Dallas Museum of Arts
THE MUSEUM
The Dallas Museum of Art is located in the Dallas Arts District. We hope in the future when our routines return to normal, you will visit the Museum. Meanwhile, visit the museum by visiting the following web site:
Click this link to visit the DMA web site.
Once you open the DMA site, take a tour for yourself. Explore and see what you can learn about this valuable community asset. To orient yourself, drop down the “About” from the sites headings. At least read “Director’s Welcome”, “Mission Statement”, “Museum History” and “Awards to Artists”.
The majority of your virtual tour will be spent exploring the various “collections” within the Museum’s “permanent collection”. To help you organize your tour, the Museum’s collections are listed below:
Answer each question in separate paragraphs
There are several parts included in this assignment and they are listed here:
1. Pick your first “collection”. Then select ONE work from that collection that you feel most represents the culture it represents. Obtain from the DMA web site an image of the work to REPLACE INTO your essay.
Note on Selecting the Collections/Works
Your goal is to find two contrasting cultures. You might consider pairs such a
American/African
Mayan/European
Inuit/American
Egyptian/European
Contemporary Painting or Sculpture/African Tribal Masks
Incan Gold/American Furniture
In other words, do not pick two cultures that do not demonstrate obvious differences. It might be difficult, for example, to contrast 19th Century European Painting and 19th Century American Painting.
This is the most important task in the process. When you chose a collection and the works, think it through to make sure you will be able to develop their contrasts.
2. Pick your second “collection”. Then select ONE work from that collection that you feel most represents the culture it represents. Obtain from the DMA web site) an image of the work to REPLACE INTO your essay.
3. Research the two cultures/periods you have selected. Keep track of your sources so that you can cite them, using MLA format, in your document.
SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE ESSAY
Please label each of the following sections in your essay.
1. INTRODUCTION
Briefly outline the purpose/thesis of this assignment. Introduce the two collections and two works that your essay will examine and contrast.
2. COLLECTION ONE/EXEMPLARY ARTWORK
First, insert the image of the artwork you have chosen. Below the work include a “credit line” which includes the title, artist, date, medium, collection.
Discuss the art work including any special notes about its compositional qualities, its use or the original context. Share any special information about the work that helps the reader understand its significance and importance to the culture or period that produced it.
Explain how the artwork expresses and reflects the culture that it represents. This may require some general background about the culture that helps the reader understand the artwork expression.
3. COLLECTION TWO/EXEMPLARY ARTWORK
Follow the outline in the above, number Two, except focus on the second collection and the selected artwork which should be inserted into your essay.
4. COMPARE/CONTRAST
In this section you will compare and contrast both the culture and the artwork. Contrast how the two cultures differ and how the two artworks express those differences respectively. It is not necessary to have images of the two artworks in this section because they are in the previous two sections.
5. THE MUSEUM’S ROLE
The museum is committed to serving the broader Dallas community. Discuss this commitment citing things you learned reading the articles in the “About” at the start of the museum site. And discuss how the Museum nurtures the growth of local artists.
6. FINAL THOUGHTS
You have become a cyber tourist and a cyber patron of the DMA! What are your general impressions gleaned as a result of your cyber visit? Was the site accessible and easy to navigate? And what were your general impressions of the Museum’s diverse collections. If you were able to visit in person, what collections or art works would be on your “Must See” list?
GENERAL POINTERS:
1. Do not use first person.
2. Label each of the sections outlined above.
3. Include credit lines under the two artworks about which you are writing.
4. Cite (using MLA format) all information you found in research sources. Your essay will be submitted to SafeAssign to scan for the sources you use
ANSWER
Art (Fine arts, Performing arts)
This assignment will compare the features of two contrasting pieces of art within the Dallas museum of art. The first part of the study explains the pieces of art selected for the comparison. The second part of the study discusses the second at chosen for the study. The first and the second pieces of art are further discussed in the third chapter. This study also discusses the museum’s role. The first art chosen by the study is the Whistle: Human Head Form from the art of the Americas collection. The second art chosen for this study is the Doll (Akua’ba) from the collection arts of Africa.
Whistle: human head form
DATE: 200–500 CE
MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE: Ceramic
CLASSIFICATION: Sound devices
DIMENSIONS: 2 1/4 × 2 1/4 × 2 in. (5.72 × 5.72 × 5.08 cm)
DEPARTMENT: Arts of the Americas
LOCATION: Not on View
CREDIT LINE: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of The Dozier Foundation
COPYRIGHT: Image courtesy Dallas Museum of Art
OBJECT NUMBER: DS.1990.272
The Whistle: Human Head Form most used between 200 to 500 CE. The art is made of ceramic and brown in color. The art was used as a sound device. The art is currently not on view on the Dallas museum of art. It was provided to the museum as a gift by the Dozier foundation.
The piece of art is made in the form of a human head. It has almost all the features of the human face. These features include a mouth, a nose, and two eyes. The head like structure has a big hole on top of it through which air is blown. It also has some holes to the sides through which air is released to make a whistling sound.
The art represents an improvisational use of form and a decorative style. One can easily notice the attitude of power that is conveyed from wide stance. The art is a symbol of authority. It also has a represent celebration and ceremony. The musical function of the Whistle: Human Head Form can be used to form whimsical compositions.
Doll (Akua’ba)
CULTURE: Asante peoples
DATE: 20th century
MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE: Wood, paint, beads
CLASSIFICATION : Sculpture
DIMENSIONS : 6 1/2 × 2 1/8 × 1 in. (16.51 × 5.4 × 2.54 cm)
DEPARTMENT: Arts of Africa
LOCATION: Not on View
CREDIT LINE: Dallas Museum of Art, Foundation for the Arts Collection, The Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Marcus Collection of Fertility Figures
OBJECT NUMBER: 1982. 357.FA
Akua’ba dolls originate from there Ashanti people of Ghana. They are made of wood and are mostly used during fertility rituals. The dolls have large disc like heads and manifest in different and distinctive styles within other tribes of the region. Women who hope to conceive or have children usually carry the dolls on their backs. It is believed that the dolls influence the beauty and the attractiveness of the child to be born (Kushiator et al., 60). The dolls are well cared for and washed when they are not in use. The rituals that use the dolls corresponds to sympathetic magic occult beliefs. In the modern society the dolls are used as a general symbol of good luck.
Traditionally, giving birth was considered as a rite of passage for the Ghanaian women. A woman’s inability to conceive could be considered as poor health or witchcraft. Witchcraft was considered a sacrilege and was fiercely punishable. The Akua’ba doll was used by barren women increase their chances of giving birth. They don’t was considered a surrogate child. The dolls function by luring and lobbying the fertility gods for a child.
Comparison
The Akua’ba Dolls are made of wood, beads, and paints when the whistle: human head form is made of ceramic. The Whistle: Human Head Form was used earlier between 200 to 500 CE while the dolls where used in the 20th century. Both apps are currently not on view at the Dallas museum. The Akua’ba doll is dark in color while the whistle is light and browner in color. The whistle was mostly used in ceremonies while the dolls where used for fertility rituals. The whistle is used in ceremonies to showcase creativity and celebrations. It can also be used to express authority over subjects. The whistle can be used to send signals by a leader to the subjects. The doll however is used in times of sorrow. Bareness was considered a bad thing in the Ghanaian community.
The Role of the Museum
The debate on whether museums are aesthetic institutions or if at all there meant for primary education has been there long enough. This study proposes two interrelated propositions. The museum becomes an educational institution once it’s opened its doors for the public to have access to the preserved, organized, and classified collections (Hooper-Greenhill and Eilean 1999). Museums are also educational by nature as they preserve political, moral, and social consequences. The public gain knowledge through museums unique contributions. Museums act as collection, preservation, and interpretation places for present and past cultures and cultural heritages. They make them accessible through active use (Zettler et al., 1999). Deeper reflections and more insights can be found in the museums as compared to the other media. The public and therefore develop deeply digested opinions on specific matters.
Conclusion
There are two contrasting arts from the Dallas museum of art that have been analyzed within the study. The first art analyzed is the Whistle: Human Head Form that was used between 200 to 500 CE. The piece of art is made of ceramic and is used as a sound device. The art is no longer displayed at the Dallas museum of art and was gifted to the museum by the Dozier foundation. Another art reviewed in the study is the Akua’ba Doll. The doll originates from the Ashanti people in Ghana, Africa (Gill et al., 80). The doll was mainly used for fertility ritual purposes and is made of wood, beads, and paint. The doll was used in the 20th century and is no longer in view at the Dallas museum of art. The two pieces of art have been compared with in the study.
The Akua’ba Doll originates from Africa while the Whistle: Human Head form originates from the Americas. The debate on whether museums are aesthetic institutions or if at all there meant for primary education has been there long enough. This study proposes two interrelated propositions. The museum becomes an educational institution once it’s opened its doors for the public to have access to the preserved, organized, and classified collections (Ofori 90). Museums are also educational by nature as they preserve political, moral, and social consequences.
Work Cited
Gill, David WJ. “Context matters: Dallas Museum of Art takes the initiative.” Journal of Art Crime 9 (2013): 79-84.
Hooper-Greenhill, Eilean, ed. The educational role of the museum. Psychology Press, 1999.
Kushiator, G., A. Rahman, and D. H. Ofori. “The Influence of Western Culture on Traditional Art Forms and Cultural Practices:‘Akuaba’Doll Among Akan Women in Africa.” ADRRI Journal of Arts and Social Sciences 17.6 (5) (2020): 59-71.
Ofori, D. H., et al. “The Casting and Replication of an ‘Akuaba Doll’in Metal Art.” ADRRI Journal (Multidisciplinary) 28.12 (5) (2020): 78-97.
Zettler, Richard L., and Donald P. Hansen. Treasures from the royal tombs of Ur:[traveling exhibition venues October 9, 1998-January 3, 1999 The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana, Calif., February 5, 1999-May 9, 1999 Frank H. McClung Museum Knoxville, Tenn., May 30, 1999-September 5, 1999 Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Tex….]. University of Pennsylvania, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1998.
