1. Critique the logo
On a personal level, I really like the Victoria & Albert logo. I think that the serif font is very classic, elegant and, yet, creative. The blending of the "A" and the "&" symbol brings the V and A even closer together, and as a fan of the film The Young Victoria, I appreciate the legacy of the love between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The closer the V and A, the better!
I think that the logo matched the elegant and large building, and the overall energy of the museum quite well. The galleries and collections displayed traditional types of artifacts in traditional ways, therefore, the museum energy felt comfortably quiet and accessible, just like its logo. All over the museum, you could see people sitting around drawing pictures of sculptures and artifacts and that added to the feeling that this was a place of appreciation for different types of art. Therefore, the overall essence of the museum seemed to be a quiet and calm area to appreciate the wonders of the world presented in traditional and classic displays.
2. Cast Courts
My immediate impression upon walking into the Cast Courts was a feeling of "Wow." I looked up to the ceiling immediately to see how far up some of the pillars went. I quickly looked all over the room and I felt astounded, amazed, overwhelmed and dumbfounded. I wondered to myself "How in the heck did they transport these casts in here?" (Many of them were very large pieces!)
I think that one of the educational purposes of the cast collection for visitors to the museum is to expose them to the various sculptures and monuments from different countries and different time periods. A second reason could be that compiling them in close proximity to one another allows for comparing and contrasting between various pieces that would otherwise never be found in one place at the same time. This allows room for studying technique and detailing.
3. Isotype
Yes, I think that the icons in the Isotype exhibition have greater personality than the international system of signs.Usually, international signs are in black only. One specific isotype I found was color-coded and I found that the color was extremely noticeable in distinguishing one isotype from another. In addition, drawing a few simple lines on an isotype's clothing was able to distinguish and personalize that isotype even more so that its occupation was more clear. In this way, each isotype had more personality and more dimension than the regular and plain black figures used to depict bathrooms.
4. Pattern
Islamic Middle East Collection Ironwork Collection
The table on the left from the Islamic Middle East Collection is a colorful piece with a symmetrical design with a repetition in shapes and color. In fact, if you were to cut the table in half in any direction, the other side would be a mirror image. There is a lot of detail and energy in this pattern, similar to that of the piece I chose from the Ironwork Collection.
The piece from the Ironwork Collection is larger, but it's color is limited to black and it's repetition of design varies. It is not a mirror reflection of itself, but seems to have one design with leaves and swirls of iron, which is then mirror reflected in the middle section and then back to its original design on the side. In this way, there is repetition, but it is an asymmetrical repetition and it works. This iron piece also has a lot of energy and an uplifting mood. It seems like it is not still, but continuously swirling especially with the leaves, which look like they could swirl one way or another at any moment in time.
Ultimately, both pieces showcase an organic type of design and repetition considering that both have leaves as a central piece of design. The table has more flowers in its design, but the gate has vines which extend to hold leaves throughout the design. It is a whimsical piece whereas the table is a more stable piece of work because of its symmetrical repetition.
The piece from the Ironwork Collection is larger, but it's color is limited to black and it's repetition of design varies. It is not a mirror reflection of itself, but seems to have one design with leaves and swirls of iron, which is then mirror reflected in the middle section and then back to its original design on the side. In this way, there is repetition, but it is an asymmetrical repetition and it works. This iron piece also has a lot of energy and an uplifting mood. It seems like it is not still, but continuously swirling especially with the leaves, which look like they could swirl one way or another at any moment in time.
Ultimately, both pieces showcase an organic type of design and repetition considering that both have leaves as a central piece of design. The table has more flowers in its design, but the gate has vines which extend to hold leaves throughout the design. It is a whimsical piece whereas the table is a more stable piece of work because of its symmetrical repetition.
5. Underground
The logo for the Underground is more simple than the logo for the Madison Metro and it is better for it. The bright red circle with the blue rectangle in the middle clearly identifies what the logo is representing and it is easily identifiable when located at tube stations and on maps. The Madison Metro logo is more ambiguous in regards to what exactly it is representing. Instead of clearly stating "Madison Metro," it has a big white "M" and Metro underneath. Even with three colors, this logo does not stand out at all and anyone looking at it would have no idea what it is supposed to represent. Your eyes can completely gloss over the Madison Metro logo. There is nothing eye-catching about this logo. As a user of the Madison Metro, I can say that this logo is on all of the bus stops but it is usually very small (2x2 inches?) and nondescript.
6. Object of appreciation
Name: Dondolante Serena
Date: 2000
Artist: Toots Zynsky
Origin: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
This is my favorite object from the V&A Museum. Keep in mind, we were on a very short trip so I only got to see a small amount of the objects in the museum. This piece caught my eye from afar and I made the mental note to backtrack and find it after our little tour had ended. I would return to this object for greater contemplation because I would like to figure out how it was made. It may be difficult to see in the pictures, but it is pure glass and yet it looks like it is made out of thread. The colors are gorgeous. I love rainbow colors and I think that this glass object captured all of the colors of the rainbow beautifully. If I were to be able to create my fantasy under-the-sea world, I would create plants that looked like this! The waviness of the object makes it look as if it is rippling. The effect of seeing it in person is just amazing. The colors and the crafting of the thread look is so beautiful, it is like a painting.
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