Category Archives: Facing Out, Facing In

Voting Results: Facing Out, Facing In

March 11th, 2011

Well, the ballots are in. You voted, and we listened! To continue our discussion on the voting results for the exhibition, Facing Out, Facing In, this blog post will hopefully give some information to those visitors that really enjoy analyzing results from surveys. :) In this first round of voting, we had approximately 300 ballots submitted, representing votes on works by the following artists: Emmet Gowin, Werner Drewes, Maximilian Vanka and Julius Bloch. Four new works have been chosen to replace the first four, and votes on these will be collected until April 3rd.

The Facing Out Facing In Ballot is broken down into two sections. The first section is a series of nine phrases that visitors were asked to respond to by answering “yes” or “no”. Each phrase reflects an “inward” quality or an “outward” quality of an image.

Results of Gowin with FOFI RatingThe second section of the ballot is a rating scale, which asks visitors to respond to whether the artist is facing “in” (rated 6) or facing “out” (rated 1) or somewhere in between. Of course, this rating scale received a variety of responses. On the left, the image shows the results of the Emmet Gowin based on this rating scale. Read More »

Also posted in Exhibitions, Permanent Collection | Tagged

Changes to Facing Out, Facing In: The Votes Are In!

March 4th, 2011
Julius Bloch (1888-1966), Apple Seller, n.d., oil on canvas, James A. Michener Art Museum, Gift of the John P. Horton Estate

Julius Bloch (1888-1966), Apple Seller, n.d., oil on canvas, James A. Michener Art Museum, Gift of the John P. Horton Estate

The ballots are in! The Michener has received a large number of votes in response to the works featured in the Facing Out, Facing In exhibition. Visitors were asked to respond to four artworks in the exhibit using a ballot sheet that included a series of statements. Next week, visitors will be able to see the results of these ballots posted in the exhibition and we will share the details of the results in this blog. In the meantime, the exhibition has changed, and four new artworks are up for the vote. Visitors will be able to vote in this second round through April 3rd. Thank you to all you participated in the first round of voting! Read More »

Also posted in Artworks, Exhibitions | Tagged

What is this Odd Black and White Square?

January 13th, 2011

qrcodeWith the upcoming exhibition, Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works from the Michener Art Museum Collection, the Michener will be using a special tool to help users with mobile phones access additional information.  For all you tech savvy people out there, this image is probably very familiar to you! :)

If you don’t recognize this image on the left, it is known as  a QR code, or a Quick Response code,  seen more often in stores and now in museums or historic sites. This code, similar in functionality to the traditional barcode, can be scanned using a smartphone. So, a QR code is like a like a barcode, but better.

Technically speaking, QR codes encode data both horizontally and vertically in a grid of tiny squares, whereas the traditional barcode encodes the data on a horizontal plane. Since the QR code encodes data both ways, it allows for much more data to be encoded in a smaller space. Also, QR codes can be read from any angle, unlike barcodes that have to be aligned properly. Read More »

Also posted in Exhibitions | Tagged ,

Are You “In” or Are You “Out”?

January 13th, 2011

By now, you have responded to the works in the exhibition using the ballot sheet provided and have had time to reflect on the works in the gallery. Consider the concept of “Facing in” and “Facing out” presented to you in this exhibition. Take time to reflect on how your own qualities fit into these main ideas.

Are you someone who considers themselves “inward”, interested in that contemplative journey and quiet moments, or someone that is “outward”, more outspoken and committed to more external forms of expression or involvement? How does this affect how you see the world?

Emmet Gowin (b.1941), Nancy, Danville, 1969, toned gelatin silver print on paper, James A. Michener Art Museum, Gift of Emmet and Edith Gowin.

Emmet Gowin (b.1941), Nancy, Danville, 1969, toned gelatin silver print on paper, James A. Michener Art Museum, Gift of Emmet and Edith Gowin. Copyright Emmet and Edith Gowin. Courtesy Pace/MacGill Gallery, NY.

Next, consider the question below in your response:

If I were an artist, what kind of work would I make, and why?

Following your visit to this exhibition, please visit our Flickr page to contribute your own art, or another artwork that you feels apply to the themes of “facing out” and “facing in” and tag it with these words.

Please Note: This blog posting corresponds to our exhibition, Facing In, Facing Out: Figurative Works from the Michener Art Museum Collection and viewable on our exhibition kiosk in the Fred Beans gallery. If you are visiting this posting online, we invite your comments but please be sure to visit the main page on the exhibition for more information. Responses to this blog must follow our blog user agreement.

Also posted in Exhibitions

A Unique Approach to Exhibits: Facing Out, Facing In

January 12th, 2011
Eugene Higgins (1874-1958), A Connecticut Ploughman, n.d., oil on canvas, James A. Michener Art Museum, Gift of the John P. Horton Estate.

Eugene Higgins (1874-1958), A Connecticut Ploughman, n.d., oil on canvas, James A. Michener Art Museum, Gift of the John P. Horton Estate.

On Saturday, the exhibition, Facing Out, Facing In: Figurative Works from the Michener Art Museum Collection, will open to the public. This exhibition will be different from other exhibitions, in that it will invite visitors to play an active “curatorial” role in engaging with the work.

The Museum staff are looking forward to hearing responses from visitors and how they would judge the work that relate to the themes of  “facing out” and “facing in”. Based on visitor responses, things may change in the exhibition itself. Visitors will be able to respond in three ways, via comment kiosk, through voting ballots, and finally through our Flickr page. There will also be something special added to the exhibition for visitors with mobile phones……Stay tuned for more information. Be sure to come see what it’s all about!

Also posted in Exhibitions | Tagged