Get Moving at the Getty!

Art for the Whole Body

The J. Paul Getty Museum is getting people moving! If you have ever been to an art museum the normal way of viewing art work is by strolling through the galleries, but for some people they need a little bit more than a stroll through Rembrandt's work or more than a few glances at a Roman sculpture. The staff at the Getty are trying to switch up how their visitors are viewing the art work there, so they have started their new Move! tours that are offered every Thursday. Move! tours let visitors have the option of connecting to artwork through movement and feeling. On these tours visitors participate together in imitating figures that are portrayed in paintings and sculptures.

                               

The staff at the Getty museum is exploring questions that involve the combination of art and our senses such as what do art objects ask us to do? Can art objects ask us to respond physically? Which of our senses do we privilege or not privilege in the gallery? 

The Getty offers a new way of interpreting artwork through a more personal understanding. The normal visitor would usually participate in the conventional “museum body language” by walking slowly then stare at a piece of art for about 17 seconds, maybe read or listen to some of the description and then move on to the next piece. Now visitors can interact with the art by imitating what is going on with the pieces, by doing this they can get a better understanding of not only the piece of art itself but the artist too. This is a way for visitors to connect to history by imitating images of historical figures therefore getting an idea of what those figures may have physically felt. Move! also includes imitating furniture too! This interpretation also makes the visit to the museum more memorable and can help visitors remember specific aspects about specific pieces of art that they encountered.

This tour is 45 minutes and includes movement for all ages and ability levels. This kind of tour is also great for people with disabilities. For example visitors who have vision problems or who are blind can get an idea of how a painting or sculpture looks by having someone help them to imitate what is going on in the artwork. I think the Getty has come up with a great way to make exhibits interesting and memorable in a way that anyone can participate in!

Blog for the J. Paul Getty Museum