Sketching in galleries and museums?! The nerve!

[jahcs]

  I checked with the head guard, and yes she confirmed in that special exhibit, there is no sketching of the pieces allowed at all.  Now the funnier thing is, you can write notes, you can sketch the people or furniture around the pieces, you can stare for a long time at a piece, you can probably take a nap in the special exhibit.  But as soon as you sketch a piece, you are now impeding traffic.  (*edited rant addition:  Impeding traffic?  If they're serious about it, why not put up a sign 'No wheelchairs, crutches, old or slow walkers, and narcileptics allowed at this point'.)
[right][snapback]65924[/snapback][/right]

I would ask the supervisor if they can show me these policies in writting. Then I would go back to the gallery and spend 2 hours sketching the pedestal the statue is on or the lighting system and frame of a painting without actually drawign the painting or sculpture. Or, if you are able, contact the artist directly (probably only possible for shows of living, local artists ;) ) and obtain permission in writting from him or her to do a rough sketch of their work. That would be assuming the museum or some other collector didn't own the piece.

On the argument of lingering in front of displays of art - if they don't want to set up escorted tours for all patrons to shuttle them through (which isn't a good solution) or put time limits on admissions, then as long as a patron does not block others from viewing the piece, sets up an easel, or pitches a campsite then tough.

If someone sketches art with the intention of reproduction or sale then there is a problem. But then there is the whole proof of intent to worry about.

I would bet that if the Museum sold sketching supplies in it's gift store and only allowed it's materials in the gallery(kind of like popcorn at the movies) then I bet they wouldn't have any problem with sketching.