Quiz Contest: How Well Do You Know Muhammad Ali?

February 18th, 2011
Gordon Parks (1912-2006), Muhammed Ali, 1970, 10 3/4 x 8 5/8, Photograph Courtesy of Howard Greenberg Galery, New York, NY. Copyright Gordon Parks.

Gordon Parks (1912-2006), Muhammed Ali, 1970, 10 3/4 x 8 5/8, Photograph Courtesy of Howard Greenberg Galery, New York, NY. Copyright Gordon Parks.

As part of our activities around the upcoming Ali and Elvis: American Icons exhibition, the Michener staff have put together a special quiz about Muhammad Ali based on the exhibition. How well do you know this famous icon?

Answer the questions on the quiz by responding to this blog post, and the first person to submit the correct answers to all the questions, will win free tickets to the exhibition! The following 9 people who submit their answers will also be eligible to win discounts on admission for the exhibition. Answers will be posted on this blog after all have been received by March 31st.

Note: Some answers to these questions can be found only in the exhibition, Muhammad Ali: The Making of an Icon! Read More »

Posted in Ali and Elvis: American Icons, Contests, Exhibitions | Tagged

Tell Your Story: Muhammad Ali, The Making of an Icon

February 16th, 2011
Anonymous artist, Untitled, 1975, Private Collection.

Anonymous artist, Untitled, 1975, Private Collection.

“I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.”

-Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is one of the most recognizable people in the world, a famous athlete and humanitarian, a champion and a leader. Thousands of people have been influenced and inspired by Ali, and many people have stories and memories about how Ali transformed their lives.

One local Bucks County resident and member of the Michener Art Museum was touched by Ali back in the 1970s and has shared a very special photograph featuring the famous icon himself. This photograph is featured in the Ali and Elvis: American Icons exhibition on view until May 15, 2011.  This photograph shows two young boys, ages 9 and 11, interacting with Ali at his training camp in Deer Lake, Pennsylvania back in 1975. Ali trained at this camp from 1972 to the end of his career in 1981. Read More »

Posted in Ali and Elvis: American Icons, Artworks, Exhibitions | Tagged

Behind the Scenes: Laying out the Artwork for an Exhibit

February 16th, 2011
YouTube Preview Image

This video features our Museum staff unpacking the special crates that transport the artwork for the upcoming Elvis at 21 exhibition opening this Saturday, February 19th. This process involves some care and attention to laying them out in the gallery according to the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) guidelines and the exhibit designer’s specifications. As you can see, the Museum staff are wearing gloves to protect the artwork as they carry them. They are also following specific instructions as to where the artwork and the signage is positioned, along with how high the work should be hung on the walls.

This video, although about two minutes in length, took approximately two hours worth of  staff time to complete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8tMQgwYuuk
Posted in Ali and Elvis: American Icons, Exhibitions, Video | Tagged

Collections Highlight: Contemporary Photographer, H. Scott Heist

February 2nd, 2011
Scott H. Heist, (b.1949), Alexander Calder and White Cascades, 1976, gelatin silver print on paper, H. 20 x W. 16, James A. Michener Art Museum. Museum purchase.

H. Scott Heist, (b.1949), Alexander Calder and White Cascades, 1976, gelatin silver print on paper, H. 20 x W. 16, James A. Michener Art Museum. Museum purchase.

Do you recognize the sculpture in the background of this photograph? It is a sculpture by the artist, Alexander Calder, who is featured in this photograph. The photographer of this work, H. Scott Heist, is a contemporary artist and essayist that currently lives in Durham, PA.

There are many interesting things to note about this photograph; the first of which is that it features the largest mobile in the world called White Cascade completed by Calder in 1976. This sculpture can be seen in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, in the Eastburn Court. The sculpture took only two days to install in this space. It is approximately 100 feet tall, and weighs close to 10 tons! This was the site of the artist’s last major installation before his death. Calder was well-known for his moving or kinetic sculptures, or “mobiles”, which received their name by the French artist, Marcel Duchamp. His non-kinetic sculptures, or stationary works, were called “stabiles”, named by artist Jean Arp. Read More »

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Muhammad Ali and Elvis Sightings, Contests and More!

February 1st, 2011
Gordon Parks, Muhammad Ali, ca. 1970. Photograph courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York, NY.

Gordon Parks, Muhammad Ali, ca. 1970. Photograph courtesy of Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York, NY.

With our upcoming exhibition, Ali and Elvis: American Icons, the Michener will be offering a number of contests to get visitors involved in the excitement around the exhibition! If you are following us on Twitter, look out for trivia related to Elvis and follow him as he visits the Museum and learns more about Doylestown! You will also be able to follow Muhammad Ali after he meets up with Elvis and participate in some additional trivia contests. Find out how both Elvis and Ali familiarize themselves with the Michener by exploring behind the scenes at the Museum. All of the trivia contests will offer prizes on discounts for admission to the exhibition. More information on Twitter contest rules can be found here. If you follow us on Facebook, look out for links to these contests and famous quotes by both of these icons! Read More »

Posted in Ali and Elvis: American Icons, Contests, Exhibitions | Tagged