Posts Tagged 'Atrium'

Vacay at the DMA

Well folks, we have officially broken one hundred degrees, which means that the Dallas summer is really here. You may get a chance to escape the weather with a trip to cooler climates. But I am here to tell you that it is possible to beat the heat and enjoy a fun-filled day of play right here in Dallas! At the Dallas Museum of Art you can travel all over the world, eat any type of food your heart desires, and participate in creative activities without ever leaving downtown.

Here are some great ways to enjoy a DMA get-away:

Self-Guided Tours

With over 25,000 works of art at the DMA, chances are that you won’t be able to see everything in one day. But don’t worry, any of our bite-sized tours will show you how to have a quality experience at the DMA instead of a quantity one. You can choose from four different themes to match your interests, either by downloading and printing them at home or by asking the Visitors Service Desk for a copy.

smARTphone Tours

For a more customized experience, use your smartphone to access interactive content specific to each gallery.

Lunch

  • With a variety of lunchtime favorites, the bright and open Atrium Cafe is a great place to have a meal.
  • The Sculpture Garden is a perfect spot to relax, soak up some sun, and enjoy your lunch while surrounded by art.
  • Or try any one of the tasty and affordable food trucks just a couple of blocks away; they have something for everyone!

After Hours

  • If you are a late-nighter, you are in luck, because every Thursday Night the Museum stays open until 9:00 pm. You can enjoy a cocktail while listening to jazz music in the Atrium Cafe, or create an original work of art in the Center for Creative Connections.
  • Every third Friday of the month the Museum stays open until midnight, offering a variety of fun and free programs inspired by the Late Night theme of the month.

Need more ideas for engaging with the collection? Check out our list of 100 Experiences.

I’ll see you at the Museum,

Hannah Burney
Go van Gogh Programs Assistant

Skyway, JFK, What Else Do I Have to Say?

 

Robert Rauschenberg, Skyway, 1964

One of my favorite works of art in the DMA’s collection is Robert Rauschenberg’s Skyway.  If you have dined in the Atrium Cafe, you have probably noticed Skyway hanging on the East wall.  It’s a very large work made of oil and silkscreen on canvas.  The canvas is covered with images of 1960s popular culture: astronauts, outer space, a freeway, construction equipment, and even a portrait of John F. Kennedy. 

Part of the reason that I love Skyway is because of Rauschenberg’s inclusion of Kennedy.  Ever since I was nine years old, I have been fascinated by JFK.  Between 4th and 10th grade, I did a report or presentation on JFK or his wife Jackie every year in school.  I don’t know what it is about them that I love–their youth, their glamour, his tragic death?  I think it’s probably a combination of all three.

With the Kennedys at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Washington, D.C.

Skyway is also one of my favorite works of art because it is a visual time capsule of the 1960s.   This canvas was created to hang on the facade of the U.S. pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.  It celebrates contemporary history, modernity, and the achievements of the United States.  We can look at this work of art and know what decade it represents based on the images that have been included. 

It’s also fun to think about what images would be included if a work of art like Skyway were to be created today.   Would we see Barack Obama?  Would we see symbols of new technology like the iPad or a flatscreen TV?  Would we see Miley Cyrus or Robert Pattinson, the icons of pop culture in 2010?  This is always a fun topic to explore with students on tours, and I always love hearing their responses.

To learn more about Skyway, or to explore other contemporary works of art in our collection, check out the Contemporary Art and Design online teaching materials.  You also need to come see Skyway at the Museum–it’s so much better in person!

Shannon Karol
Tour Coordinator


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