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Stacy Fuller(February)
I am the Director of Education at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas. In this role, I work with a talented team of fifteen museum educators to ensure the development, execution, and evaluation of the Amon Carter’s mission-focused educational programs and resources for various audiences. With experience as a museum registrar, in curatorial work, and designing professional development programs for educators, I have a passionate love for works of art and also accessibility—making sure that visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are able to enter, access, and engage with museum collections.

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January 17, 2009

The Prado Museum and Google Earth Team Up! (Guenter)

On January 13, 2009 a joint project between Google Earth and Spain's Prado Museum was unveiled. This unique collaboration has put the tools of Google Earth to extremely good use on fourteen of the Prado's masterpieces. What makes this partnership really spectacular is the resolution of these paintings. As noted by Google, "The images of these works are about 14,000 million pixels, 1,400 times more detailed than the image a 10-megapixel digital camera would take."

To do this remarkable feat, over 8200 photographs were taken during a three-month period. The images were connected and layered. The satellite technology from Google Earth that allows us to zoom in on the Grand Canyon or find our house or apartment building was then incorporated and the result is stunning. You really get to closely examine the artwork. Often in museums such as the Prado, there are ropes to keep you a safe distance from the paintings. With Google Earth you can really study the paint strokes and details of these paintings. The technology is a tool here and it is really opening up access to those who cannot see these marvelous paintings in person.  And that is a key point. Technology is a tool.

Paintings have physical, visual, and emotional dimensions that are not always or readily captured in images, prints or books. Much like viewing a play or dance performance, you have to actually be there for the total experience. And this is worth discussing with your students. However, being able to introduce and share key concepts and inspire your students to one day see these paintings for themselves, then this collaboration has been well served in supporting education.

I encourage you to take a Google Earth trip to the Prado and see for yourself! 

YouTube clip of the Google Earth/Prado process
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1EOJr11bvo

If you have Google Earth, open it and check the 3D buildings layer on the bottom left panel. Tyoe in Prado Museum, Spain in the "Fly to" slot. Once there click on the museum link that has masterpieces on it. You can inspect each of them. And, you can actually navigate around the Prado in 3D.

If you don't have Google Earth (free), go to:
http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

Posted at 09:10 AM |

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