Art and architecture response and reflection paper critical thinking

The group and individual energy of an academic excursion to an art institute has undertones of expectation of the unexpected. Whether art or architecture the anticipation of engaging in the creation of another person and connecting to the artist’s intention. The recent fieldwork accompanying the class to both the Grounds for Sculpture Museum in Trenton and to Princeton University Art Museum the expectation and the final experience engaging in art and architecture fulfills the anticipation.
Without a question, experiencing as many of the 270 sculptures offered at the Grounds for Sculpture Museum in Trenton explodes with dynamic extremes of visual stimulation, emotional atmosphere, and an overwhelming sense of connection with nature in relation to the varied pieces. Amazingly, there is one setting in particular in this cornucopia blending human creativity amidst the grandeur of nature that while visiting at the Princeton University Art Museum exhibit of Monet recalls this setting. The Grounds for Sculpture: Landscape for ” Lady in the Mist” draws the imagination to a setting inspiring the later works of Monet in his Impressionist best (more on Monet discussed later).
While other areas of the Grounds for Sculpture included Monet type scenery plainly from a subjective view, the particular setting of the ” Lady in the Mist” sculpture came to mind while looking at the Monet exhibit later at Princeton. The sculpture exudes its own kind of beauty without the setting. From a subjective perspective, the setting absolutely creates another depth to the beauty of this sculpted piece of art. Surely, the ” Lady in the Mist” must connect the intention of the Grounds for Sculpture vision as a distinct place for artists coming together from so many different subjects, genres, and techniques for displaying, combining, and integrating their pieces into the beauty of the natural setting provided in this place.
There are few words to describe the enchanting effect of the ” Solar Web” sculpture. It is an engaging and transformational piece of art. The multiple colored glass pieces catching the sun’s light transform them into colorful points touching the colors of nature around it. The humorous sculpted pieces juxtapose into another layer as they interact with natural surrounding where they sit. The laughs come easy when pondering on the ” Daydream/All Men are Pigs” piece. There is no question the variety, the simple, the bizarre, the aesthetic, and the unexpected greet the visitor to this one of a kind cultural experience with art and architecture at the Grounds for Sculpture. At once, it becomes completely apparent how both professional and amateur photographers feel they enter a place of potential and unending opportunity creating photographic imagery of this amazing place.
As an onlooker with or without camera, the veritable unlimited views of each piece presented is a matter of merely stepping one way or another and contemplating the art by the quality of natural light and shadow creating new dimensions on each piece. This interactive quality to the experience of the Grounds for Sculpture remains a fortunate aspect of this place. While a seasoned art aficionado must take such a stance it is nonetheless something even a novice at art appreciation cannot let slip past any cognitive recognition of this particular special feature to the place. The sense of a separate reality fluctuates the senses as an onlooker moving from the subliminal textures of sculpted characters engaged in different interactions to the more abstract art pieces one might even consider primitive adds to the specialness of this place.
In terms of a traditional expectation of an art gallery, Princeton’s University Art Museum fits the genre perfectly. A quick note on the Monet exhibit as mentioned earlier about the setting for the ” Lady in the Mist” sculpture, there is no comparison to looking at Monet’s Impressionist works in person and seeing photographs. Indeed the application of paint creating the light and dark as seen through the failing sight of Monet’s brush strokes creates nature’s truest shadow and light. Monet’s ” Bridge Over a Pond of Lilies” captures the essence of the setting for the ” Lady in the Mist” thus, connecting the two entirely different art experiences provided by the two locations visited during the field excursion.
The quality of the Princeton experience must take into account the knowledge, poise, and obvious appreciation of her job projected by Nancy the tour guide at the museum leading the group through every portion of the gallery. Again, coming back to the Monet exhibit, proved a particular opportunity for Nancy providing background on the artist, his role as one of the founding members of the European (French) Impressionist art group, and especially providing the group with a better understanding of Impressionism.
In conclusion, as stated in the beginning, the recent fieldwork accompanying the class to both the Grounds for Sculpture Museum in Trenton and to Princeton University Art Museum the expectation and the final experience engaging in art and architecture fulfills an unspoken anticipation. At the end of a day full of art, nature, and a definite spirit of adventure brings together intellectual consciousness combined with emotional undertones all working generously in lifting the spirit of at least one of the participants of the group excursion me!