Our recent September Late Night was full of programming firsts. We spent the night texting works of art (that texted back). Docents were on-hand to be “checked-out” for a range of customized mini-tours. Visitors, taking inspiration from selected artworks, struck poses in front of our green screen—the resulting photos of which we are stitching together into several videos soon to be available on Flickr.
My favorite experiment of the evening was by far our silent disco-inspired program called Silent Soundtrack, which brought music into the galleries via wireless headphones. We partnered with Austin Silent Disco who brought crates of headphones and everything we needed in the way of technology to broadcast iPod playlists via radio signal.
Headphones had three channels for three separate soundtracks, each tailored to a different floor in the Museum. Staff from across several departments–Education, Curatorial, and Design–collaborated to create track lists. Selections were inspired by artworks and exhibitions, some loosely and others more literally. Below are our soundtracks and some of the artworks that inspired them, and below that, feedback from visitors. What music would inspire you in our galleries?
Contemporary Art, Level 1
- The Times They Are A-Changin’, Bob Dylan
- Beginning to See the Light, Velvet Underground
- Hot Butter, Popcorn
- Help Me Somebody, Brian Eno and David Byrne
- Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color For Your Eyes, Kristin Andreassen
- Kids, MGMT
- Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed
- Born, Never Asked, Laurie Anderson
- Get Off of My Cloud, The Rolling Stones
- Shadows, Warpaint
- Come with Us, Brian Eno and David Byrne
- Ecstatic Shock, Squarepusher
- The Sun is Down!, Yoko Ono
- Animal, Miike Snow
- Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
European Art, Level 2
- Ce Ju, Yelle
- Reflet, Paris Combo
- Hands, The Ting Tings
- Et Moi, Et Moi, Et Moi, Jacques Dutronc
- Colourless Colour, La Roux
- Let It Fall, Lykke Li
- L’appareil à Sous, Brigitte Bardot
- J’arrive pas à Vivre, Maido Project
- Midnight City, M83
- Tgv, Housse De Racket
- Dancing on My Own, Robyn
- Elevator, Minitel Rose
- The Golden Age, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
- Liar, Dragonette
- Les Dalton, Joe Dassin
African Art, Level 3
- Gbada, Bandani
- Mbube (Wimoweh), Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, Paul Simon
- Sanfene Foli, Mamadou Diabaté
- Baxabene Oxamu, Miriam Makeba
- Masigiye’bo, The Soweto Gospel Choir
- Nakatiye (Meje), Oboto Sukume
- Zombie, Fela Kuti & Afrika 70
- Tulinesangala, Béla Fleck
- Gitari Na Congo, Bakia Pierre
- New Africa, Youssou N’Dour
- Baba, Salif Keïta
- Youne, Dobet Gnahore
- Sopeak (Begging), Staff Benda Bilili
- Sénégal Fast Food, Amadou & Mariam
Level 1 made the art seem to evolve. Watching progression happen as music went on.
Today I thought I was in for another hum-drum museum trip until I met headphone lady… I wish I had themed headphones for everywhere.
What a great idea to incorporate another art form while strolling around! Would like this more often–or maybe I’ll try my own music.
Artworks shown:
- Anytown USA, Jack Pierson, 2000, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Junior Associates, 2004.10.a-i, © Jack Pierson
- Orb, Adolph Gottlieb, 1964, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Art Association Purchase
- Untitled, Donald Judd, 1988, Dallas Museum of Art, Museum League Purchase Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, H. Harold Wineburgh Fund and gift of an anonymous donor
- Composition with Large Blue Plane, Red, Black, Yellow, and Gray, Piet Mondrian, 1921, Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift of Mrs. James H. Clark
- Murnau, Burggrabenstrasse 1, 1908, Wassily Kandinsky, 1908, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Art Association Purchase
- Valle Buona, Near Bordighera, Claude Monet, 1884, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the Meadows Foundation Incorporated
- Kneeling female figure with bowl (olumeye), Olowe of Ise, c. 1910 to c. 1938, Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
- Waist pendant, 18th century, Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
- Helmet mask (mukenga), mid-20th century, Dallas Museum of Art, gift in honor of Peter Hanszen Lynch and Cristina Martha Frances Lynch
Amy Copeland
Coordinator of Go van Gogh Outreach