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San Diego Art Galleries

San Diego is the home of arts collections. The city has many popular art galleries and the same genre of museums. They have been recognized all over the world for their comprehensive permanent collections. Galleries in San Diego are also famous for the diversity of their temporary exhibits. Balboa Park is a place to start with for serious art appreciation.

It is home to a cluster of galleries like the Timken Museum of Art, the Mingei International Museum and the Museum of Photographic Arts, as well as the acclaimed San Diego Museum of Art.

San Diego Museum of Art

It holds around 12,000 pieces of art. Among 12000 pieces of which only a selection are on display at any one time. This comprehensive museum / art gallery also displays regular temporary exhibitions. The Museum of Art is especially noted for its collections of Spanish Baroque and Indian paintings.

Attractions that are nearby include both the city’s Art Institute and the Old Globe Theater. It is open between Tuesday to Sunday – 10:00 to 18:00 (21:00 on Thursdays)

Timken Museum

Standing close to the Balboa Park Visitors Center, the Lily Pond and the Botanical Gardens, the Timken Museum of Art is just a short distance from the Japanese Friendship Garden and the city’s Natural History Museum. Founded in 1965, the Timken contains a plethora of old masterpieces from around Europe, together with a selection of tapestries and sculptures.

Notable artists exhibited here include the likes of Rembrandt van Rijn and Peter Paul Rubens, amongst others. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday – 10:00 to 16:00. On Sundays it will be opened from 13:30 to 16:30. The admission provides discounts for students, seniors and children, children under five can enter free of charge.

Mingei International Museum

This fascinating museum was started in 1978 and holds temporary exhibitions of folk art and crafts all over the world. Highlights at the Mingei International Museum contain exhibitions of textiles, costumes, jewelry, toys, pottery, painting and sculpture. In the summer of 1996, the Mingei migrated to its current residence at the House of Charm, standing on the Plaza de Panama, within Balboa Park.

The timings is from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. San Diego hotels host the visitors cordially that whenever they return to the city, they will come back to the same hotel.…

Success Secret For Artists and Writers – How to Take Control of Your Career

Do you believe that you alone are responsible for your success?

If you believe this, than you can be sure that you will have a great future to look forward to, because you share one of the top traits of highly successful people: taking responsibility for their lives.

Once you decide to take 100% responsibility for your success, then you will have the control and flexibility to create the life you want.

Having complete control over your own life is powerful stuff. Taking full responsibility for your success means that you accept all responsibility for everything that happens, good or bad, and you never blame others. When you practice this line of thinking, you give yourself more options and flexibility to create what you want to happen.

Here’s an example of someone NOT taking responsibility for their life: An art gallery turns you down for an exhibit. If you didn’t take responsibility, your response might be to blame the gallery, accusing them of unfair treatment, complaining about how unfair the system is, and that it’s impossible for an artist to get ahead.

With this attitude, you shut out any other option to find a solution, because it’s someone else’s fault, and we know that we can’t change others.

Often I’ll meet an artist who is angry at the world. They were rejected one too many times and they have never gotten over it. Now they blame everyone but themselves for their lack of success, when they really should be looking in their mirror at themselves.

Usually, when you fail, it’s because you made poor choices, or didn’t learn how things worked. Maybe you didn’t try hard enough or you didn’t find a way to go through the back door when the front door was closed, or you relied on someone else to make things happen for you.

The reality is that no one is going to care about your career as much as you do. On the other hand, when you succeed, you can pat yourself on the back for winning the battle, for having tenacity, for not giving up.

An example of someone taking 100% responsibility in the same scenario above: Instead of getting mad, blaming the gallery system for not getting your art out there, you ask yourself “what can I change in my presentation, or portfolio, or sales skills to get me into the next gallery that I approach?” In asking “what can I do different next time” you give yourself the ability to make things happen for yourself.

You allow more options and greater flexibility. You have absolute control over the situation.

Once you realize that you are completely responsibility for all that happens to you, your life will change in a very exciting way – you will find that you can create and control just about every aspect of your life!…

Museum Specializations and Types

Most often, educational tours and school field trips include in their itineraries a visit to museums. Museums are building and/or institutions which collect and care for a range of objects with scientific, artistic, or historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibits. There are different types of museums available which feature assorted subjects and topics. Some are held permanently in large cities while others are open for viewing temporarily or over a short period of time in small areas. Curators are people in charge of the collection and of the exhibits.

Displays of archeological artifacts is often held at Archeological Museums. The exhibits could either be held in the open air or inside buildings.

Whereas the exhibition of artworks are usually held in an Art gallery or Art museums which could either be public or private. The ownership of the collection is what makes the distinction. The most common items displayed in art museums are paintings but also display other sculptures and illustrations pieces. Art galleries also showcase sculptures, decorative arts, furniture, textiles, costume, drawings, pastels, watercolors, collages, prints, artists’ books, photographs, and installation artworks. Apart from displaying visual object works of art, art museums may also host other artistic activities like performance art, musical concerts or poetry readings.

History and its relevance to the present and future are mostly covered by Historical Museums. The featured curatorial aspect of history may be on a particular locality or broader and general aspect. The wide range of object in a history museum may range from documents to artifacts to other archeological items. A particular type of history museum is a historic house. This could be a building of special architectural interest and interesting history or the birthplace and home of a famous person. Historic sites, particularly marked with public crimes can also become museums. A living museum is one where individuals recreate a time period from buildings to clothes and even to the language used.

While Maritime Museums specialize in displaying objects relating to water creatures and travel such a ships and boats. Military histories is the focus of Military and War Museums which are organized based on a national point of view. Exhibits, including weapons, uniform, military equipments, war propaganda items and even civilian decorations during wartime, are presented which highlights the military conflicts that have taken part in a particular country.

There are displays and exhibits which are held not only in stationary locations but in vehicles and vans as well, these types are called Mobile Museums. Such museums feature a certain portion of a collection that travels to sites away from the main museum for educational purposes. Others may not have a home site and traveling is the major means of presentation.

Science Museums are technology centers whose exhibits are about scientific achievements, phenomenon and history. Science museums are quite interesting since interactive programs and thought-provoking media are utilized in order to explain complicated inventions. Topics of a science museum may be about computers, aviation, railway museums, physics, astronomy, and the animal kingdom.

A recently emerging type of museum called Virtual Museums employs technological advancements of the internet in showcasing image collections about a certain topic. There are also other museums such as specialized musical museums which features musical instruments and artists or toy museums on toys.…

Popular Points of Interest in Miami

Miami is the most popular tourist destination in Florida, located on the Atlantic coast it homes a population of over 2,500,000. Miami is famed for its all year round hot climate, pristine beaches and lavish hotels. However, Miami more than just a beach resort. Here are five must-see sites in Miami.

Miami Seaquarium

This spectacular 38-acre marine park presents eight different aquatic shows on a daily basis, as well as a number of educational presentations. It is located near downtown Miami on the island of Virginia Key, Biscayne Bay and is easily accessible from all major destinations in Miami. Miami Seaquarium is home to Lolita, one of the world’s oldest captive orcas, as well as many other creatures of the deep, including fish, sea turtles, reptiles and sharks. A visit to the Seaquarium is inspiring, educational and fun, making it a great day out for the entire family.

Jungle Island

Formally known as “Parrot Jungle”, this zoological park is a proven family-favourite. Located East of downtown Miami, Jungle Island allows visitors to get up close and personal with animals from all over the globe, including Hercules, the 900lbs Liger (cross between a lion and a tiger).

A highlight of Jungle Island is the park’s “Everglades Habitat” – a hands-on experience where guests can explore a recreation of Florida’s Everglades, complete with plantlife and wildlife.

Coral Castle

Coral Castle has been dazzling visitors for over 70 years. The stone-built fantasy world was built by a man weighing little more than 100 lbs, standing just 5 feet tall, which is quite astounding. The structure comprises of numerous megalithic shaped stones, mostly coral limestone, some of which weigh several tons. How the structures were built is surrounded by mystery, relating back to their creator Edward Leedskalnin.

Venetian Pool

The Venetian Pool is steeped in history, having been designed by architect Phineas Paist in 1924. Fashioned in a beautiful Venetian architectural style, the pool is formed in an old rock quarry, with 820,000 gallons passing through it daily, making it the largest freshwater pool in the US.

Miami Art Museum

Located in Miami Cultural Plaza at 101 West Flagler Street in Downtown Miami, the Miami Art Museum is Florida’s contemporary hub. The Museum showcases contemporary art from around the globe as well as Western pieces, including photographs, paintings and sculptures.

All pieces of artwork are from the 1940s onwards, including locally inspired art, which reflect Miami’s diverse and culturally rich background.

There is so much to see and do in Miami. No matter how long you stay, the city offers a wide range of days out and cultural experiences for people of all ages.…

Child’s Art Easel And Drawing Desk – A Special Place To Create

“Mom, can I paint a picture, please!” How often have you heard this request only to think, “Where am I going to set-up my child to paint?” Kitchen table, garage, basement, and what about the mess! With out a doubt, by having an art desk or a paint easel you can easily accommodate your child’s request. Kids will love having their own art studio and one fantastic way if to use the playroom. Creating a studio environment is easy if you have the space. This article will focus on playroom activities such as painting and creativity.

A kids drawing desk or art easel is the just the thing for your child’s playroom. Kids love to get creative and what better way than to show off her creations. Imagination and creativity go hand and hand especially when they have their own spot. By having their own space, the playroom becomes an important role in the development of children.

When a child has an art easel, drawing desk or an art center they can easily create and show off their masterpieces. After all, art pieces displayed on the refrigerator help foster self-esteem and confidence for a child. Mom and dad proudly show off the creations and that is wonderful for confidence building. Many will say that this creative expression is important because a child learns through this experience.

Kids experience self-expression, creativeness, imagination, and satisfaction in one’s work when they sketch, draw, illustrate, and paint. Whether they use blank pieces of paper, drawing tablets, watercolors or coloring books as their canvas, kids enjoy this activity and look forward to this type of play. By providing a rainbow of colors; allowing them use a chalk, crayons, pencils and paint; they learn to express themselves through art.

Supplies to keep on hand should include, all types of paper including craft paper, white paper, construction paper as well as newspaper. Washable paints work well especially if some drips onto the floor. Colored pencils, chalk, and pens help your little artist create fun and expressive effects of the canvas.

Allow them to exhibit their work for instance, we all know that the refrigerator is the all time favorite spot, but you can effortlessly display the drawing on the front door or in a window pane. Rotating the completed projects is nice too since you certainly don’t want to throw out the priceless painting. One idea with merit, is considering the idea of keeping a scrapbook. This way you can save and store the drawings in the book for enjoyment at a later time. If you find you have a masterpiece that is worthy of framing, by all means, let it become a family heirloom! Who knows, someday it might be worth a fortune.

For those reason as mentioned, purchasing a child size drawing desk or art easel is a perfect addition to a playroom. If you search the internet you will find a vast array of styles and models geared toward the age range of 3 to 10. Look for models that can store the supplies and ones that are designed with for a child. Today, manufacturers have gone to great detail to create pieces that are well-made. The height of an easel is important as well as the height of the desk chair. There are compact and collapsible styles as well as simple to detailed styling. The price range will depend on features you want and as well as the material you choose, wood or plastic designs.…

Visiting Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC

The Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is a wonderful place to experience the performing and visual arts, science, and history. It is owned and operated by The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg and is located at 200 E. St. John Street, just east of downtown. The complex consists of three buildings on a five acre campus. The Chapman Cultural Center opened in 2007, but was 17 years in the making.

The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg consists of several agencies. They include the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, Ballet Spartanburg, Carolina Foothills Artisan Center, The Music Foundation of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg County Historical Association, Spartanburg Little Theatre and Spartanburg Youth Theatre, The Spartanburg Repertory Company, and Spartanburg Science Center.

There are several exhibit and museum areas in the complex. These include the Artists’ Guild Gallery, SAM Art Gallery, Spartanburg Regional History Museum, and the Spartanburg Science Center. A separate admission fee is charged for each museum or gallery.

Three buildings make up the Chapman Cultural Center complex. The Carlos Moseley Building contains the Regional History Museum, Artists’ Guild Gallery, SAM (Spartanburg Art Museum) Art Gallery, and the Ticket Office. The Theater Building in the center of the complex contains the David Reid Theater and the Black Box Theater. The Montgomery Building houses the Spartanburg Science Center and the Spartanburg Dance Center.

Special camps on the calendar for July include Musical Theatre Camp, July 5-9 for grades 4-12 and Advanced Acting Camp, July 12-16 for grades 8-12. On July 10 at 7:00PM the classic movie Jaws will be shown on the big screen. The Artists’ Guild Gallery will host wax and oil paintings by Carol Beth Icard from July 1-28. The Spartanburg Art Museum will be showing the nationally touring bronze wildlife sculptures of Swedish artist Kent Ullberg from July 13-31.

For tickets call (864)542-ARTS. For additional information visit the center’s website at …

Go Wild For Wichita

The city of Wichita is the most populous city in the state of Kansas, and is the cultural and entertainment centre of the state, offering nightclubs, restaurants, shopping centres, museums and parks. Regarded as one of the best places in the country to life, Wichita is nestled along the banks of the Arkansas River. A visit here is the perfect way to experience Western heritage.

1. Botanica, Wichita Gardens

In search for a place for a group gathering or a family picnic? Well look no further than Botanica, Wichita Gardens, a horticulatural delight that has been an important meeting place in Wichita since 1987.

These gardens generate enthusiasm for horticulture, and delight and enlighten the public through educational, artistic and cultural experiences. Home to more than 20 themed gardens and exhibits, these stunning 9 acres will be perfect for a day of relaxation and nature.

2. Wichita Art Museum

The Wichita Art Museum is the largest art museum in the state and is ideal for art fanatics who want a taste of some incredible art. This museum is home to some of the country’s finest collections of American art, which spans 3 centuries. Paintings, sculptures, works on paper and decorative art pieces line the museum’s walls, making up just some of the 7000 works in the permanent collection here.

3. Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

If local history is what you are after, the best place to experience this would have to be at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. This institute educates the community and its visitors about local history, through the collection and preservation of interpretive materials that reflect the history and heritage of Wichita.

The museum can easily be found in downtown Wichita and is home to exhibitions that cover local culture, art, fashion, history and heritage. Admission here is extremely cheap, and with the money you save here, you can visit the gift shop and then take home your very own piece of the museum.

4. Mid-America All-Indian Centre

The Mid-America All-Indian Centre is home to a museum, Gallery of Nations and a gift shop. The museum is especially important as it preserves the heritage of the American-Indian, through the recognition of their cultural distinctness in Wichita.

The museum exhibits traditional artefacts and contemporary art, which depict the cultures of the Native Americans and give visitors an insightful glance into this important society.

5. Museum of World Treasures

A visit to the Museum of World Treasures offers the perfect way to experience treasures from across the world. Step back in time and take a journey through the past and you absorb the incredible collections of fossils, dinosaurs, Egyptian Mummies, a Hall of American Presidents and the Music and Hollywood stars exhibits. This museum will introduce you to the treasures of the ancient and modern world and is the perfect way to spend a day on your Wichita holiday.…

The Boston Childrens Museum – A Museum For All Ages

The Museum for Children at Boston is a fully equipped museum for the children for their all round development. Hence the primary concentration is indeed for the children only but as the saying goes the child is the guide of the adult, this museum can be equally useful for the adults too.

Keeping this fact in view the authorities have painstakingly taken the steps to make it a point that the museum is for the adults as well as for the children as they will be accompanying their children on their visit.

So there are many things the parents have to be kept in mind. No doubt irrespective of their ages the children will definitely going to enjoy each moment of their visit at The Boston Children Museum. As a matter of innovation the museum authorities will keep on changing the schedules and the type of exhibitions. This will create new dimensions of the approach to the exhibits. So as a parent and an adult you have to be in tune with the children in understanding the various aspects of the exhibits. So you have to be patient and understanding with them. This only will enhance their perception.

So it will have to be an experience to be with the children and you have to be as a child with an adult sense. So this is particularly true in the sense that there can be mishaps in the children’s museum.

To make it Boston Children’s Museum as a memorable one for both the children and the adults there have to be lot of healthy interaction between you and the children. This may result into peevishness by the children at times.

This peevishness may result into uncontrollable tantrums. The authorities of the museum are quite aware of this fact and they are prepared for the eventualities too. Had this happen you have to take control of the situation and keep the children aside till their tantrums are subsided. The museum authorities are having their helping hand ready by the use of the trained volunteers.

These trained volunteers are at hand if you are a busy parent and can not devote much time or when you are visiting the museum with more number of children. The authorities of Boston Children’s Museum are particular about this and they take keen interest as you are taking in respect of your children. Also please abide by the certain simple instructions like switching off or keeping in silent mode of the mobile phones etc. so that your attention will be more on your children.

To its reputation of being friendly for the children the Boston Children’s Museum is open on all days of the week except for the main holidays. This will make you to conveniently select your pace of engagement in accordance with the interest of your children.

The utility of the visit of the Museum will be fully availed if you are ready to be with the pace of the children. You have to give them their choice as to which exhibits they want to participate and in which priority.

There is no limit for the innovations, so with the Boston Children Museum. There is always scope for support apart from the government. You can make your contribution too for its continuous betterment.…

Travel To Milwaukee, Wisconsin – A Must Visit Place

Every year we plan our vacations in advance. Sometimes we have funds to take a long trip, order plane tickets, see thousands of attractions, some maybe a little expensive. if you live in the Midwest ( such as Chicago, IL or De Moines, IA ) – there is one city of interest for you to spend a few days of your vacation. It’s called Milwaukee.

First off first – if you are visiting the city in the summer time, get ready for the best music festival of the Midwest. It’s called “Summerfest”. General admission to this event is $15. It was started in 1968 by Henry Maier, it attracts up to one million people each year. Some of the most famous music artists have visited this event were: Def Leppard, Foreigner and Styx on one night to Panic! At the Disco and Gym Class Heroes.

The next stop – Milwaukee Art Museum. Santiago Calatrava created this new design of the building. He is famous for his futuristic style, called “New Millennium era” – you enjoy German Expressionist art, also native Georgia O’Keeffe has some work to show visitors. Located at 700 North Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee, WI – museum admission is $15 for adults, $12 students, free for kids under 12.

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum (at 929 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI) is a great place to go if you’re traveling with your little ones. It’s a place where youngsters will not only have fun, but will learn the secrets of human anatomy, try to play some musical instruments, enjoy animals. WBB-TV exhibit gives children the chance to dive into the world of television news production – they can actually make their own programs! Adults and children age 1 or older pay only $7.50, seniors – $6.50

Some other places or attraction at Milwaukee, WI – Brewers game at the Miller park, a tour at the Miller brewery, Mars Cheese Castle on I-94, Discovery World, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, The Milwaukee Public Market, Bradford beach at the summer time is a great place to relax and enjoy sunny/warm days.

The weather in Milwaukee is the best in the summer time, when an average temperature is around 80F, winters are cold and snowy.

Milwaukee has so much for you to see that a week-long vacation may not be enough to see it all! From theaters, cultural centers to mansions, aquariums, breweries, and historic neighborhoods – you will have a full day of fun everyday of the year.…

Hereford – For a Bit of Culture

Hereford, the major city of Herefordshire, as well as being part of one of the most beautiful counties in England, has more than its fair share of culture. And best of all, two of the city’s most prominent museums are admission-free.

The Hereford Museum and Art Gallery can be found at the far end of Broad Street, which is just off the main town square. It’s housed in a decorative Victorian gothic building above the city’s main library and there’s been a museum exhibiting artwork and local artefacts at this venue since 1874.

As you enter the building, you’ll see some display cases with a taster of what’s to come; these displays are changed on a regular basis. The museum and art gallery proper are on the second floor – though there is access for wheelchair users via a lift. As the stairwell sweeps up to the floor above, you can’t fail to notice the valuable Kenchester Roman mosaic which covers a large area of the wall; although incomplete, it’s still very impressive. Various artworks are also displayed on the walls of the stairway.

Inside, the museum has a good collection of interesting local history. A timeline is set around the outer display cabinets and depicts important periods of history. Local events and places are represented with some interesting tales about local customs and there are costumes, swords and a variety of tools and implements.

The Hereford Museum and Art Gallery also believes in giving its visitors a chance for a little hands-on time, which is especially popular with children. There’s an unusual exhibit of a live beehive (fully encased) along with a two-headed calf, and a huge fish.

The art gallery at the far end of the museum hosts exhibitions that change every couple of months so there’s always something new to see.

The Old House is situated in High Town in the city’s commercial heart and is an astonishingly well-preserved 17th century timber-framed building. No visit to Hereford is complete without taking a look around inside. It was built in 1621 and started out as the shop and dwelling of a butcher. It’s been a museum and a Hereford landmark since 1929 and contains every kind of artefact needed for daily living in Jacobean times.

The furniture is all period style including a fine four-poster bed and, the items that often most delights visitors, authentic baby walkers, proving there really is no new ideas! There are some rare wall paintings too and, like the Hereford Museum, The Old House offers some hands-on activities for children including puzzles and reproduction clothing.

Because of its nature, the upper floors are not accessible to wheelchair users, but there is a virtual tour on the lower floor, which is fully accessible and there are Braille, audio guides and tactile images available.

You can fully enjoy your stay in Hereford by choosing from a wide selection of Hereford Bed and Breakfast.

For more information on places in Herefordshire, follow the link in the resource box below.…