Night at the Museum

Your Reflections

This page compiles your reflections on art, community, museums, and more, informed by your time at Night at the Museum.

To have your own reflection appear on this page, submit a reflection of your own.

Analog fan? You can also respond to these prompts on paper and peruse the responses of others. Come find our table on the third floor.

  • On paper, my major is labelled as “undecided”. That’s only because there are so many things that interest me, that it’s very difficult to declare a major so early on that dictates the next four years of my life and more. One of those options is art, and it’s been a thing for as long as I can remember. Lately, my mind has been on other things, such as music production and engineering, but being able to visit the Brooklyn Museum and see all of its lovely paintings, it did it’s job well at making me think about art again, and it’s definitely made me want to pick up the hobby again.

  • This experience made me realize how museums make art accessible to all individuals, allowing them to dive deeper not only into historical periods of art but also into different cultures and regions. Before, I mostly thought of museums as a quiet place where one goes to admire art, learn about it, and connect with it. However, after this visit I’ve realized just how much effort goes into displaying art. Apart from looking into the art works themselves, I’ve also looked into the spaces where the artwork was displayed. Understanding the display choices and how the museums have positioned their art works influences your understanding of the piece itself. Additionally, I’ve realized that museums are a places of not only preservation of art pieces, but also an opportunity to think critically, engage with diverse perspectives, explore art all around the world and throughout different time periods. I would highly encourage other Macaulay students to visit museums. It is thanks to these institutions that we become cosmopolitan, well-rounded, and cultured.

  • I would say after visiting the Brooklyn museum, my view on museums certainly changed. I haven’t visited a museum in a while, and I never really found museums to be very intriguing. However, after viewing all the history and exquisite art work, I found it to be really fascinating. I saw many things I didn’t expect to see. For instance, Islamic art. As a Muslim, I enjoyed being able to seeing my religion represented in a museum. I would definitely encourage other Macaulay students to visit museums.

  • I will say that although everything was extremely diverse within this museum with tons of different history and cultures, I did not see anything of my own culture (Latina/Latino). Maybe I missed something or did not look in the right places, but I would have appreciated and loved to see aspects of my own culture in addition to everything else I saw. I would like to see Latino history, aspects of Latino culture such as the people, language, food, dancing, you name it, and anything that will be able to embark on my culture.

  • I was deeply moved by the quilt, which had Shirley Chisholm at its center. Like Shirley, I firmly believe that individuals should occupy spaces that have historically excluded them, and I felt that the quilt’s position in the museum empowered this message. The outer green contrasted with the big, bold colors that made up Shirley. Also, the quilt was visibly large and at the center of its exhibit. The chairs that adorned Shirely’s skirt reaffirmed that we should all take a seat at the table and be seen, heard, and recognized. I also feel that this message is politically relevant since Kamala Harris (a black female politician similar to Shirley) is the Democratic frontrunner in the presidential race. Overall, when observing the quilt, many thoughts and feelings rushed through my head. I felt seen, heard, and recognized.

  • RIVA HELFOND American, 1910-2002 Sleeping Girl, Fatigued Black Woman ca. 1937 Lithograph

    This art piece for me conveys a powerful message about rest and the lived experience of labor. The quote by Cole Arthur Riley also highlights a key point: rest is not something earned through exhaustion; it is something you are inherently worthy of. As a student working part time, this piece resonates with me on multiple levels. Balancing academics with work is very demanding, and it’s essential to recognize that rest is a necessary part of that balance. Just like the woman depicted in the art, I too experience fatigue and exhaustion, and the message here suggests the importance of valuing my well-being as I strive toward my goals. I don’t need to overwork myself to feel deserving of rest; it is an integral part of maintaining a sustainable balance between study, work, and personal care.

  • I really liked this painting because it reminded me of my mother and her relationship with catholicism. My mom is Nicaraguan and Catholicism is the main religion in the country. They have religious celebrations that are solely focused on Mother Mary like “La Gritería” which was my favorite holiday to celebrate any winter and summer I had spent in Nicaragua. Mary is meant to symbolize purity and religious commitment to the holy trinity. I myself am not religious but I do enjoy the holiday. There are many altars and paintings on the day of the celebration which this painting reminded me of.

  • This experience of seeing the American art exhibit reinforced my belief that it is important to visit museums as we can learn about history and culture from them in a unique way. Understanding the intentions, meaning, and process of art pieces allows us to appreciate not only the beauty of the art, but the artist themself and where they come from. We are lucky to live in a city where art constantly surrounds us, opening our eyes and minds. I would definitely recommend other Macaulay students to visit museums and take advantage of the art world here in New York.

  • I thought the museum was very diverse so I saw every culture being represented or displayed along the 5th and 3rd floors. There were painting and sculptures depicting the history of discrimination that people of color have faced in this country and that I know many New Yorkers ancestors have face.

  • This experience reinforced my idea of museums being places where history is kept intact after seeing many Egyptian and Assyrian artifacts, and how they have been preserved in that way for thousands of years until today.