A three-hour wait to see a show at the Indianapolis Museum of Art?That's what patrons
report occurred in late December as Hoosiers took advantage of some free time to see "Roman Art from the Louvre" during its
final days (the show ships out on January 6th).
The numbers supplied by the IMA back up this report. Apparently 14,540 people stopped in from Dec. 26-30--compared to 5,308 who visited during this time in 2006 when "Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt" was the featured attraction. And the 2006 numbers even had an extra day worked in (The IMA, like most museums, is closed on Monday, which cut into this weekend's take).
So to what do you attribute the success of the show? Substance? Marketing? A deep Hoosier fascination with things Roman?
And, if you went, how did the show work for you?
Your thoughts?
The numbers supplied by the IMA back up this report. Apparently 14,540 people stopped in from Dec. 26-30--compared to 5,308 who visited during this time in 2006 when "Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt" was the featured attraction. And the 2006 numbers even had an extra day worked in (The IMA, like most museums, is closed on Monday, which cut into this weekend's take).
So to what do you attribute the success of the show? Substance? Marketing? A deep Hoosier fascination with things Roman?
And, if you went, how did the show work for you?
Your thoughts?
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At first I was just hoping to get my $12 worth considering the rest of the museum is free and I could do the rest of it at any time (and I had been there Dec. 1 for an event, but didn't have time for the Romans exhibit, which did have a long line at that time).
Price was well worth it. I was overwhelmed--about 2/3 through I stopped reading every single description. I also enjoyed learning about that time period and how art reflected the daily life.
Little side note--my sister and her husband spent their honeymoon in Italy and said that they even noticed a few signs that said some of the works in Italy now are replicas because the originals belonged to the Louvre. (The IMA exhibit also explained how the works ended up at the Louvre, an interesting history lesson about how art sometimes leaves its homeland).
As a Herron grad, I've seen some of the included pieces in books for years. A picture is worth a thousand words, but the real deal evokes an emotional response and an uncanny sense of time and history that the photographed object can't quite convey.
Jackson Pollock's work is another great example of the inadequacies of the printed image. (Just to be certain, I'm not referring to the art of photography, I'm referring to photographic reproduction.) :-)
I think the IMA is a great museum for our city and have always enjoyed visiting. I hope to go back soon and see the rest of the remodeled spaces. Thanks IMA for bringing the Romans!
If you have seen this art while it was here, you know what I am talking about. Everyone else, you really have missed out on something special. This is definately a once in a life time event that I will not forget.