Growing up in a colorful and bright city like New York, I was surrounded by rich and vibrant art and culture that I experienced every day. Trips to the Whitney Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum exposed me to art, culture, history, and diversity that ultimately impacted so much of my life and fueled my creativity.
Museums enlighten, educate and inspire communities around the world, and allow society to get a better understanding of past culture and history, whether it’s Claude Monet’s Water Lilies at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, or Auguste Rodin’s The Burghers of Calais monument at the Hirshhorn Museum in D.C..
Museums remain valuable to modern society because they offer anyone the opportunity to explore the history and art of the past, and the modern art created today. Most local museums even offer free admission, either requiring reservations or simply being walk-in friendly.
Recently, there have been alternatives to in-person exhibitions, and there are now virtual museums available all over the country and the world. The Smithsonian Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of the American Revolution are some of the museums that currently offer virtual tours.
One of the most interesting and alluring local museums in Maryland is the Glenstone Museum, located in Potomac. Glenstone offers visitors a chance to observe and explore contemporary art galleries and includes a sculpture garden and the Glenstone Cafe, located near a wooded area. For more information on Glenstone, go to https://woottocommonense.co/1 189/columns/gems-in-the-shadows-glenstone-museum/.
Biology teacher David Bitler agrees that museums allow students and communities a chance to understand history and explore exhibitions, galleries and art pieces that could inspire students. “I think museums are valuable because they are institutions that allow us to preserve our history, as well as pass on the knowledge that we’ve gained to other generations,” Bitler said.
I remember being around six years old and visiting the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan with my family, and being entranced by the exhibits I observed. Even though it was crowded, everything seemed quieter and calmer, and I remember how amazed I was with all the different pieces of artwork and sculptures displayed throughout each room. I even fondly remember spinning Marcel Duchamp’s famous Bicycle Wheel Sculpture, before realizing that it wasn’t an interactive art piece like in the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and after one of the nearby security guards scowled at me and explained the importance of preserving art in order for everyone to enjoy it.
Museums allow every age to make meaningful memories and understand how the world is how it is currently, and so many museums in Rockville and other areas in Maryland offer the public free entry.
Art is so important today because it allows people to experience seeing someone else’s thoughts, ideas, and emotions in one piece, and museums are the institutions that bridge art and the community together.
