START Sheldon Museum of Art 4 th Grade Tour

1 Museums Collecting Preserving Collecting Interpreting Visiting Click on a picture to learn more.

1 What is a museum? Which of the following is a museum? If you answered, “All of them!” you are correct. A museum is defined as collecting, preserving, and interpreting the things of the world. Morrill Hall Lincoln Zoo Sheldon The Sheldon is a museum that has been collecting artwork since Have you been to any other types of museum?

1 Collecting Look at the images. What type of art do you think the museum collects? The Sheldon Museum of Art collects American art. When you visit the museum you will see paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures. Many people collect things, not just museums. Do you have a collection?

This sculpture by Isamu Noguchi is one of the first pieces of art that a visitor to the Sheldon sees. It’s called Song of the Bird... is it a realistic or abstract object? How else would you describe the sculpture? Think about color, texture, lines... Which do you think is the bird and which is the song? Why do you think that? Isamu Noguchi Song of the Bird Marble and Granite 1958

1 Preserving Why do you think the woman in the picture is wearing gloves? The museum needs to preserve and protect the art in its care for everyone. Our hands contain many oils that are harmful to artworks. Only museum staff can touch works of art, and they must be very careful and wear gloves! The Sheldon has over 12,000 works of art with less than 2% being shown in the galleries at a time. The storage facilities help keep the work safe when it is not on view. The art is kept at a constant temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Farenheit. Special crates are used to transport the artworks safely. Where’s all the art we don’t see?

What is a Docent? A docent is a person who is your tour guide to help you see and learn about great art and explore the building. Listen Look Relax Study Enjoy Learn Some questions they’ll ask you are: What’s going on in this painting? What do you see that tells you that? Feel free to ask them questions too! Sit on the floor

1 Interpreting What do you think it means to interpret a work of art? Answer the following true/false questions about interpretation. On your visit you will have a docent—a person who is your tour guide—to help you see and learn about art and explore the building. TRUE Wall labels appear next to works of art and can tell you who the artist is, the date the work of art was made, and its media. TRUE A good way to think about a work of art is to ask questions about it! What do you see in this painting? TRUE

1 Visiting Sheldon When you come to Sheldon you will Look at different paintings, photographs, and prints! Talk about what you see! Think about artworks! When you come to Sheldon do not Push or shove other students Run Touch the artwork Remember, one way to preserve art is to not touch it. Our hands, no matter how much we may wash, have oils that can damage artwork overtime. Is there anything at your home that you’ve been told not to touch? Have you ever noticed that if you touch a window with your hand, you leave a handprint? Now imagine if every visitor to the Sheldon touched one painting…that’s a lot of handprints! We can’t wait to see you!