Art History: create an imaginary exhibition of Buddhist art Custom Paper

Paper #2: Asian Art Museums
AH1010A Topics in Nonwestern Art History
Directions: In this paper you will be asked to create an imaginary exhibition of Buddhist art. Your
exhibition will be a response to contemporary issues in the museum field. Please begin this paper
early as it has multiple parts. For full credit, pay attention to ALL of the questions posed.
Due: Monday, April 29 in lecture
Step 1: Reading and Processing Article and Website by April 15 (posted on BB or the web)
� Read: Steven Conn, �Where is the East? Asian Objects in American Museums, from Nathan
Dunn to Charles Freer,� Winterthur Portfolio 35 (2000): 157-173.
� Scan: The website of the Freer/Sackler, especially the collection webpage:
� Take notes on the article by Conn:
o What is the central thesis of the article?
o What are some basic trends in museum collection of Asian Art?
o How is the Freer unlike the NMAI?
o What museums does it remind you of in the Smithsonian?
o Why is Asian art not displayed in anthropology collections?
� Write down information from the Freer�s websites:
o What kinds of �Asian� art are exhibited at the Freer? (Make a list)
o Why is �American� art exhibited here? Click on the link for �American art� � what sort of
�American� art is exhibited?
o What is the Peacock Room?
o Where will you find Buddhist art displayed at the Freer/Sackler
� Be prepared: Come to section on April 15th prepared with your notes as this will help you during
your museum visit. TAs will address these articles in class.
___Submit at least one page of handwritten notes related to Conn�s article and the questions
about the Freer/Sackler website for your final paper