The Museum of Awe

As someone who is surrounded by art in a college setting (project oriented, often focused on prepping us for work we will experience right away), it was fun to see how examples of how design fits into topics such as space travel. I really enjoyed learning about the sound installation that mimicked the sound of a spacecraft flying over the metal dome. It was really cute to see children interacting with the installation. I think this example of environmental art really shows the importance behind this form of art. The creative director of this project could have easily made this a simple audio file that got across the same information, but its the experience that really gets people excited about what they’re learning. The visual experience of simply walking into a piece of art is where the experience begins. What makes the piece really memorable is the way the colors of the metal walls interact with the space both outside of the dome and within, all while being enlightened by the discoveries of science and space travel. 

The experience that many of these kids had reminds me of the many times that I, as many kids in Seattle, got to take advantage of the Seattle Science Center. The dome installation from the video reminds me of the dome that features laser light shows. As an adult, I know understand that these are just lights that move around at a set pattern while their light paths are manipulated by the shape of the dome. But as a kid, that was such a fun and visual experience, not only the lights but just the experience. It was like going to a movie but you laid on the ground and just watched the ceiling dance and move. In a perfect world, all cities would have a science center for the children in those communities. It really is such a great creative experience that all kids should have. 

As an artist, I see a “moment of awe” as one where a viewer is presented with a moment to learn/think/feel/see something new. With visual design, this to me is also not only to tell the viewer what to think, but to present them with bits and pieces of the artists message, and allow them to put it together themselves. Then when they experience the pieces fall in line, learning something new, feeling a reaction, thinking through the details, they then see the piece in a new way. This can be a hard thing to achieve, and a little abstract sometimes. But that to me is what creates a moment of awe. It’s because of this that I also see the beauty behind the concept of the museum of awe. To create a space of appreciation, education, and inspiring moments of discovery.