With so many local attractions temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be hard to come up with fun ways to pass the time while doing everything from home!
If there is one thing that we have learned from this experience, it is that COVID-19 has forced us all to adapt in one way or another. For many of our local museums, this process of adapting has taken the form of the creation of virtual exhibit experiences. Now, you can virtually “walk” through amazing art, history, and culture exhibits without getting up off the couch.
Next time you find yourself bored with nothing to do, check out one of virtual museum experiences from the list we have compiled below. Have a favorite museum or exhibit that isn’t listed? Leave us a comment and tell us about it!
Arizona State Museum
The Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona currently has a number of online experiences, including exhibits on Hopi Katsina dolls, handaxes from the Stone Age, portraits by native youth, and more. Virtual Reality experiences are also available so that you can explore the Pottery Project Exhibit, the Pottery Vault, an exhibit on Native American basketry and fiber art, and more.
https://statemuseum.arizona.edu/onviewonlineondemand
Pima Air & Space Museum
The Pima Air and Space Museum has compiled over 100 panoramic views of their exhibits, including their Main Hangar, Space Gallery, and Hangers 3 and 4. They have even developed a Google Maps experience so that you can explore their collection of outdoor planes for free.
https://pimaair.trytn.press/visit/exhibits-virtual-tours/
The University of Arizona Museum of Art
A number of exhibits at the University of Arizona Museum of Art have been built into virtual experiences, including their Contemporary Art Gallery, Modern Art Gallery, and even a collection from a variety of Southern Arizona artists in response to 2020 and how the year shifted the lives of those in our community. As always, you can also explore the museum’s Archive of Visual Arts, which includes collections from Robert McCall, Sara Wallach, and Frances O’Brien.
https://artmuseum.arizona.edu/ava
GROUNDWORKS
GROUNDWORKS, a local non-profit dedicated to showcasing the work of young artists and musicians, developed this virtual tour of the new space as part of their September 2020 Virtual Grand Opening. The current featured show is called “Prints:” A Pop Up Shop, which features limited-edition prints from over a dozen young artists.
https://www.groundworkstucson.com/virtual-tour
Pidgin Palace Arts
Located in the BRINK Foundation’s Tucson headquarters, Pidgin Palace Arts is described as “a contemporary art gallery and pan-generational media lab, a space for humane connectivity, a place to develop and create concepts to fight the algorithms.” Virtual guests are invited to explore around the virtual landscape, which includes artwork from several artists and discourse on various current events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the current political landscape.
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