!Guinie!

'''Museums'''
'''Fall quarter, 2006'''
'''PROJECT PROPOSAL'''

'''1. Your Name'''
Guinevere Freeman

'''2. Museum Destination'''
Cygnaeus Gallery, Helsinki Finland

'''3. Why have you selected this museum? What interests you about the museum? Have you been to this museum before?'''
There are several reasons why I choose Cygnaeus Gallery: it happens to be one of the oldest art museums in Finland. The museum is filled with four hundred and fifty art pieces and only 100 paintings; sculptures and drawings are permanently exhibited. The founder Fredrik Cygnaeus wanted at least one artwork by every noteworthy Finnish artist of his time. His attempts to create a fine arts academy had failed so Fredrik Cygnaeus supported Finland’s artists by obtaining one artwork from each for his museum. His interest in his country’s art and artists interested me in the museum as well. The artwork at the museum mainly consists of art pieces from the 19th century. What also interested me in the museum was the location and the size would allow me the opportunity to do extensive research on the exhibits shown, and the museum.In addition, upon reading the Museums program description, I began thinking about where I would like to go in order to study a museum. I had heard from friends who had gone to Finland on vacation and their recommendations that I should go someday came to mind while I was perusing an online map. I opened a link to Google, an Internet search engine, and typed in Finland. I received to many sites that lacked any substantial information. So I decided to use another part of the Google search engine that allowed users to view images of their search subject title. I received many stunning pictures of Finnish forests and winter scenes. I was so drawn in by the natural beauty of the pictures from the search engine that I decided to go to Finland to study a museum if admitted into the Museums program.

I have always detested large groups and places including large museums. When I used the same search engine to find a museum in Finland that I used to look for images of Finland, Google found the Cygneus Gallery web page. Upon looking at the museums web page I decided that Cygnaeus Gallery was the right size of a museum and the type of art exhibited would also be to my liking. Thus I felt that my trip to Finland had a purpose, studying the Cygnaeus Gallery in Helsinki Finland.

'''4. Preliminary research questions. What do you think might be problematic? What might be controversial? (This section of your proposal will change as you do more reading and research).'''
My preliminary research questions are: What are the sensory experiences possible at art exhibits from noting the expressive content in a painting? What does some of the artwork at Cygnaeus Gallery signify and what ideas are attached to the artwork? How does the museum size and the exhibit size at Cygneaus Gallery affect the overall all viewing experience at the museum? As for what could be problematic during my museums studies, I will not know what problems I will have until I arrive at the museum and begin my research. As for controversial issues, the language barrier between fluent Finnish speakers and myself could be problematic. In order to bridge that barrier I have attempted to learn some basic conversational Finnish.

Another controversy might be my racial makeup; the majority of Finnish peoples are either white with dark hair and eyes or white with light hair and eyes. I am a multi-racial woman with features that are neither dark nor light. So my presence in Helsinki Finland would be like a peacock hanging out at a pond amongst swans. I have thoroughly thought about some of the situations I could face do to my race while abroad. My presence in Finland can either be a racial wakeup call (having to deal with racism while abroad) or a prejudice wakeup call (having to deal with my own prejudices while abroad). I am not frightened at the prospect of having to deal with racist behavior while in Helsinki Finland. Actually, I am excited to experience how my own prejudices affect my view of how people see and react towards my multiracialism or how racism will affect my view of Finnish peoples and Finland.

'''5. Projected Departure and Return Dates (Nov. 4-Nov 28 are the
available dates)''' My departure date for my travel to Helsinki Finland is set for November 5th through November 25th 2006.

'''6. Basic overview of your museum'''

'''Date founded'''
Cygnaeus Gallery was first opened in 1882.
'''Curator'''
The current curator of Cygnaeus Gallery is Erika Himanen.
'''Sponsoring body'''
The sponsoring body for Cygnaeus Gallery is the national Board of Antiquities.
'''Nature of the collection'''
The artwork housed and exhibited at the museum are mostly from the nineteenth century.

'''Educational activities at the museum, including classes, tours,videos, interactive exhibits.'''
Educational activities at the museum include classes and guided tours, which are provided for students and tour groups. In addition, Cygnaeus Gallery provides concerts by students every fall and spring, as well as the occasional lecture. Interactive exhibits, videos and other multimedia are limited to the technology of informative texts placed in exhibits and the museum staff’s knowledge of the exhibits.

'''Target audience of the museum'''
The Target audience of Cygnaeus Gallery currently seems to be for all and anyone willing to share Frederik Cygnaeus love of aesthetics and Finnish art.

'''Photography and Sketching policy'''
The photography policy and sketching policy of the museum is taken from a quote sent to me in an email from a museum assistant named Mirja Aine, “The visitors are allowed to make sketches and to take photographs for private purposes.”

'''Website'''
For more information about the museum of my choice go to the web page at www.nba.fi/en/gygnaeusgallery

'''7.''' Annotated Bibliography: at least six sources. Include articles, biographies, histories, novels, critical analyses, as available.

Valkonen, Markku. Finnish Art Over The Centuries Helsinki: Otava Pub. C 1999 Edition 2nd rev. ed. Finnish Art Over The Centuries is about Finland’s developing artists and art through multiple political, economical and social changes within the country over a period of time.

Koja Stephan and Ahtola-Moorhouse Leena. Nordic dawn: modernism's awakening in Finland, 1890-1920. Munich; New York: Prestel, C 2005. Nordic dawn: modernism's awakening in Finland, 1890-1920 is about the beginning of modernism, and the artists who contributed toward modern art during the time period of 1890-1920. As well as influences that the artists featured in the book had in creating art.

Kent, Neil. Helsinki: A Cultural and Literary History. Oxford: Signal Books Limited
C 2004. The book, Helsinki: A Cultural and Literary History is about the many facets of Helsinki Finland’s political, religious, economical and cultural development up until present day Helsinki, Finland.

Smith-Boulton John. Modern Finnish painting and graphic art. New York, Praeger Publishers C1970. The book Modern Finnish painting and graphic art is about the development of modern paintings and graphic art in Finland and Finnish artists that contributed toward modern art in Finland.

Nelson, Robert. Finnish magic: a nation of wizards, a world of spirits. St. Paul, Minn: Llewellyn, 1999. 1st Ed. The book, Finnish magic: a nation of wizards, a world of spirits is about Finnish mysticism particularly shamanism and other forms of magic indigenous to northern Europe.

Fauchereau, Serge. Scandinavian modernism. New York: Rizzoli, 1989.
Scandinavian modernism is about the modernistic movement in Scandinavian art and artist who contributed toward the flow of modern art that was coming out of the Scandinavian Peninsula during the early 1900’s.

Renouf, Norman. Insight Helsinki Pocket Guide. Insight Guides; Book&Map 1st edition August 30, 2005. The guidebook, Insight Helsinki Pocket Guide is a tour book about Helsinki Finland. It includes sections on Finland’s history, cities in Finland, a map for getting around Helsinki ,activities and resources for a tourist in Helsinki Finland.

'''The following questions apply to travel outside the United States.'''

'''Language'''
The primary languages in Finland are Swedish, Finnish and English.
Your health insurance
Upon the approval of this proposal I will purchase the necessary travel insurance for the sixteen days I will be traveling abroad.

'''Do you have any Health Issues?'''
I am in fit shape for traveling to Finland.

'''Do you need a passport?'''
Upon learning about The Museums program and registering, I applied for a passport.

'''Your passport expiration date'''
My passport has an expiration date of five years.

'''What are the visa requirements?'''
Visa requirements for travel to Finland are a stay in Finland that exceeds 90 days requires a visa to accompany a passport.

'''Travel advisory details. Check the US State Department website'''
As far as the travel advisory details for Finland, there are none.

Budget information (estimated)
Item Item info Cost
Roundtrip airfare N/A 860.00USD
Helsinki card 21days 441.00 USD
Taxi service 10days 100.00USD
Travel insurance 21days 166.00USD
Luggage Locker 21days 63.00USD
Hostel 21days 850.00USD
Laptop charger European 34.69USD
Airport shuttle to&from 50.00USD
Meals/Emergency 21days 850.00USD
Gear weather 240.00USD
Books, Supplies art 6.00USD
Laundry 21days 50.00USD
Total 3,730.00USD

'''What are your preliminary ideas for individual study and research?'''
During my research at Cygnaeus, I will answer the questions: What are the sensory experiences possible at art exhibits from noting the expressive content in a painting? What does some of the artwork at Cygnaeus Gallery signify and what ideas are attached to the artwork? How does the museum size and the exhibit size at Cygneaus Gallery affect the experiences possible at the museum? Then in relationship to the artwork I have chosen to research, I will answer the following questions: How long did I spend at the museum and looking at the artwork on display Lastly, how does the size of the museum affect the viewing experience of the artwork exhibited and research conducted?

'''What preparation does your project and trip require before your departure?'''
The preparation for my project and trip before my departure is obtaining photocopies of texts on Finnish 18th and 19th century art and information and photo copied texts on Finnish history. I will also need a copy of Visual methodologies to help with my research.

'''Who do you need to contact before your departure?'''
I have contacted one of the museum staff at Cygnaeus Gallery with the necessary questions in order to complete my project and research while in Helsinki. Before my departure date I will also have a list of questions to ask in case I have the opportunity to speak with the curator and staff at Cygnaeus Gallery.

'''What other museums are located near this museum? Do any have collections that might inform your research?'''
large museums located in Helsinki and both Kiasma and Anteum Art Museum are larger in size and amount of collections then Cygnaeus Gallery. I am generally interested in viewing art from any artist at all three museums. This is the reason why Kiasma and Anteum Art Museum are museums I would like to go to as well as Cygnaeus Gallery.