Not Your Usual Museum!
The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia May Give You Pause...
What a delightful visitor experience! A lovely entrance to the museum! Great art! Well-done hospitality! And a different way to look at art!
No Labels!
I knew ahead of time that the Barnes Foundation's tagline is "see art differently." But still, I was a bit disconcerted when I walked into that experience. I wanted confirmation that I had guessed correctly as to who the artist was and that I was guessing the approximate correct date. I knew the goal was to enjoy the experience in a new way. Yet, I’ll admit, I was a bit uneasy.
Then, I discovered two things. First, the Barnes has an excellent mobile gallery guide called "Barnes Focus." So very easy to use! Point your phone at a painting and you instantly get the professional Barnes photo of the art, along with well-written descriptions of the art. And, you can send the list of art that you scanned to your email address to peruse later at your leisure. Second, I realized, much to my slightly obsessive mind, that the paintings were arranged on the walls in a pattern. For example, a Renoir in the middle, two seascapes on either side, and two architectural paintings on either side of those. I felt gratified that I had accessed the “system!”
Collection
The Barnes Foundation houses one of the world’s most renowned collections of post-impressionist and early modern art, featuring masterpieces by artists such as Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso. In addition, they have a broad range of art including a figurine from 2500 BCE, a 14th century Mary and Child, numerous 18th century iron keyhole escutcheons, a third century BCE Eros, and 18th century embroidery scissors. The collection integrates fine art with decorative objects and artifacts, reflecting Dr. Albert Barnes' vision for appreciating art in context.
Visitor Experience
The Barnes visitor experience begins as soon as you arrive at the site. The ticket office is attractive with "See art differently," emblazoned on the side of the building. Then, you walk between an alley of trees, next to a reflecting pool, before entering the museum itself. As you move towards the main galleries, you enter the Light Court, a large, open space with windows, seating, and a cafe. All of the galleries walls are painted a sepia color which provides a soft and warm backdrop for all of the art.
All of the staff were friendly and helpful whether at the entry, in the cafe, the gift shop, or in the galleries. When I left, I stood near the entrance waiting for my ride share. The head of security came by to lock the gate and stopped to chat. Very friendly and committed to making sure that all visitors were well taken care of.
Wellness opportunities improve any museum visit. The Barnes provides many opportunities to quietly meditate on art, to challenge your creativity, and to expand your art knowledge. These opportunities are inherent in the goals of the founder, Dr. Albert Barnes, who believed that art improved the mind and transforms lives.
How to Visit
Expect to spend 90 minutes or more at the Barnes. The length of your visit will be shaped by how much time you spend interacting with the art, whether or not you take a guided tour, and if you spend time to enjoy the cafe and gift shop.
Being that there are no labels, the goal at the Barnes is for visitors to have a new and different kind of museum experience. In addition, the art is displayed according to Dr. Barnes' wishes, blending fine and decorative arts together in every gallery. You might see 12 paintings on a wall, interspersed with antique iron accessories, with early American tables, chests, or candle stands nearby. You definitely see art differently! And, if you want an alternative way to learn about the art, they also have notebooks with info about all of the art in each gallery.
There are two food options available, a cafe and a restaurant. Also, the gift shop is worth a wander-through.
The Barnes has several wheelchairs available as well as listening devices. Also, there are sign language interpreters available if you make the request three weeks ahead.
Art Education Done Right
The Barnes has established themselves as highly successful online art educators. While education has always been fundamental to the museum's mission, the pandemic pushed them to jump into online education. They have been so successful that they now teach classes to other museums about how to be successful with online art classes. They have online classes, in-person classes, and hybrid classes. Their program also has a two-year certificate program in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. For online classes, they use a sophisticated state-of-the-art Visual Experience Platform (VXP) allows you to zoom in on details.
Mission
"The mission of the Barnes is to promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture.
"Our founder, Dr. Albert C. Barnes, believed that art had the power to improve minds and transform lives. Our diverse educational programs are based on his teachings and one-of-a-kind collections."
Website
Have you been to the Barnes? Do you find the idea of no labels intriguing or a bit challenging?
A bit more…
Coming soon!
A Wellness Wander where we’ll step away from stress and anxiety and revel in art that relaxes and refreshes us. Via Zoom. Stay tuned!
I love the Barnes. I regret not having the opportunity to see it in its original location.