Staten Island Museum and Philadelphia Museum of Art

Over Thanksgiving break I was able to attend an art exhibit near my home in Staten Island, New York. Even though I've lived in Staten Island for almost 20 years, I've never went to the museum once before a few weeks ago. After visiting the museum, it has opened my eyes to a lot of great art. Visiting the museum has also made me wish that I appreciated the museum more while I was home and went to see it more often. Such great art was available to see for basically my whole life right under my nose ! Nevertheless, I decided to attempt to make up for lost time as I explored the Staten Island Museum just a few weeks ago.
The origin of the art collections of the Staten Island Museum date from 1905 and cover a broad range of artistic styles and periods. Most of the objects, collected to promote the public's interest in historical and contemporary art, fall into two categories: those that reflect the history, people and culture of Staten Island and those that reflect broad world civilizations. 

-O.D.

Over Thanksgiving break I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia. It is a pretty well known Museum in PA, but I must say the Museum was a lot bigger then I expected. The Museum holds great works of art from Hemmingway, Abbot, Joyce, and even companies that create furniture, glass and various forms of installation art. My favorite piece at the Museum had to be the Horse and Man Armor. Its armor made from the 1500's for Duke Eulrich of Wurttemberg. It was my favorite piece because it was done so well and the armor completely covers both the man and horse. Its also interesting that the armor dates back to the 1500's. It is a great piece to the Museum.  The Museum had other great works and pieces also but bar far I was most impressed by the armor on my visit. 

- Owen