UVaM

UVaM is a pilot project for the iPad that features 19 objects from the University of Virginia Art Museum’s permanent collection, including ceramic vessels, bronze sculpture, wood carving, and a 16th-century oil painting.  Developed with the intent to offer the public a level of access and interaction that isn’t always available in a museum setting, the app uses high-resolution 3D visualizations that can be manipulated with simple gestures such as tapping, pinching, and swiping.  Each object is accompanied by a detailed description that chronicles its history and cultural context.

The majority of works featured in this stand-alone app are on view in the University of Virginia Art Museum’s Object Study Gallery, a glass-enclosed storage space that features approximately 150 objects from a variety of cultures and time periods.  Rather than inspecting static images as part of a museum guide, visitors are now able to “touch” the art, enhancing their visit on-site or experiencing the collection for the first time in a completely virtual environment.