Sarah H.
Yelp
As an avid art lover, and visitor to many famous art museums in our great nation, I was thoroughly disgusted by my visit with my daughters (ages 8 and 10) today. Interestingly enough, my complaint is a common complaint on the GCMA Facebook page.
The GCMA has a rule that you must stand back 3 ft from all the paintings. In all the art museums I've ever been to there is an understanding that you stay a respectable distance from the art. I totally understand that. It's priceless art, after all. However, GCMA is serious about 3 ft. My daughter and I were literally about 2 feet away from a painting--that's feet--not inches, and she was pointing at something very astute for an 8 year old to notice in a John's painting. The guard came right over and told us that pointing at a picture 2 feet away was not safe for the art. I kid you not. I was floored. We were not even close to touching the piece, nor would we.
In another instance of unnecessary anal retentiveness, my back was turned to a Johns as my daughter took my picture by one of my favorite John's pieces. So, I'm not facing it, my hands are nowhere near the picture, and I am approached again because I am 2 feet away from the picture.
I have never felt more unwelcome in an art museum. From the constant following through the galleries, to being approached like we were going to finger paint all over them. It was unnecessary. And at 3 ft, there's not a lot of detail you can view, or technique you can observe, unless your vision is much better than mine.
From an art standpoint, the Johns exhibit is fantastic, the Wyeth was disappointing, and 2 floors of the museum were closed. Thank goodness it's free, because I would've been upset to pay money for my experience.