|
|
 |
Authors: Jason Cochran, Michael Alldredge, Lance Oyler, and Rudy Olsen School: University of
Idaho
|
| Abstract:
Lighting in museums and art galleries must serve two major functions. Exhibit spaces should allow the visitor an atmosphere of relatively pure visual perception for viewing the art while at the same time preventing damage to the artwork from unacceptably high levels of light. Gallery spaces require different levels of lighting depending on the type of exhibit displayed. For example, a temporary exhibit of bronze sculpture might be allowed to receive more light than a permanent collection of nineteenth century oil paintings, such as that of The Frye Art Museum. This study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of the integration of natural and artificial light by both scientific measurement, using light meters, and empirical judgments, based on visits to the museum. Helpful information was also derived from interviews given by building occupants as well as the architects at Olsen/Sundberg in Seattle. The result shows that the Frye Art Museum has relatively lower light levels when compared to other museums we visited in the region, even in the clerestory gallery, with the highest recorded levels. The measured levels of natural lighting were not intense enough to be of any great concern. However, the darker spaces at the Frye is found to be a pleasant change from comparable galleries, at least in an empirical sense, that the general ambiance is enhanced. Lower foot-candle levels seemed to promote a more contemplative environment for viewing art.
|
||
 |
||
All contents copyright (C) 1998. Vital Signs Project. All rights reserved. Created: 10/16/98 |
|
|
Frye
Art Museum, Seattle, WA
