone native app in the App Store, people using Android phones wouldn’t be able to use it, and vice-versa. To handle cross-platform compatibility, we decided to build Raindrop using a framework called jqMobile, which was in a very early stage when we started. It hasn’t quite had an official release yet (it’s in its third beta release at the moment), but has become increasingly robust with each version.

As for the map, you might wonder how we figured out the path that raindrops take to get to the river. Our collaborator at Williams Creek combined information based on digital elevation models, which can be used to derive the boundaries of natural watersheds, with data from the city that indicates where all of the storm drains and sanitary systems are and which areas drain into them.

We then wrote Python scripts to read the scientific data and generate KML geometry files and look-up tables. The application uses a spatial grid look-up to figure out which basin is tapped (so it’s not perfectly accurate, but not too slow either), and then loads the appropriate file with the graphics to display for the path and the basin. It also reads information from another table that has all the details about pollutants.

Along the way, we’ve combined this technology with graphical elements and design guidance provided by Mary’s team, and scientific guidance and content from Butler. The multi-disciplinary process has really embodied the nature of Mary’s City as A Living Laboratory concept. And just as the aim is to lead curious folks from Mary’s eye-catching mirrors and markers along the river to the website and the web app to learn more, hopefully those who discover the project online will follow the raindrop and find their way down to experience the river as well.

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/09/26/raindrop-see-behind-the-scenes/feed/ 0 Intro Screen Map Screen Information Menu Drainage basins and flowpaths Miller House Symposium / Suzanne Stephens http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/06/06/miller-house-symposium-suzanne-stephens/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/06/06/miller-house-symposium-suzanne-stephens/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:52:59 +0000 Guest Blogger http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=17344 As one of the presenters at IMA’s Miller House Symposium, I may sound rather biased. Nevertheless I would say it was one of more interesting symposiums in which I have participated. Craig Miller, the design arts curator at the museum ingeniously decided that rather than having a full roster of historians all present didactic disquisitions about the Miller House in Columbus, he would have two historians place the house in differing historical contexts, and then ask three practitioners to discuss their own perspectives on each of the major designers (Eero Saarinen, Alexander Girard and Dan Kiley) who were involved in creating this significant contribution to residential architecture in Columbus, Indiana in 1959.

The presentations offered a varied and substantive range of approaches to appreciating the Miller House’s creators: Brad Dunning included four animated videos relating to Alexander Girard’s work, all of which were smashing. Deborah Berke talked about her long admiration of Saarinen’s architecture with an emphasis on his small output of designs for residential design. It was illuminating, particularly from her own perspective as an architect. Laurie Olin discussed his affinity to the landscape design of Dan Kiley by showing Kiley’s architectural orientation in his work. (Like Olin, Kiley studied architecture before turning to landscape design.)

In the roles of the historians, Bradley Brooks and I established the context in which the Miller House needs to be understood. In his talk on the architectural legacy generated by Irwin Miller for the town of Columbus, Bradley introduced telling excerpts of magazine articles ( for example from the Saturday Evening Post and Architectural Forum) that were contemporaneous with the completion of each of the buildings.

I discussed the design and use of the Miller House according to three different perspectives: first was the mid-century modern context, in which I compared the house to others designed around that time by Charles Eames, Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson. Second, I introduced a historically based theoretical perspective by presenting an architectural analysis undertaken by Aaron Schiller, a grandson of Irwin and Xenia Miller. As a graduate student in Yale’s architecture program Aaron has been investigating the legacy of Andrea Palladio and his nine-square grid, plus Palladio’s use of proportion and rhythm in his designs. I also discussed Schiller’s exploration of Saarinen’s tectonic achievements in the house—particularly the x-shaped steel column and how it fits into the skylighted roof grid so that the column appears to be supporting a void.

I ended the talk with a third “history” –that of the users, by quoting anecdotes of the experience of two of the Irwin and Xenia Miller’s children, Betsey Miller and her brother Will. Not only did they have amusing anecdotes about living in the house as they were growing up, but they were able to fill in information about the instrumental roles that the parents, Xenia and Irwin Miller, played as clients in the creation of this amazing domestic landmark.

MIller House and Garden conversation-pit2 Miller Home documentation, April 2008 2010_mi-ta2843 J. Irwin Miller House and Garden J. Irwin Miller House and Garden ]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/06/06/miller-house-symposium-suzanne-stephens/feed/ 1 MIller House and Garden conversation-pit2 Miller Home documentation, April 2008 2010_mi-ta2843 J. Irwin Miller House and Garden J. Irwin Miller House and Garden We’re Going for the Gold. Are You? http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/06/06/were-going-for-the-gold-are-you/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/06/06/were-going-for-the-gold-are-you/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:41:40 +0000 Jenny http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=17337

Learn more on how you can Go for the Gold!

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/06/06/were-going-for-the-gold-are-you/feed/ 0 Guess the Name of the Film Game – FINAL ROUND http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/14/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-final-round/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/14/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-final-round/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:45:58 +0000 Jenny http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=16824 It’s the final round of the Guess the Name of the Film Game! A big thank you to everyone for playing! Before we go on to today’s clues, here is a run-down of all films on schedule for the 2011 Summer Nights Film Series:

Below are your clues for the last film. I think you all know the drill by now but the first person to correctly guess will win two tickets to any Summer Nights film. Leave a comment below and the answer will be given tomorrow morning.

FILM Thirteen (playing August 26): Based on clues from the works of art below, guess the name of this film. (Hint: click on the image for additional clues such as artist, title of piece, etc.)

Marc Chagall, The Flight into Egypt. Ikegami Shūho, recto: landscape with figure; verso: bamboo and sparrows Nevinson, Christopher Richard Wynne, Building Aircraft: Banking at 4,000 Feet.

Don’t forget tickets will go on sale tomorrow for IMA members. Public sales begin May 2.

See you all June 3 when we kick off the season!

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/14/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-final-round/feed/ 17 More... More... clue one clue two clue three Guess the Name of the Film Game – Round Twelve http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/13/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-twelve/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/13/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-twelve/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:01:02 +0000 Jenny http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=16804 It’s round twelve of Guess the Name of the Film Game! We’re almost to the end and thank you to all of those who have participated in the game over the past two weeks. With two films to go, you still have a chance to win!

Congratulations to yesterday’s winner for correctly guessing To Catch a Thief. The 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film will play August 12 at the IMA as part of the annual Summer Nights Film Series.

Below are your clues for the next film. The answer will be given tomorrow and the first person to correctly guess (by commenting below) will win two Summer Nights tickets. With only one artwork given, this one is going to be tough! I say that hesitantly as you have surprised me in earlier rounds (smarty-pants).

 

FILM Twelve (playing August 19): Based on clues from the works of art below, guess the name of this film. (Hint: click on the image for additional clues such as artist, title of piece, etc.)

M.C. Escher, Ascending and Descending

The answer will be given tomorrow so keep those guesses coming!

Become a fan of the IMA on Facebook and stay tuned for an early scoop on the precise time that tomorrow’s clues will go live.

 

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/13/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-twelve/feed/ 23 More... Clue One Guess the Name of the Film Game – Round Nine http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/10/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-nine/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/10/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-nine/#comments Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:00:03 +0000 Jenny http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=16507 Congratulations to yesterday’s winner! Clerks will be the seventh film of this year’s Summer Nights Film Series. The character, Silent Bob, made his debut in the 1994 film. He later appeared in several films before becoming a title character in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (2001).

For those just catching up on their blog reading, we’re asking you to guess film titles based on clues given from works of art in the IMA’s permanent collection. All films will be shown during the Summer Nights series, beginning June 3. On schedule so far is: the 1981 biopic, Mommie Dearest, Blue Hawaii (1961), and The Sandlot (1993), The Wiz (1978), Zoolander (2001), and now Clerks (1994).

Thanks to all of those who have played so far and if you’re still hoping for a win, you have 5 more chances.

Here’s are your next clues:

FILM Nine (playing July 29): As we enter the last week of the game, I’m going to make you work a bit harder! Today, I will not be giving any additional clues (such as how many words are in the title, or what type of the clues are below). Based only works of art below, guess the name of the ninth film. (Hint: click on the image for additional clues such as artist, title of piece, etc.)

William Heath, An Appropriate Emblem, 1829. Artist Unknown, Snake Bed, 1975. Terry Frost, Ice Blue, 1972.

Frank Weston Benson, Two Black Geese, 1931. Artist Unknown, Wolfman, 1982. Ronald B. Kitaj, Hollywood, 1970.

John Ottis Adams, An August Sunset – Prairie Dell, 1894. William Gropper, The Cat, 1965.

Comment below and the first person to correctly answer the name of the film wins two free tickets to any Summer Nights film. The answer will be given tomorrow.

Become a fan of the IMA on Facebook and stay tuned for an early scoop on the precise time that the blog post will go up tomorrow.

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/10/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-nine/feed/ 9 Clue 1 Clue 2 Clue Three Character Clue One Character Clue Two Charcter Clue Three Character Clue Seven Character Clue Eight Guess the Name of the Film Game – Round Seven & Eight http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/09/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-seven-eight/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/09/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-seven-eight/#comments Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:15:27 +0000 Jenny http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=16498 “They’re Here.”

Congratulations to yesterday’s winner for correctly guessing Poltergeist! The 1982 horror classic will play July 8 as part of the IMA’s Summer Nights Film Series. Also on schedule for this season is: the 1981 biopic, Mommie Dearest, Blue Hawaii (1961), and The Sandlot (1993), The Wiz (1978), and Zoolander (2001), for all of you “ridiculously good-looking” folks out there.

Thanks to all of those who have played so far and if you’re still hoping for a win, you have 6 more chances. Here’s are your next clues:

FILM Eight (playing July 22): Well, I actually can’t tell you the name of this film. As part of the Indianapolis International Film Festival’s secret screening, we’re keeping this one under lock and key for a while longer. However, I will give you clues for the seventh film on schedule for this year’s Summer Nights Film Series.

FILM Seven (playing July 15): Another, special screening in partnership with IIFF, the seventh film of the Summer Nights series has one word in its title. Based on clues from the works of art below, guess the name of this film. (Hint: click on the image for additional clues such as artist, title of piece, etc.)

Character Clue

Robert Anderson, Bob (self-portrait), 1983. Bill Viola, The Quintet of the Silent, 2001.

Comment below and the first person to correctly answer the name of the film (not the name of the character) wins two free tickets to any Summer Nights film. The correct answer will be given tomorrow.

Become a fan of the IMA on Facebook and stay tuned for an early scoop on the precise time that the blog post will go up tomorrow.

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/09/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-seven-eight/feed/ 9 Character Clue One Character Clue Two Guess the Name of the Film Game – Round Six http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/08/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-six/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/08/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-six/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:45:30 +0000 Jenny http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=16479 It’s day six of our Summer Nights film game, which means you have seven more chances to play. For those new to the game, here’s what you need to know: We’re asking you to guess a film title based on clues below (all works from the IMA’s permanent collection). All films will be shown during the Summer Nights Film Series, beginning June 3 at the IMA. On the schedule so far, we have the 1981 biopic, Mommie Dearest, Blue Hawaii (1961), and The Sandlot (1993), The Wiz (1978), and Zoolander (2001), for all of you “ridiculously good-looking” folks out there.

The answer will be given tomorrow and the first person to correctly guess (by commenting below) will win two Summer Nights tickets (unless you’ve already won twice – we need to share the love).

Here are today’s clues:

FILM SIX (playing July 8): The sixth film of series has one word in its title. Based on clues from the works of art below, guess the name of this film. (Hint: click on the image for additional clues such as artist, title of piece, etc.)

Character & Plot Clues
James Merritt Ives, Good Little Girl, 1871. Artist Unknown, True Ghost Stories, 1981.Nam June Paik, Who’s Your Tree, 1996.

Comment below and the first correct answer wins two free tickets to any Summer Nights film.

Become a fan of the IMA on Facebook and stay tuned for an early scoop on the precise time that the blog post will go up tomorrow.

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/08/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-six/feed/ 7 Character Clue Plot Clue Character and Plot Clue Guess the Name of the Film Game – Round Three http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/05/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-three/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/05/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-three/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:33:30 +0000 Jenny http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=16394 It’s Round Three of Guess the Name of the Film Game! Congratulations to our first two winners Paul & Kyle for correctly guessing the first two films playing in 2011′s Summer Nights Film Series. For those just joining the fun, we’re challenging your film knowledge and asking you to guess film titles based on clues from the IMA’s permanent collection. On Monday, we learned the first film of the series, playing June 3, will be the 1981 biopic, Mommie Dearest. Yesterday’s film, playing June 10, is Blue Hawaii.

Here are your clues for film three (we’re upping the challenge a bit here)…

FILM THREE (playing June 17): The third film of series is two words. Based on clues from the works of art below, Guess the Name of this film. (Hint: click on the image for additional clues such as artist, title of piece, etc.)

TITLE CLUEFranco Moschino, Purse ‘Sand Pail’, 1990s.


PLOT CLUE
Ronald B. Kitaj, Lou Gehrig, Pride of the Yankees, 1970.


CHARACTER CLUE
Artist Unknown, Dying Beast, 1993.

Comment below with the name of this film and the first correct answer wins two free tickets to any Summer Nights film. The answer will be given tomorrow morning – so keep those guess coming!

Become a fan of the IMA on Facebook and stay tuned for an early scoop on the precise time that the blog post will go up tomorrow.

]]> http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/04/05/guess-the-name-of-the-film-game-round-three/feed/ 11 Title Clue Plot Clue Character Clue The F-Stops Here: A New Photo Policy for the IMA http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/02/23/the-f-stop%e2%80%99s-here-a-new-photo-policy-for-the-ima/ http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/2011/02/23/the-f-stop%e2%80%99s-here-a-new-photo-policy-for-the-ima/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:37:57 +0000 Anne Young http://www.imamuseum.org/blog/?p=15821 Next Tuesday, March 1st, the IMA officially adopts its new Photography Policy for the entire Museum campus, including 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, Oldfields-Lilly House & Gardens, and Miller House and Garden in Columbus, Indiana. This new policy comes out of a need to further protect the works of art in the collection and avoid any potential infringements of copyright laws. As a general rule of thumb, visitors and professional photographers will be able to identify the areas/pieces that cannot be photographed by looking for this symbol:

As some of you may recall having read on the IMA’s Blog last year in Picture This by Tad Fruits, the season of “peak shutterbug activity” will quickly be upon us. We would like to take this opportunity to inform and educate those who want to bring their families, friends, or clients for their next photo shoot to the IMA grounds.

For the general visitor to the IMA very little is changing. We simply ask that you remain cognizant of your surroundings – both the artworks and other visitors. You may photograph for your private use, which includes sharing images with your family and friends through social media sites like Facebook and Flickr.

We ask that all visitors, professional photographers, and guests do not walk in any plant beds or climb upon any of the sculptures. We want the grounds to be as beautiful in October as they are in April. This request is as much for your safety as it is for the safety, longevity, and conservation of the artworks at the IMA.

Acceptable Visitor Photography

Unacceptable Visitor Photography - please remain outside the landscaping.

If you want to see our objects conservator have a coronary, then by all means continue climbing on the artworks. But really, do you want that on your conscience?

Definitely Not Kosher Photography (image from TripAdvisor)

The LOVE sculpture brings up the tricky issue of copyright, which most of the sculptures on the grounds are protected by. The IMA is required to contact the copyright holder or their representative anytime we want to reproduce an image that includes a copyrighted work of art. These uses include, but are not limited to, printed publications, marketing (both online and printed), and any commercially available products for our retail shop. While many find the concept of copyright annoying when they want to use an image, it is a necessary evil. I am sure that none of you professional photographers out there want any unauthorized uses of your images.

Speaking of professional photographers, many of you will note several changes for your upcoming visits to the IMA, but it is our hope that this will lead to a reduction in the number of competing shoots in one day and in the same area(s) of the grounds. All locations of the IMA now require a permit, and no, this does not count:

Private events already scheduled will take precedence over anyone just showing up for an impromptu shoot – without your pass you will be asked to leave, so please display it prominently.

Not to be the photo bad guys, but with any luck and a lot of your cooperation, the IMA collections and grounds will endure for several future generations to enjoy and select as their photo local of choice!

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