The UnMuseum®Located at the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH

Interacting with Art

Think about the title of this museum.

What does the prefix “UN” usually mean?

How do you think it applies to this museum?

In Telescoping House, artist Erica Bailey has turned a home into a telescope. In the back of the house you can look through a peephole to see images from different neighborhoods around Cincinnati.

Erica Bailey has also explored the difference between a home and a house in her artwork.

What does a telescope do?

How does this house look like a telescope?

In what other subjects do you use a telescope?

What are some differences between a home and a house?

Paavo’s Hands was created by local artist, Anthony Luensman. This artwork was modeled after the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s director, Paavo Jarvi. In this artwork you become Paavo conducting an orchestra playing The Firebird Suite.

Activity: Describe a song that you might conduct. What instruments would be in your orchestra?

What does an Orchestra conductor do?

Who is in an Orchestra?

Looking at this picture what would you do to be a conductor?

This giant Rockin’ Trailer designed by Simparch, a local group of artists, has turned this old trailer into something much more stylish and fun.

What could the word Rockin’ mean? What do you think happens inside the trailer?

Look at the outside of the trailer. What does it appear to be made out of?

Steve Zieverink’s 12 + 12 combines musical notes with colors. The box in front of the color panel has buttons that, when pressed, play a musical note and light up a colored square on the panel. The image below shows two children doing this.

In Music class, what types of musical notes do you learn about?

How does the title (12 + 12) connect to the artwork?

What are some ways that colors and music might relate?

The Hypar Room, designed by Allan Wexler, is a hyperbolic parabola that can be viewed from both above and below. A hyperbolic parabola is a geometric shape that looks like a “Pringles” potato chip.

Look closely and you will see that each table, except for one, is level. What are the different methods Wexler has used to keep the table tops flat? Here’s a hint: Look at the bottom of each chair and table leg.

How does this artwork connect to math?

What do you think it would

feel like to walk on this curvy floor?

What does the term “found object” mean?Can you identify any found objects in this picture?

This sign, put together by Jack Rouse Associates of Cincinnati, has been created with found objects.

Activity: You have been chosen to create a sign for the museum. Brainstorm a list of found objects you would use.

This mural, created by high school students working with ArtWorks, features characters at an imaginary Cincinnati diner.

Look closely, do you see any strange pictures? What types of characters would you put into a make-believe diner found in Cincinnati? Why?

The artwork on the walls in the A-Z Art Lab was created by students participating in Cincinnati’s public art program, ArtWorks. The images, inspired by the work of Shepard Fairey, feature well-known historical figures associated with Cincinnati.

How does the students’ artwork compare to Shepard Fairey’s?

What famous people from Cincinnati would you put on the wall?

(Shepard Fairey mural located in Cincinnati)

The Sensory Elephant, one of the museum’s most popular works, was designed and created by high school students here in Cincinnati. This artwork was created for those who are visually impaired. The drawers are equipped with objects to touch and some even make sounds.

Activity: Design your own box to put in the Sensory Elephant. Does it use sound, objects or both?

How might being able to touch and hear a piece of art change the way you feel about the artwork?

Rick Mallette’s SeeSawSeen is two painted murals - one glows in the dark while the other is made with invisible ink and needs a hand-held black light to be seen.

What do you think a black light is?

How do these paintings play tricks on our eyes?

How might seeing only part of an artwork change the way you think about it?

How do you interact with art in most museums?

What are some other ways that we can engage with the artworks in the UnMuseum?

The artwork created for the UnMuseum is site-specific. What might site-specific mean?

Let’s take another look:Let’s take another look:

Activity: Visit the UnMuseum on the 6th floor of the CAC and have fun interacting with all the art!!

Created by: Rebecca Babel