Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

Name
HUM112 World Cultures II
Professor: Sonja Sheffield
March 16, 2013
On March 15, 2013 I went to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art with my youngest son, Ethan (4 years old). As we approached the museum Ethan, as well as me, became very excited when we saw all the chalk art work that was on the walkway leading up to the doors. The museum had had a chalk fest the day before that allowed hundreds of kids to make their own masterpieces in front of the art museum. As we walked in side we were surprised to see an exhibit built from vintage television cabinets, videos, and neon elements. It was a very big and tall surprise to see as soon as we walked into the museum. The people at the front desk greeted us as we walked in and were very friendly.
Next, while you are walking through the museum you are being watched by the “Silent Security” with every step you take. They try to inconspicuously follow you while you look at the galleries but it is kind of hard not to notice someone walking slowly behind you and looking you up and down like a common criminal. Then if you go off where no one else is they try to hurry up behind you so they can watch your every move.
Now on a lighter note, the gift shop was very interesting. There were all kinds of nice gifts for the art lover and your friends. It is conveniently located at the beginning of the museum so you can be sure to make a quick purchase before you leave. On the right of the gift shop is a fancy restaurant that looks like no one has ever set foot in there before. It was very nicely set up and the tables had nice flowers and tablecloths that were very exquisite. They also have a member’s only lounge by the restaurant that I went in just to see what it was like.
On the third floor there are many magnificent exhibits. One was the African Exhibit that had sculptures from different parts of Africa. Some were kind of scary and some were very neat. They had the sculptures up against colorful backgrounds and it was very eye catching.
At the Brooks Museum they had several special exhibitions; the one that stood out to me was the Angels & Tomboys: Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century American Art, which explores the many ways girls were portrayed in the nineteenth century. The one piece that stood out to me was Girl in a Red Dress, ca. 1835 by Ammi Phillips, an oil painting of a little girl, probably the same age as my daughter, wearing a bright red dress eating a strawberry and little beagle lying next to her feet. Ammi Phillips (1788 – 1865) was a self-taught artist who traveled the rural towns of Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts painting portraits. His use of bold geometric color is breathtaking and Phillips was in great demand at