Hello, Museum: An Illustrated Book of Inspirations to Visit and Explore
About this ebook
From artist and professional museum spatial designer Rawaan Alkhatib, Hello, Museum is equal parts inspiring and instructional for museumgoers seeking new and deeper experiences with public exhibits. Overflowing with interviews, quotes and testimonials, whimsical illustrations and doodles, and activities to infuse your next trip with different perspectives and ideas, this book has something to intrigue every type of museumgoer.
Chock-full of bright artwork and unique hand-lettering, this one-of-a-kind guide invites you to be curious and cultured, and to visit museums of all kinds—from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Bonnie and Clyde Museum. Exercises to elevate your experience are peppered throughout: Choose a color and let it guide you from room to room, have a friend build you a playlist to accompany your visit, or ignore labels on objects to imagine their history for yourself. In addition to unconventional tips and tricks, you'll find:
- Dispatches from The Museum of Stones
- Interviews with Paleoartists
- Instructions for curating your own curiosity cabinet
- A list of every time the Mona Lisa has been stolen
- Thoughts on the best souvenirs to purchase at the gift shop
- And much more!
Slip this book of inspirations into your bag or back pocket to open your heart and mind to the many ways to visit a museum and exhibits. Stay for hours or just pop in to say, “Hello, museum!” Above all, take time for yourself to feel connected, enlivened, and inspired.
A FRESH TAKE ON MUSEUMS: This guide goes beyond art museums to explore natural history, science centers, public history sites, children’s museums, immersive installations, and even quirky roadside attractions, inviting readers to engage with culture everywhere.
EXPERT AUTHOR: Rawaan Alkhatib is a professional exhibit developer whose work spans major institutions in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, including projects at the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. She is a true expert and trusted guide to getting more out of every museum visit.
VISUALLY RICH & GIFT-WORTHY: Filled with original illustrations, maps, and infographics that enhance both real-life museum trips and armchair exploration. You’ll find illustrations of Egyptian tombs from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, extinct birds from the Zoological Museum at Trinity College, and Kermit the Frog from the Museum of the Moving Image, alongside tips and tricks for your next gallery visit.
Perfect for:
- Curious cultural travelers
- Museum members and art lovers
- Design-minded readers who appreciate illustrated nonfiction
- Students of museum studies, art history, and general history
- Gift buyers and museum shop enthusiasts
- Fans of Rawaan Alkhatib’s cookbook Hot Date!
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About the author
Rawaan Alkhatib is a full-time museum spatial designer at the world-renowned Ralph Appelbaum Associates. She holds an MFA in poetry from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and when she’s not visiting, designing, or writing about museums, she creates work across a variety of mediums, including writing, painting, textile design, and food. She is the author and illustrator of the date-centric cookbook Hot Date! and lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her spouse and child.
