It feels like the rules have changed. Summer was always the time to be outdoors sketching, but lately that doesn’t always seem like the best idea. Many people mentioned they were so happy to be indoors in the air-conditioning, for the Rubin sketch last Saturday. The weekend forecast changes daily and it feels risky to schedule an outdoor event for this weekend. At this moment sketching indoors feels safe and assures we’ll have a day of sketching together. So, . . .
To make things interesting I have an idea I’ve wanted to try for years - an art Treasure Hunt at the Museum of Natural History. This idea will require a lot of walking to find the items. (Remember you are free to do your own thing. )
Here are the Art Treasure Hunt rules:
1. To claim an item you have to locate it in the museum. Feel free to ask guards or anyone else for help locating things.
2. You then need to draw that object.
3. Each page should consist of four (4) of the Treasure Hunt items (see list below). They should be arranged in a pleasing composition and work well as a group.
4. This is not a competition, there will be no winners, . . . think beauty rather than quantity.
4. You are free to work solo, work in groups or ignore the whole idea and find your own things to sketch.
- A mask
- An animal or insect that can be found in NYC
- A bone from something extinct
- A whale
- A butterfly
- A canoe
- A Neanderthal
- Pottery
- A drawing of a museum guard
- A wild feline
- A water buffalo
- Teddy Roosevelt
- A meteorite
- A gem
- A zebra
- Visitors looking at an exhibit
- A dinosaur smaller than a dog
- Something extinct
- A uniform
- A musical instrument.
- A weapon
- A bird that can’t fly
- A bracelet
- T-Rex toes
- A totem
- Something extinct
- A boar or a bore
- A stone tool
- Fabric from BCE
DETAILS
WHEN: This Saturday, August 10th, 2024 starting at 10:00 AM until 3 PM.
WHERE: The American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West.
SUGGESTION: Enter the museum from the 81st entrance instead of the main entrance on Central Park West. It is often less crowded, and has shorter lines.
MEET AT: Meet at the statue of Teddy Roosevelt (first floor between the Hall of Biodiversity and The Planet Earth) If you're late we will have scattered - meet us for lunch. Anyone you see sketching in the museum is likely to be with our group and friendly.
We will use What'sApp to stay in touch. If you don't have the App you might consider downloading it. We will form a one-time group. You will be able to share the QR code with any late sketchers you encounter. We will also have the Treasure Hunt Rules and the List copied to WhatsApp.
HOW:
By Subway
- C to 81st Street or
- 1 train stops at Broadway and West 79th Street, a two block walk to the museum
ADMISSION:
The museum asks that we preregister. The museum has a pay what you wish policy for residents of NY, NJ and CT. You can reserve your entrance ticket here:
Preregistered tickets
LUNCH: 12:00 Noon - There is a Cafe in the museum on the lower level. Sit towards the back on the right side. If you're there first, sit in an area with open available seating - so we can eat together. The food is good but on the expensive side. Bring your own food if you like. We've done that many times.
AFTERNOON: 1:00 PM - Back to sketching at the museum
SHOW and TELL: 3 PM. At our lunch spot in the lower level cafeteria. Show and Tell is the social part of the day where we share our day's drawings and tell cool art stories. We might even talk about art supplies
NOTES:
- Bring a stool if you have one. It increases your options and the museum doesn't mind, but you can't block the walking paths.
- Mostly the guards are friendly and happy to see us sketching, but always be courteous and friendly.
