Blog 4- THE MUSEUM of JURASSIC TECHNOLOGY (Tram Dang)
Even before coming to the Museum, from the very smallest details to describe the space, I was bewildered imagining how space would look. I had no idea what was going to happen, or even what to expect. I didn't want to do any research prior so that I would go in without any expectations.
While getting to the Museum, it is located in a remote location. At first glance, you can't tell if you were in the right place because it is located in the middle of this mall strip area. Also, parking is very confusing as well as you aren't quite sure if there is a parking space near the street or park near Starbucks and Sprouts. Looking at the outside of the museum front, it is quite plane and blends into the surrounding area. There is a small fountain with plants and a green metal door. The signage is hard to see and read, but upon entering the space, you are transported into a different time. The entrance was dimly lit with a gift shop at the front of the Museum. I was quite sad that you couldn't take photos from the inside because it was unique and weirdly fascinating.
The Museum of Jurassic Technology is an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic. The first exhibit I went to was a video explaining how the Museum came to be and precisely what it was about. It was quite funny when they talked about the dual function of the Museum when they use a pair of gloves as a visual aid. "On the one hand, the Museum provides the academic community with a specialized repository of relics and artifacts from the Lower Jurassic, with an emphasis on those that demonstrate unusual or curious technological qualities. On the other hand, the Museum serves the general public by providing the visitor with a hands-on experience of 'life in the Jurassic" (Museum Homepage).
As I continue to make my way through the exhibit, there was a "correct" way to go about the exhibition. While walking around, the layout seemed like a maze and random, but later came to appreciate it. I thought it was quite fun to go into space and not to have any expectations except to play. It made making a discover that much more interesting. Looking at some of the artifacts that were displayed and then reading what it was about, the work was not relevant or was quite a stretch. One example is the small fig nut carving about a man with animals surrounding him in the background. It was so far fetched that it was to the point it was funny. The Museum also included a small mirror, so the viewer was able to see it from all angles, which played it to how extra the work was. The description in no way matched the actual visual representation of the work, and it looked just like a bunch of smaller circles and not a figure or silhouette. The rest of the entire Museum was basically just like that. It was a mixture of real and the make-believe, but because there was a physical location, it could be believable.
Another section of the Museum and probably my favorite was the miniature pin sculptures. These pins had little tiny figures right in between the space where you would tread the tread into the needle. I was sad that there were only three works displayed, but the design and decoration made it look like a circus or window shopping display. There was a size difference between the Goofy and Napoleon, and you can even see the artist was poking fun at Napoleon complex by making him even smaller than a grain of rice. The miniature needle display was one of my favorite parts of the show because of the excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail; it took the artist to create these tiny sculptures. I was also really interested in some of the artifacts with fable and stories attached to each one. The room was located in the far back, somewhat spooky, and had music to tie the entire exhibit together. They all deal with either death or a remedy to cure certain curses and sickness that someone could tell wasn't real or used back in the day. But that was what was so fun about it, your perception of what was reality was questioned, and we are presented with evidence that could be real. My favorite was the beehive story. Once the owner of the beehive died, someone had to tell the bees that their master or mistress died and allowed the bees to process the death. They were also invited to attend the funeral and eat the cake. If they buzz or hum, that means that they have accepted the departure of their owner and would continue to live. If they didn't, then that means they want to die with their owner. There were many other weird and touching stories, just like that one that was interesting to read.
This Museum is one that you can go to multiple times and can spend hours to grasp the Museum and exhibit. Because we were on a strict time, there were certain pieces that I glanced by and videos that I couldn't watch all the way through. The second part of our experience was upstairs, which was different then what we expected downstairs. I loved how whimsical the Museum was. As you made your way up the stairs, there were a bunch of small mini staircases diagrams on display. Upstairs, there was what looks like a study, an entire floor mostly dedicated to cats cradle and a room of dog portraits. Near the end, there was a curtain for the theater, which played this strange 3D featured movie. Since we weren't able to finish the film, I honestly was just confused and lost the entire time. I had no idea what I was watching, but I loved how weird and confused I was the whole time I was watching.
This was the highlight of the day. We got to have tea with the founder and curator, David Wilson. Walking upstairs, it feels like you were again transported to a different period and era. It was almost like I walked into the movie, and as we made our way to the garden, it was so peaceful and lovely. Like Lia mention, David might be outside and play music and not talk to us. And too much our surprised, he did exactly just that. He played what looks like a sitar with a violin component, but the noise that it produced was beautiful. The garden was so peaceful and zen, and doves were surrounding us and just curious who these strange new people were. After David finished playing, he talked to us about why he created the Museum and how every time they kept on digging into space, they would find space to create more exhibit. He explaining the hardship he went through, and the loved he pour into this project made me want to help him continue running the space. Looking outside, the Museum seems small, but it is quite big, and walking around seems like it can go on and on. He gave us a behind-the-scenes tour and explained to use what the team and he were working on next. As we were walking to the back, there was so much space and a woodshop and work area where they would create the exhibit. If they couldn't build it, they couldn't have it was the motto of the Museum. He took us to a weird back ally, and upon turning the corner, we saw this massive organ that was station in the middle of nowhere outside. Honestly, I just had chills and was in awe of what happens and really couldn't comprehend the second half.
crazy organ stuff *mindblown*
While getting to the Museum, it is located in a remote location. At first glance, you can't tell if you were in the right place because it is located in the middle of this mall strip area. Also, parking is very confusing as well as you aren't quite sure if there is a parking space near the street or park near Starbucks and Sprouts. Looking at the outside of the museum front, it is quite plane and blends into the surrounding area. There is a small fountain with plants and a green metal door. The signage is hard to see and read, but upon entering the space, you are transported into a different time. The entrance was dimly lit with a gift shop at the front of the Museum. I was quite sad that you couldn't take photos from the inside because it was unique and weirdly fascinating.
The Museum of Jurassic Technology is an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic. The first exhibit I went to was a video explaining how the Museum came to be and precisely what it was about. It was quite funny when they talked about the dual function of the Museum when they use a pair of gloves as a visual aid. "On the one hand, the Museum provides the academic community with a specialized repository of relics and artifacts from the Lower Jurassic, with an emphasis on those that demonstrate unusual or curious technological qualities. On the other hand, the Museum serves the general public by providing the visitor with a hands-on experience of 'life in the Jurassic" (Museum Homepage).
As I continue to make my way through the exhibit, there was a "correct" way to go about the exhibition. While walking around, the layout seemed like a maze and random, but later came to appreciate it. I thought it was quite fun to go into space and not to have any expectations except to play. It made making a discover that much more interesting. Looking at some of the artifacts that were displayed and then reading what it was about, the work was not relevant or was quite a stretch. One example is the small fig nut carving about a man with animals surrounding him in the background. It was so far fetched that it was to the point it was funny. The Museum also included a small mirror, so the viewer was able to see it from all angles, which played it to how extra the work was. The description in no way matched the actual visual representation of the work, and it looked just like a bunch of smaller circles and not a figure or silhouette. The rest of the entire Museum was basically just like that. It was a mixture of real and the make-believe, but because there was a physical location, it could be believable.
Another section of the Museum and probably my favorite was the miniature pin sculptures. These pins had little tiny figures right in between the space where you would tread the tread into the needle. I was sad that there were only three works displayed, but the design and decoration made it look like a circus or window shopping display. There was a size difference between the Goofy and Napoleon, and you can even see the artist was poking fun at Napoleon complex by making him even smaller than a grain of rice. The miniature needle display was one of my favorite parts of the show because of the excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail; it took the artist to create these tiny sculptures. I was also really interested in some of the artifacts with fable and stories attached to each one. The room was located in the far back, somewhat spooky, and had music to tie the entire exhibit together. They all deal with either death or a remedy to cure certain curses and sickness that someone could tell wasn't real or used back in the day. But that was what was so fun about it, your perception of what was reality was questioned, and we are presented with evidence that could be real. My favorite was the beehive story. Once the owner of the beehive died, someone had to tell the bees that their master or mistress died and allowed the bees to process the death. They were also invited to attend the funeral and eat the cake. If they buzz or hum, that means that they have accepted the departure of their owner and would continue to live. If they didn't, then that means they want to die with their owner. There were many other weird and touching stories, just like that one that was interesting to read.
This Museum is one that you can go to multiple times and can spend hours to grasp the Museum and exhibit. Because we were on a strict time, there were certain pieces that I glanced by and videos that I couldn't watch all the way through. The second part of our experience was upstairs, which was different then what we expected downstairs. I loved how whimsical the Museum was. As you made your way up the stairs, there were a bunch of small mini staircases diagrams on display. Upstairs, there was what looks like a study, an entire floor mostly dedicated to cats cradle and a room of dog portraits. Near the end, there was a curtain for the theater, which played this strange 3D featured movie. Since we weren't able to finish the film, I honestly was just confused and lost the entire time. I had no idea what I was watching, but I loved how weird and confused I was the whole time I was watching.
 |
| Peruvian Black Tea in Tula's Tea Room |
This was the highlight of the day. We got to have tea with the founder and curator, David Wilson. Walking upstairs, it feels like you were again transported to a different period and era. It was almost like I walked into the movie, and as we made our way to the garden, it was so peaceful and lovely. Like Lia mention, David might be outside and play music and not talk to us. And too much our surprised, he did exactly just that. He played what looks like a sitar with a violin component, but the noise that it produced was beautiful. The garden was so peaceful and zen, and doves were surrounding us and just curious who these strange new people were. After David finished playing, he talked to us about why he created the Museum and how every time they kept on digging into space, they would find space to create more exhibit. He explaining the hardship he went through, and the loved he pour into this project made me want to help him continue running the space. Looking outside, the Museum seems small, but it is quite big, and walking around seems like it can go on and on. He gave us a behind-the-scenes tour and explained to use what the team and he were working on next. As we were walking to the back, there was so much space and a woodshop and work area where they would create the exhibit. If they couldn't build it, they couldn't have it was the motto of the Museum. He took us to a weird back ally, and upon turning the corner, we saw this massive organ that was station in the middle of nowhere outside. Honestly, I just had chills and was in awe of what happens and really couldn't comprehend the second half.
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| his other dog |
crazy organ stuff *mindblown*
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