Museums as Identity Practice

Not everyone who goes to a museum is deliberately test-driving a new identity, but my first trip to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. was just that. I was in 11th grade and on a family vacation when I asked my parents if I could go to the NGA by myself while they took my elementary-school-aged siblings to the Air and Space Museum. I'd been to the Air and Space Museum with my parents when I was an elementary student. It was then that I impressed Trekkies with my recitations of "these are the voyages of the starship Enterprise...", a little 6 year old girl who was constructing her identity from the passions and pursuits of her father. Now at 16, I'd recently become invested in the art world, and that museum across the mall was calling my name. But to explore the museum, and on my own, I had to try on this new role. What would the other visitors think? Would they label me an imposter? A newbie? Or was I the real-deal?

I danced my way throughout the museum, trying to look inconspicuous, as if I belonged, but awed by the architecture and thrilled to see Matisse, Rothko, and Van Gogh in person. I made it through every room, not wanting to miss a single thing, and even managed to convince my mother to return with me the next day. I remember looking with her at Chuck Close's fingerprint picture of Fanny. It was amazing! I still had familial love of space travel, but this inspired me.

The identity work that conspired that day in November 2002 has forever endeared the museum to me; the museum is part of the fabric of myself as an art-lover. I returned the following year, organizing a trip for National Art Honor Society students to visit DC and the NGA, then again in university for our student chapter of NAEA. While I have enjoyed visits to other art museums around the world, all of which could provide the same identity work for a young adult dabbling in art, just the photo of the atrium in the East Building awakens my love of this one particular museum. It taught me that I could participate in the art world.


Assignment: Recall a personal experience within a museum that fits the definition of informal learning.

References:
Rounds, J. (2006). Doing identity work in museums. Curator, 49 (2), 133-150.
NGA East Interior: http://myfavoriteart.blogspot.com/2010/09/national-gallery-east-building.html