As a Student Docent for UMMA, I have found that there are far too many exciting elements of the museum that are unbeknownst to the student public. Primarily, the DialogTable is among the greatest of hidden gems that the museum holds.
The table is only one of four of its kind, and by using a “pinch” method (you pinch your fingers above the table to signify the image that you want to learn about) you welcome endless learning possibilities. Attached to the images are further information about the object as well as, for certain works, videos that allow for further exploration and evaluation. While at the table one can create their own pool of works, bringing together items of particular interest that immediately gets saved to UMMA’s website, allowing the viewer to curate their own personal collection of favorite works.
The table also allows for “tags,” using key words and phrases to connect different objects together. While the museum groups objects by location of origin and time of creation, the DialogTable allows the viewer to create thematic ties between the works that are far more complex and personalized than a geographic region. For example, a viewer may feel that there is a strong female narrative being woven through various works and can then tag each work with “female”. By doing so, future viewers can see these same links, opening their minds to new and different interpretations.
The purpose of viewing art is undoubtedly personal. Some people go into a museum to lose themselves in their thoughts – allowing endless rumination on not only the art but also life. Museums, in such a way, can act as a great escape. However, there is also vast exploration and intellectual investigation that can be done at a cultural institution with collections as pertinent as those at UMMA. The DialogTable allows those who visitors who want a deeper experience from the museum to not merely explore the collection, but to think creatively and analytically about how the different works at the museum connect, differ and build off one another.
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