WebExhibits

About WebExhibits

WebExhibits is an ongoing IDEA program, an interactive web-based museum that challenges visitors to think and explore scientific and cultural phenomena in new ways. Using innovative and intuitive data interface designs and multi-media content, IDEA transforms the learning experience. Available to the public.

The WebExhibits museum was founded in 1999. Presently, the museum receives over 24 million page views per year by approximately 8 million visitors.

As a function of WebExhibit’s success, IDEA now collaborates with museums worldwide, including the National Gallery of Art (Washington) and the Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid, Spain).

The Exhibits

Investigating Bellini’s Feast of the Gods: Early in the 16th century, Giovanni Bellini painted the Italian Renaissance masterpiece The Feast of the Gods. However, ten years later, the renowned Titian painted over the masterpiece. Using IDEA’s innovative data display techniques, this exhibit explains the scientific analyses conducted by the National Gallery of Art. (A version of the exhibit was produced in Spanish for the Prado in Madrid.)

Causes of Colors: Shedding light on the age-old question, "Why is the sky blue?", this exhibit also enables visitors to explore the scientific origins of color, including the relevance of vibrations, gas excitations, diffraction, and energy bands.

Color Vision and Art: Exploring the relationships between modern art and the science of color and human vision, this exhibit uses artwork and its historical context to explain what we see and why we see it in a certain way. Other topics include color interactions, peripheral vision, luminance, and equiluminance.

Pigments Through the Ages: Visitors are able to explore the historical origins and the science of color pigments, in rich detail and with the aid of beautiful, interactive imagery, while being treated to an interactive explanation of how paintings are created using myriad colors and types of paint.

Butter: Explore the historical origins, composition, science, and uses of this wonderfully smooth, rich indulgence!

Van Gogh’s Letters: On 13 December 1872, Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) wrote to his brother Theo, "...We must be sure to write to each other regularly..." Over the next two decades, hundreds of letters were shared between the brothers and with others, giving us an unparalleled record of the artist’s creative and spiritual life.

Family Tree of the Greek Gods: This interactive genealogic map employs innovative radial mapping and an explorational user interface that invites visitors to learn about the gods and goddesses who brought order and meaning to the universe of the ancient Greeks.

Calendars and Daylight Saving Time: Read more about our time-related projects.