http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibition/view_review.rss/193 Comments en-us Thu, 01 May 2008 12:34:18 -0700 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibition/view_review.rss/193#cid132 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibition/view_review.rss/193#cid132 I just visited DAM during the ACM conference in Denver and was generally impressed. (Other than the beginning of my visit when the crabby guard wouldn't let me in with my (not unusually large) laptop case. While he was detaining me (perhaps I fit some international art thief watch-list profile) at least three other visitors walked by with bags that could have easily held small children inside --- so much for first impressions!) Once inside it seems as if every gallery is filled with comfy seating and little interpretation zones and activities. the activities were welcoming if a little on the "Art Museums for Dummies" side. I saw visitors enjoying several of the Resource Areas, and children coloring and cutting out Egyptian Collars (with untethered scissors!) Some of the "grand" architecture seemed to overwhelm the art (especially in the entry galleries) but overall seemed to coexist peacefully. There were more chairs in DAM (both for visitors and for display) than any art museum I've ever seen! The impeccably polite waiter and tasty food in the Palettes Cafe more than made up for my brush with building security at the beginning of my visit! Mon, 05 May 2008 10:04:59 -0700 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibition/view_review.rss/193#cid133 http://exhibitfiles.org/exhibition/view_review.rss/193#cid133 I quickly visited this museum in January - just the contemporary art galleries. I loved how the architecture creates all these corners and nooks to explore. I felt it helps relieve museum fatigue. Typically, in an art museum a visitor enters a large rectangular room and sees a lot of the art all at once and then starts working his or her way around the perimeter of the room. To me, there is something exhausting about being aware of all there is left to see. I prefer seeing only a few pieces as I enter, and then turning the corner. Also, I found that I often approached the art from odd angles -from behind or from the side, which presented a new view.