While it’s a challenge in this era of social media and remote communication for traditional brick-and-mortar museums to compete, South Bay art institutions are meeting the challenge head on by delivering those vital, fully alive moments of sensory pleasure. Many who believe that no painting on a digital screen can compare to the vibrancy of that same original work on canvas are grateful that these museums are bringing art to life through new installations, traveling exhibitions and performances. They offer opportunities to envision the artist at work as you view his or her brushstrokes or sculpting techniques at close range. Many are now throwing parties with live music and inventive food to attract people hungry to ditch devices for a while in favor of a chance to enjoy the pleasure of human interaction and shared community events. Following Shakespeare’s dictum that “All the world’s a stage,” South Bay museums are turning their galleries and art spaces into stages and sometimes even experiential laboratories to bring art to life, inspiring new generations of patrons. And thanks to local businesses and sponsors that finance the events, most are free, or available to the public for nominal fees. “The goal of our programming is to invite the public to view art in new and different ways,” says Aimee Shapiro, director of programming and engagement at the Anderson Collection at Stanford University. The museum sponsors Thursday Nights at the Anderson, offering an eclectic mix of films, live performances and lectures. “We want visitors to experience firsthand, experientially, and often through other modes of seeing, the museum’s extraordinary collection of modern and contemporary American art.” Events at South Bay museums run the gamut from traditional lectures to adventurous performance art pieces and everything in between. You can enjoy a Friday night block-party type atmosphere at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, complete with a bevy of food trucks and interactive activities. If it’s also the first Friday of the month, hop down to San Jose First Friday for an energetic music and dance performance at one of the participating museums there. Some museums are reaching out to an adults-only audience through “happy hours,” where culture vultures mix and mingle, beverages in hand. Others appeal to families by hosting interactive art where kids and parents alike are invited to dive right into crafting their own creations. Still other museums meld cultural heritage with art and artifacts, bringing exhibits to life with dance and music. It’s also a chance to expose a wider audience to one-of-a-kind experiential art. At the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, for example, the museum “wanted to offer opportunities for artists working in an art form that often receives limited understanding and support,” says Patricia Cariño Valdez, the curator and director of public programs. The trend of community events and performance art in the world of museums is proving incredibly successful, say event directors. Many of the museum’s events draw upwards of 100 guests at a time, and Shapiro recalls one string quartet event that drew 500 people. Uniquely memorable and inclusive experiences are the key to attracting future patrons. At one standout event last summer, artist Mary Younakof invited the public to don bright dresses in hues across the color spectrum to take part in the performance. Another event by Alice Raymond asked people to walk on a giant map of the world she had drawn on the floor with chalk; the participants’ feet erased the borders between countries. “It’s creating a wonderful sense of community and opens and allows people to experience art in their own ways,” says Shapiro. “We get a lot of compliments on the content and variety of our programming. People of course, love free cultural events.” We’ve rounded up an entertaining assortment of local museums that bring engaging evening events to the public. So ditch the iPhone, power down the tablet and delve into some of the South Bay’s best opportunities to learn a little while having a lot of fun. 54 South Bay Accent TECH BLOCK PARTY Friday Nights @CHM Computer History Museum, 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, computerhistory.org The Museum: Covering the history of computers, starting 2,000 years ago, the museum includes more than 1,100 artifacts, including the very first computers from the 1940s and 1950s, plus interesting multimedia exhibitions. The Event: At “the techiest block party in Silicon Valley,” you’ll find festive and fun activities at this weekly gathering of self-proclaimed “geeks.” Off the Grid food trucks offer innovative cuisines to the post-work throngs, while the museum serves up engaging exhibitions and activities for techies of all ages. A half-off entrance fee makes the event a bargain. Themed evenings, like last fall’s Star Wars night, encouraged attendees to dress up as their favorite characters and enjoy activities that brought the movies to life. THIS PAGE AND PREVIOUS PAGE: COURTESY OF COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM (2)
South Bay Accent - Apr/May 2017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above