The Milstein Hall of Ocean is a recreation of the open water. Behind windows are exhibits featuring life size replicas of the animals that live in the sea. Staring into these windows, I started to feel as if I were in the ocean right next to these creatures. I had been to the Museum of Natural History many times and never noticed this. The exhibits seemed so real and I felt like I was in their environment. The whole design of the room created an aura and presented a sense of realism. I felt that the darkness and size of the room really captured the feel of the deep ocean.

I had never realized that museums took a lot of effort to present their work in a meaningful way. It isn’t about putting pieces together. It involves making connections to create an effect that they want the audience to experience. Standing in the middle of the room, hearing the sounds of the rippling water, I felt like I was a part of the art.

Aside from all the pieces behind the clear plastic was a huge flat screen television to add to the overall effect of the exhibit. Actual footage of an underwater exhibition was playing continuously on the screen. We were the only teenagers surrounded by a group of five year olds. That, however, did not change my experience. I was swimming with the fishes. I was swerving with every angle change as if I were the person on this exhibition. The beauty of the ocean and was clearly represented through this footage. The small children around us, however, were not focused on the beauty of the artwork that was presented, but were mesmerized by the creatures that were encountered. When I was there age, I felt the same way. I didn’t not care or appreciate how the work was presented.

Now, as a college freshman and someone who has gone through months of appreciating different types of artwork, I now look at the Museum of Natural History as a home to natural beauty and recreation of nature. No matter how old you are you will be able to find an appreciation for the Museum of Natural History even if it isn’t the same type of appreciation experienced by the person next to you or the last time you visited. My trip to the Museum of Natural History allowed me to experience art in a different way and realize that as I mature, I start to appreciate and look at things

Many would not consider science to be art. I didn’t either. However, during my trip to The Hall of Science, I was able to create images and sounds using science. Wandering through The Hall of Science, I noticed that there was art everywhere. There was art hanging on the walls. At first glance, they were just photos on the wall. They didn’t really grab me but as I looked closer, the pictures started to reveal a story. They were photos of nature and they depicted the beauty that existed in the world.

The best part of the trip was where I got to play around and create things. There was one exhibit called Recollections, where I created moving images of myself by blocking lights and creating my shadow. I was very mesmerized by this exhibit and fascinated by the images of my shadow that appeared on the screen. I spent a good five to ten minutes just playing around with my movements to see how it would appear on the screen. It was like playing around with a bigger version of the photo booth application but actually being there and seeing how it actually works.

Images weren’t the only things I created. I was also able to create music through the vibration and speed of water that was placed in a tube. By changing the frequency, I was able to change the speed of the vibration of the waves and create different sounds. I knew that sounds were created by vibrations but to actually see it happen is an art form in and of itself.

This was my first trip to The New York Hall of Science, but I definitely hope it is not my last. I could never get tired of creating things with my own hands and my own two eyes. It is something that everyone can appreciate no matter how old you are. Most of the occupants and The Hall of Science were youths on class trips, but anyone can appreciate a trip to The Hall of Science no matter what age you are. I found it a little awkward at first waiting for ten year olds to finish with an exhibit but after spending a valuable time learning and experimenting, the wait was worth it. You will definitely enjoy yourself at The Hall of Science and you might even learn something new too.

So, Friday I decided to give the Met another shot. Wendy and I went on a guided tour of the Robert Lehman collection hosted at the Met. I had never been on a guided tour before and had no idea what to expect. I always thought the Met was a beautiful building and as much as I don’t enjoy trips to the Met, once you walk up the stairs and walking through the revolving doors the scenery is breathtaking. So, we waited under the old clock where all the tours meet. Wendy and I were the only ones there and feared that we would be the only ones to take part in the tour. Little did we know, a lot of people actually take part on these tours daily.

A lady named Phyllis Rodman led the tour. She was a soft-spoken person who dressed like every other person at the Met. She knew her information and at was clear by her demeanor that she was dedicated to the artworks at the museum. The tour started quickly and we made our way through many pieces of art, mostly from the Renaissance and Impressionist periods. As Phyllis discussed the pieces, I actually found myself looking at the paintings differently. I had noticed tiny things about the paintings that I would have never noticed had I been observing these paintings on my own. For example, one painting, The Osservanza Master, depicts and old man standing on an empty road staring at a rabbit. At least that’s what I saw. While on the tour, I learned that the man was Saint Anthony Abbott who was tempted by a pot of gold. I didn’t see a pot of gold in the picture but if you look closely, you’ll notice a change in color and texture in the area around the rabbit. The pot of gold was actually scraped out of the painting. I would not have known or understood the painting had it not been for the tour. The tour also provided background information about the painters and the stories behind the paintings. These are things that I would never have gotten from the painting alone.

Guided tours at the Met are a good way to really experience a trip to the Met. Take it from someone who doesn’t find the Met that interesting. Guided tours provide you with information about the painters and how long it actually took for them to make it, the story behind the paintings, and what steps the Met took to preserve the paintings. The guides are also open to any questions that may be asked. The tours are a good way to enjoy something that you don’t necessarily understand or appreciate and you may also learn something along the way. I walked into the Met that afternoon not expecting much and walked out with an appreciation for the artists and the people who work at the Met.