Last weekend (was it really only a week ago? Time flies...), my parents and I went to visit the American Museum of Natural History in NYC with our dear friends the Metzners. Judy is a docent - and LOVES having an excuse to show off all the wonderful exhibits that are going on at the museum. We saw so many things to inspire and delight us, including:
Newly renovated North American mammals wing. They've brightened up the painted backgrounds, retouched the animal's fur, and generally spruced up the place.
We also snuck in the see the butterfly exhibit, which if you've never been is one of the most magical experiences I've ever had at a museum. They've basically set up a hot room for a butterfly "petting zoo;" you aren't encouraged to pet the butterflies, obviously, but if they happen to land on your shirt, your arm, or your hair it is a giggle-inducing exchange.
And last, but certainly not least, Judy guided us through the new exhibit "The Power of Poison." The one big take away was that anything could be a poison if given in the right dosage to a person or animal who is naturally sensitive to it. There were a lot of interesting elements to this exhibit, including the section describing notable examples of poisons throughout history and literature. But, far and away the coolest part of my day was when we came up to the "interactive" book (see the video below). The text was projected onto the book surface and it looked as if it responded to human touch.
It was very well done. And it got me thinking... There are so, so, so, so, so many museums in this town that are just waiting for us to discovered their surprises. There is design inspiration in all of them; from how they present the actual artifact (scientific, artistic, or otherwise) or to the way they give out educational information about that object.
But where to start? The answer is obvious.
So, today I'm announcing the start of our "Met Museum Challenge" - when in our lifetime are we ever going to have the opportunity to get to know a museum as intimately as we can learn about the Met while Allen is still a fellow there. Also, it is a truth universally acknowledged that no one can see all of the Met in one day. But thankfully, it is open late (til 9pm) on Friday nights, so we are going to try our best to go every Friday over the next 6 months to see as many of the rooms and special exhibits as possible.
I'm armed with a floor map and I'm ready to explore!
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Roar!
So delicate
We also snuck in the see the butterfly exhibit, which if you've never been is one of the most magical experiences I've ever had at a museum. They've basically set up a hot room for a butterfly "petting zoo;" you aren't encouraged to pet the butterflies, obviously, but if they happen to land on your shirt, your arm, or your hair it is a giggle-inducing exchange.
And last, but certainly not least, Judy guided us through the new exhibit "The Power of Poison." The one big take away was that anything could be a poison if given in the right dosage to a person or animal who is naturally sensitive to it. There were a lot of interesting elements to this exhibit, including the section describing notable examples of poisons throughout history and literature. But, far and away the coolest part of my day was when we came up to the "interactive" book (see the video below). The text was projected onto the book surface and it looked as if it responded to human touch.
It was very well done. And it got me thinking... There are so, so, so, so, so many museums in this town that are just waiting for us to discovered their surprises. There is design inspiration in all of them; from how they present the actual artifact (scientific, artistic, or otherwise) or to the way they give out educational information about that object.
But where to start? The answer is obvious.
So, today I'm announcing the start of our "Met Museum Challenge" - when in our lifetime are we ever going to have the opportunity to get to know a museum as intimately as we can learn about the Met while Allen is still a fellow there. Also, it is a truth universally acknowledged that no one can see all of the Met in one day. But thankfully, it is open late (til 9pm) on Friday nights, so we are going to try our best to go every Friday over the next 6 months to see as many of the rooms and special exhibits as possible.
I'm armed with a floor map and I'm ready to explore!
I dare you to get to know me!
