Banesa Ayala 9:00 a.m.

11/21/13 University of Utah Museum of Fine Arts

The museum that I went to go visit for the first time was the University Of Utah Museum Of Fine Art. I have never really went to a museum so I was blown away. It was actually a really fun and exciting experience. One of the permanent collection that really had me entertained and engaged was the Egyptian section. Mummification is something that I have always been so curious. The main focus of Res Mortis: Matter of death is the process of mummification. It showed the steps on how they would preserve the bodies. They would use oils to clean the body, then use salt to dry up the body, final step was to band up the body. They would also put in special things for the dead in the coffin, just to make sure their spirit would be in peace. In the center of the room there was as large coffin inside of a glass case. With them adding the glass case really made the object seem so special or very important. It was really an eye catcher, I spent the most time in the section then all the others. Bierstadt to Warhol: American Indians in the West is a temporary exhibit. The paintings were painted by Americans that showed the American Indians life. The idea this was giving me was the transition the American Indians had to go through. Americans culture was all around them. The Indian Americans had a huge influenced of the American culture. This exhibit showed how the Americans thought that the American Indians were uncivilized. There was a lot of older painting that showed how the American Indian culture was at the time.

What I thought about the museum wanted me to gain is that there is a lot of cultures and beliefs in this world. Even if we are not part of it? Or even if we did not live or experience that same time period? We should learn about it. I have learned and seen so many things. We need to have an open mind. Our world is full of diversity. There was valuable and important information about the works at the museum. They provided information about the artist, the time the work was done, and the story behind the works. All of this information could have been found the plates that were around the work. There would also information charts and boards. Videos and lecture could be given of the specific work. One painting that caught my eye was by Hyacinthe Rigaud a French (1659-1743) artist. This time period was the classical periods. Rigaud would do painting on royal, rich, and the noble. The painting is Madame de Noailles this painting had wonderful colors. The background was dark so that allowed the main point to be bright and colorful. The woman was the main attraction of this painting, her skin color is so bright and you can see all of her facial features. I loved the painting of Alex Kratz (born 1927) the painting is Violet daisies. The painting was colorful and with sunshine. When you look at the painting it fills you up with joy. Nothing but happiness. Nature is so pure, perfect and beautiful something like I feel everyone takes for granted. The sand painter by William Robinson Leigh 1951 I loved this painting because it showed that art could be done in many different ways? Art did not have to be painted on a piece of paper? Also it reminded me that the Indian Americans would use all of their surrounding and not take anything for granted. When they kill an animal to eat, every single body part is in use for something. Nothing goes to waste. This is what I thought, when I

saw the Indian American doing art on the sand. Bacon and Eggs by Wayne Thiebaud painted on 1961. This painting is literally Bacon and eggs, something that almost every American eats for breakfast. This stunned me because all the other painting in the museum are about culture, landscape, and natural things. You would never think you would see a painting of an everyday thing. Food that you dont think much of, it was very unique and different. The discussion of art that we had in class has really helped me analyze paintings better. Before I would look at a painting and since I did not know the Historical background of it, it literally meant nothing to me. I would see a painting, look at it and walk away. With the paintings of Mona Lisa it taught me that every painting has a story to it. The colors they use on the painting have a meaning of emotion. So when I went to the museum I was able to look at a painting and try to figure out the story behind it. I was more engaged. My personal experience of the Museum was amazing. I saw so many types of art that are so eye catching. Also the art museum is full of history, its like going to a history class but even better. This experience has made me see that art is very beautiful and it is something we should not take for granted. Art is a defining factor of cultures across the country. I enjoyed attending this type of event and I would do it again.