Are you museum-ed out yet? This week on the blog is turning into quite the museum tour and I've got one more for you today. It's part one, because there's so much to share.
Nathalie and I went to the Jewish Museum in Berlin.
You can read her excellent post on our visit here.
It's a fascinating museum where even the architecture tells a story. There are all these odd spaces and windows at quirky angles.
Those things that look like doodles are windows. And it does change your perspective.
That is part of the art of architecture — you can create an emotional reaction from the way you shape a person's environment.
Here's a peek at what looks like a garden from above:
However, when you walk through it, it's anything but.
It's called the "Garden of Exile." And it feels very ominous as you walk through the cement pillars. There are some better pictures than mine here.
But an even better example of architecture setting a mood is the Holocaust Tower. The museum was designed with several "voids" by architect Daniel Libeskind. These voids have been turned into really interesting exhibits. I was particularly moved by the Holocaust Tower. It's a narrow pitch black room with a ceiling several stories high. The only light comes from a very small sliver way up at the top. The room is concrete and has no temperature control. It is cold and quiet. And then there's that light.
That tiny sliver of daylight that becomes a beacon. And as your eyes adjust, it seems to get brighter. A beautiful physical manifestation of hope.
Another one of the voids is used for an exhibit called "Fallen Leaves." I had a very strong emotional reaction to this one.
It's a long, tall, cement room. The floor is covered with a sea of metal faces, disappearing into the dark.
The room is very very quiet. Until…you step out onto the faces and they start to clink together making a horrible jangling noise. You can hear the noise on this video.
Not only was the noise terrible, but I got a terrible feeling when I looked down at my feet and saw myself walking across all of those faces.
You see, they represent the 10,000 war dead. And the cacaphonous melody of metal against metal, coupled with their open mouth stares really struck me to the core.
I got about half way across them and had to turn back. I couldn't go any further.
Absolutely one of the most powerful art experiences I've ever had.
I'll share more from the Jewish Museum tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!
wow it all I can say. Thanks for sharing.
wow it all I can say. Thanks for sharing.
wow it all I can say. Thanks for sharing.
wow it all I can say. Thanks for sharing.
wow it all I can say. Thanks for sharing.
Julie thank you for sharing your time with Nat at the Jewish Museum. I read her post about it last week and was truly moved by her thoughts just as I was this morning by yours. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the rest of us! I know, I for one, truly appreciate your openness and willingness to include all of us in what you do!
Julie thank you for sharing your time with Nat at the Jewish Museum. I read her post about it last week and was truly moved by her thoughts just as I was this morning by yours. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the rest of us! I know, I for one, truly appreciate your openness and willingness to include all of us in what you do!
Julie thank you for sharing your time with Nat at the Jewish Museum. I read her post about it last week and was truly moved by her thoughts just as I was this morning by yours. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the rest of us! I know, I for one, truly appreciate your openness and willingness to include all of us in what you do!
Julie thank you for sharing your time with Nat at the Jewish Museum. I read her post about it last week and was truly moved by her thoughts just as I was this morning by yours. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the rest of us! I know, I for one, truly appreciate your openness and willingness to include all of us in what you do!
Julie thank you for sharing your time with Nat at the Jewish Museum. I read her post about it last week and was truly moved by her thoughts just as I was this morning by yours. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the rest of us! I know, I for one, truly appreciate your openness and willingness to include all of us in what you do!
I can see that the faces are all different. So powerful.
I can see that the faces are all different. So powerful.
I can see that the faces are all different. So powerful.
I can see that the faces are all different. So powerful.
I can see that the faces are all different. So powerful.
Wow the faces made me cry very powerful – truly one of the most powerful pieces of sculpture I have seen. I would have turned back too. I wonder if they film who can walk across and who turns around and collect data on demographic variables etc….interesting
Wow the faces made me cry very powerful – truly one of the most powerful pieces of sculpture I have seen. I would have turned back too. I wonder if they film who can walk across and who turns around and collect data on demographic variables etc….interesting
Wow the faces made me cry very powerful – truly one of the most powerful pieces of sculpture I have seen. I would have turned back too. I wonder if they film who can walk across and who turns around and collect data on demographic variables etc….interesting
Wow the faces made me cry very powerful – truly one of the most powerful pieces of sculpture I have seen. I would have turned back too. I wonder if they film who can walk across and who turns around and collect data on demographic variables etc….interesting
Wow the faces made me cry very powerful – truly one of the most powerful pieces of sculpture I have seen. I would have turned back too. I wonder if they film who can walk across and who turns around and collect data on demographic variables etc….interesting
Thank you for sharing. Very powerful museum. Too bad the people who need to see it won’t ever go. You reach a large audience and what you do is important.
Thank you for sharing. Very powerful museum. Too bad the people who need to see it won’t ever go. You reach a large audience and what you do is important.
Thank you for sharing. Very powerful museum. Too bad the people who need to see it won’t ever go. You reach a large audience and what you do is important.
Thank you for sharing. Very powerful museum. Too bad the people who need to see it won’t ever go. You reach a large audience and what you do is important.
Thank you for sharing. Very powerful museum. Too bad the people who need to see it won’t ever go. You reach a large audience and what you do is important.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emotional reaction to the exhibit, I had a very similar reaction when visiting Dachau. It’s very surprising how strong and overwhelming that reaction can be..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emotional reaction to the exhibit, I had a very similar reaction when visiting Dachau. It’s very surprising how strong and overwhelming that reaction can be..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emotional reaction to the exhibit, I had a very similar reaction when visiting Dachau. It’s very surprising how strong and overwhelming that reaction can be..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emotional reaction to the exhibit, I had a very similar reaction when visiting Dachau. It’s very surprising how strong and overwhelming that reaction can be..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and emotional reaction to the exhibit, I had a very similar reaction when visiting Dachau. It’s very surprising how strong and overwhelming that reaction can be..
The Fallen Leaves got to me in Nat’s post and the Holocaust Tower got to me in yours. Wow…hope is waiting.
The Fallen Leaves got to me in Nat’s post and the Holocaust Tower got to me in yours. Wow…hope is waiting.
The Fallen Leaves got to me in Nat’s post and the Holocaust Tower got to me in yours. Wow…hope is waiting.
The Fallen Leaves got to me in Nat’s post and the Holocaust Tower got to me in yours. Wow…hope is waiting.
The Fallen Leaves got to me in Nat’s post and the Holocaust Tower got to me in yours. Wow…hope is waiting.
I have to share what just happened! After reading your post I got out my scriptures to read a few verses before I started my day.
And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have
stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they
have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and
miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and
their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of
the poor. Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 26:20
I love powerful art- the kind that has many meanings depending upon the lens through which you look.
I have to share what just happened! After reading your post I got out my scriptures to read a few verses before I started my day.
And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have
stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they
have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and
miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and
their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of
the poor. Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 26:20
I love powerful art- the kind that has many meanings depending upon the lens through which you look.
I have to share what just happened! After reading your post I got out my scriptures to read a few verses before I started my day.
And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have
stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they
have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and
miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and
their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of
the poor. Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 26:20
I love powerful art- the kind that has many meanings depending upon the lens through which you look.
I have to share what just happened! After reading your post I got out my scriptures to read a few verses before I started my day.
And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have
stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they
have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and
miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and
their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of
the poor. Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 26:20
I love powerful art- the kind that has many meanings depending upon the lens through which you look.
I have to share what just happened! After reading your post I got out my scriptures to read a few verses before I started my day.
And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have
stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they
have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and
miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and
their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of
the poor. Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 26:20
I love powerful art- the kind that has many meanings depending upon the lens through which you look.
I still have chills!! I don’t think I could have walked across that without falling to my knee’s crying deeply! Being an empath makes it so hard for me to even appreciate anything like this.. it rips me up inside out. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!
I still have chills!! I don’t think I could have walked across that without falling to my knee’s crying deeply! Being an empath makes it so hard for me to even appreciate anything like this.. it rips me up inside out. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!
I still have chills!! I don’t think I could have walked across that without falling to my knee’s crying deeply! Being an empath makes it so hard for me to even appreciate anything like this.. it rips me up inside out. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!
I still have chills!! I don’t think I could have walked across that without falling to my knee’s crying deeply! Being an empath makes it so hard for me to even appreciate anything like this.. it rips me up inside out. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!
I still have chills!! I don’t think I could have walked across that without falling to my knee’s crying deeply! Being an empath makes it so hard for me to even appreciate anything like this.. it rips me up inside out. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!
How dramatic! I was moved just looking at your photos and that video brought tears to my eyes. How brave of you to be willing to experience this museum. At 68, I am still not ready…
How dramatic! I was moved just looking at your photos and that video brought tears to my eyes. How brave of you to be willing to experience this museum. At 68, I am still not ready…
How dramatic! I was moved just looking at your photos and that video brought tears to my eyes. How brave of you to be willing to experience this museum. At 68, I am still not ready…
How dramatic! I was moved just looking at your photos and that video brought tears to my eyes. How brave of you to be willing to experience this museum. At 68, I am still not ready…
How dramatic! I was moved just looking at your photos and that video brought tears to my eyes. How brave of you to be willing to experience this museum. At 68, I am still not ready…
It must have been an extraordinary experience. This is the first time I have learned about the museum and I thank you for that.
It must have been an extraordinary experience. This is the first time I have learned about the museum and I thank you for that.
It must have been an extraordinary experience. This is the first time I have learned about the museum and I thank you for that.
It must have been an extraordinary experience. This is the first time I have learned about the museum and I thank you for that.
It must have been an extraordinary experience. This is the first time I have learned about the museum and I thank you for that.
The cacophonous representation of humanity’s loss combined with the physical and visual nature of that event as depicted by that “room” sums up what words can’t. Thank you for sharing.
The cacophonous representation of humanity’s loss combined with the physical and visual nature of that event as depicted by that “room” sums up what words can’t. Thank you for sharing.
The cacophonous representation of humanity’s loss combined with the physical and visual nature of that event as depicted by that “room” sums up what words can’t. Thank you for sharing.
The cacophonous representation of humanity’s loss combined with the physical and visual nature of that event as depicted by that “room” sums up what words can’t. Thank you for sharing.
The cacophonous representation of humanity’s loss combined with the physical and visual nature of that event as depicted by that “room” sums up what words can’t. Thank you for sharing.
The noise sounded like chains to me and the faces appear o be creaming. I have such a sick feeling in my stomach. Don’t think I cold do this….so horrible ….
The noise sounded like chains to me and the faces appear o be creaming. I have such a sick feeling in my stomach. Don’t think I cold do this….so horrible ….
The noise sounded like chains to me and the faces appear o be creaming. I have such a sick feeling in my stomach. Don’t think I cold do this….so horrible ….
The noise sounded like chains to me and the faces appear o be creaming. I have such a sick feeling in my stomach. Don’t think I cold do this….so horrible ….
The noise sounded like chains to me and the faces appear o be creaming. I have such a sick feeling in my stomach. Don’t think I cold do this….so horrible ….
Julie, thank you for sharing with us, your time spent at the Jewish Museum. The walk among the faces video was very powerful. I can only imagine what it was like for you. Looking forward to more of your sharing.
Julie, thank you for sharing with us, your time spent at the Jewish Museum. The walk among the faces video was very powerful. I can only imagine what it was like for you. Looking forward to more of your sharing.
Julie, thank you for sharing with us, your time spent at the Jewish Museum. The walk among the faces video was very powerful. I can only imagine what it was like for you. Looking forward to more of your sharing.
Julie, thank you for sharing with us, your time spent at the Jewish Museum. The walk among the faces video was very powerful. I can only imagine what it was like for you. Looking forward to more of your sharing.
Julie, thank you for sharing with us, your time spent at the Jewish Museum. The walk among the faces video was very powerful. I can only imagine what it was like for you. Looking forward to more of your sharing.
Just your description of that last exhibit brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t even listen to the noise. What a powerfully emotional place it must be.
Just your description of that last exhibit brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t even listen to the noise. What a powerfully emotional place it must be.
Just your description of that last exhibit brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t even listen to the noise. What a powerfully emotional place it must be.
Just your description of that last exhibit brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t even listen to the noise. What a powerfully emotional place it must be.
Just your description of that last exhibit brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t even listen to the noise. What a powerfully emotional place it must be.
Thank you for sharing your visit. We will visit Berlin in April and will be sure to go to the museum. I’m wondering whether the 10,000 war dead refers to soldiers who were killed in battle or the population in Berlin that was killed as part of the “master plan.” Thanks Julie.
Thank you for sharing your visit. We will visit Berlin in April and will be sure to go to the museum. I’m wondering whether the 10,000 war dead refers to soldiers who were killed in battle or the population in Berlin that was killed as part of the “master plan.” Thanks Julie.
Thank you for sharing your visit. We will visit Berlin in April and will be sure to go to the museum. I’m wondering whether the 10,000 war dead refers to soldiers who were killed in battle or the population in Berlin that was killed as part of the “master plan.” Thanks Julie.
Thank you for sharing your visit. We will visit Berlin in April and will be sure to go to the museum. I’m wondering whether the 10,000 war dead refers to soldiers who were killed in battle or the population in Berlin that was killed as part of the “master plan.” Thanks Julie.
Thank you for sharing your visit. We will visit Berlin in April and will be sure to go to the museum. I’m wondering whether the 10,000 war dead refers to soldiers who were killed in battle or the population in Berlin that was killed as part of the “master plan.” Thanks Julie.
Wow Julie. Thank you for sharing this. I’m left speechless.
Wow Julie. Thank you for sharing this. I’m left speechless.
Wow Julie. Thank you for sharing this. I’m left speechless.
Wow Julie. Thank you for sharing this. I’m left speechless.
Wow Julie. Thank you for sharing this. I’m left speechless.
Thanks for sharing this, Julie!! I’ve read a lot about this place and seen pictures, but have never read such a moving description about those faces, and I wasn’t aware you’re supposed to walk on them. Sounds like an amazing expereience for the day I get to Berlin! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this, Julie!! I’ve read a lot about this place and seen pictures, but have never read such a moving description about those faces, and I wasn’t aware you’re supposed to walk on them. Sounds like an amazing expereience for the day I get to Berlin! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this, Julie!! I’ve read a lot about this place and seen pictures, but have never read such a moving description about those faces, and I wasn’t aware you’re supposed to walk on them. Sounds like an amazing expereience for the day I get to Berlin! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this, Julie!! I’ve read a lot about this place and seen pictures, but have never read such a moving description about those faces, and I wasn’t aware you’re supposed to walk on them. Sounds like an amazing expereience for the day I get to Berlin! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this, Julie!! I’ve read a lot about this place and seen pictures, but have never read such a moving description about those faces, and I wasn’t aware you’re supposed to walk on them. Sounds like an amazing expereience for the day I get to Berlin! 🙂
Thank you for posting this, Julie. It was moving just to read about the Fallen Leaves exhibit. I can only imagine what it was like to experience it.
Thank you for posting this, Julie. It was moving just to read about the Fallen Leaves exhibit. I can only imagine what it was like to experience it.
Thank you for posting this, Julie. It was moving just to read about the Fallen Leaves exhibit. I can only imagine what it was like to experience it.
Thank you for posting this, Julie. It was moving just to read about the Fallen Leaves exhibit. I can only imagine what it was like to experience it.
Thank you for posting this, Julie. It was moving just to read about the Fallen Leaves exhibit. I can only imagine what it was like to experience it.
What a dramatic way to get to core of you as a human it’s almost like your actually stepping on them. Wow I guess they got the point across – so sad
What a dramatic way to get to core of you as a human it’s almost like your actually stepping on them. Wow I guess they got the point across – so sad
What a dramatic way to get to core of you as a human it’s almost like your actually stepping on them. Wow I guess they got the point across – so sad
What a dramatic way to get to core of you as a human it’s almost like your actually stepping on them. Wow I guess they got the point across – so sad
What a dramatic way to get to core of you as a human it’s almost like your actually stepping on them. Wow I guess they got the point across – so sad
Wow. What an incredible post of your experience at the museum. Looking forward to reading some more.
Wow. What an incredible post of your experience at the museum. Looking forward to reading some more.
Wow. What an incredible post of your experience at the museum. Looking forward to reading some more.
Wow. What an incredible post of your experience at the museum. Looking forward to reading some more.
Wow. What an incredible post of your experience at the museum. Looking forward to reading some more.
You’ve described it so well that I know I don’t want to hear the sound right now, late Sunday night after traveling. Maybe tomorrow. (But I thank you so much for sharing.)
You’ve described it so well that I know I don’t want to hear the sound right now, late Sunday night after traveling. Maybe tomorrow. (But I thank you so much for sharing.)
You’ve described it so well that I know I don’t want to hear the sound right now, late Sunday night after traveling. Maybe tomorrow. (But I thank you so much for sharing.)
You’ve described it so well that I know I don’t want to hear the sound right now, late Sunday night after traveling. Maybe tomorrow. (But I thank you so much for sharing.)
You’ve described it so well that I know I don’t want to hear the sound right now, late Sunday night after traveling. Maybe tomorrow. (But I thank you so much for sharing.)