Elaine Heumann Gurian CALVIN CLIFFS – A CASE STUDY How one small unknown museum uses many exhibition strategies while on a small budget -- if they can do it, you can too --

Elaine Heumann Gurian CALVERT CLIFFS MUSEUM Maryland seashore Important Paleolithic cliffs, fossils Topic – everything about the area Audience Yachts and boat enthusiasts Summer tourist season Big Air Force installation nearby Winter rural and isolated School groups

Elaine Heumann Gurian ORIENTATION An interactive map Answers – Where is this in context.

Elaine Heumann Gurian ORIENTATION -- MAP Has voice over Adds History Further Context

Elaine Heumann Gurian ORIENTATION -- TIMELINE Answers question – Where in sequence is this.

Elaine Heumann Gurian ORIENTATION – MAP Model Three-dimensional Answers relationship question.

Elaine Heumann Gurian OBJECTS Many Objects in a case. Reading rail with labels. Quite ordinary installation.

Elaine Heumann Gurian OBJECT & PHOTO Real Object Photo putting object in context. One of the quickest cheapest exhibition strategy that answers the question -- “How was this used?”

Elaine Heumann Gurian A REAL OBJECT IN CONTEXT

Elaine Heumann Gurian REPRODUCTION Touchable object Historic story – Answers question “What is the size of the tobacco barrel that went to England?” Audience can understand size.

Elaine Heumann Gurian CONSTRUCTED MODEL Answers the questions – “What did it look like? How big was it?” Adds emotional quality (intended or unintended?) “How frightened would I be if I met this?”

Elaine Heumann Gurian TOUCHABLE READING RAIL INVENTED PAINTED BACKGROUND Combined labels and specimens. Visitor can touch material and look closely. Answers both visual and tactile questions. These cliffs are only 5 miles away. Thus this serves as a gateway to the real site.

Elaine Heumann Gurian Reading Rail– Contemporary materials Turns easy-to-find material into museum artifacts. Lends authority to ordinary material. Changes the way visitors will attend to ordinary materials in the service of a story.

Elaine Heumann Gurian A MULTIPLE STRATEGY Background Read flora, object Reading rail Mounted touchable object.

Elaine Heumann Gurian a reproduced full-scale environment These are the strata of the cliffs down the road

Elaine Heumann Gurian AUDITORIUM Adds: --  Possible Performance and live demonstrations. Respite. Additional information. Sound, Motion, Context.

Elaine Heumann Gurian TECHNOLOGY -- Movie Small Theatre in exhibition Adds context, motion, etc.

Elaine Heumann Gurian Take advantage of surprise -- REALITY Real bird nest Placed by bird Now used by teachers Visitors don’t touch or take away.

Elaine Heumann Gurian Amenities Food Service Contemplation Rest Eat Talk, socialize Real environment Also has shop, etc.

Elaine Heumann Gurian INVITATION TO ANOTHER WORLD -- PROCESS Showcase skilled craftsman Recognize contemporary tradesman Talk to real experts Relationship with community

Elaine Heumann Gurian ROLE PLAY – DRESS-UP Fantasy. Story telling. Transport to another time. In the best ones, experience other ephemeral information like gender roles, etc.

Elaine Heumann Gurian ACTIVITY -- SIMULATION Archeology dig Fun in its own right. Also establishes the care and skill needed for a dig. Activity as physical and tactile learning over time.

Elaine Heumann Gurian HANDS ON The real object The real sound The real activity

Elaine Heumann Gurian HANDS ON -- TALK-BACK The audience as teacher. The indication that the audience opinion counts. A change in a power relationship.

Elaine Heumann Gurian HANDS-ON ACTIVITY Actively answers questions. Audience participation in own learning Quiz Easy to misuse the strategy.

Elaine Heumann Gurian MORE ABOUT Multiple levels of information Here very simple Often technology used for this purpose. For audience who wishes to know more.

Elaine Heumann Gurian MORE ABOUT -- OBJECTS For close study Visual Storage For audience who wishes to know more.

Elaine Heumann Gurian MORE ABOUT – GAMES, BOOKS, TEACHER Children’s room Multi-generational Additional information Teacher attendant

Elaine Heumann Gurian A REAL ENVIRONMENT This habitat was created, is small and has an interpretative trail throughout. It is the real flora and fauna

Elaine Heumann Gurian A VOLUNTEER WITH MATERIAL Real touchable materials on a cart, Real Animals A knowledgeable teacher.

Elaine Heumann Gurian THE CART !

Elaine Heumann Gurian SECTIONS – TIMELINE Emblematic First person Sequence

Elaine Heumann Gurian ARTIFACT ENVIRONMENT Stage for demonstrations Craftsmanship Section timeline Real material

Elaine Heumann Gurian SECTION TIMELINE Suggests Dress and roles Peoples history

Elaine Heumann Gurian RECAPITULATION A reinforcement exit strategy

Elaine Heumann Gurian COLLECTIONS STORAGE Study Storage Real size For the specialist

Elaine Heumann Gurian REPRODUCTION, CREATED AS A CLASS LABEL TELLS PROCESS OF MAKING TOUCHABLE STUDENTS LEARN HANDS ON HISTORY

Elaine Heumann Gurian THE REAL EXPERIENCE UNSTAND HOW IT FEELS IN MOTION WHAT THE WORLD LOOKS LIKE HOW IT SOUNDS IN ACTION SOURCE OF INCOME

Elaine Heumann Gurian RESEARCH ARCHIVES OBJECT STORAGE OPEN TO SCHOLARS

Elaine Heumann Gurian ENTHUSIASTS INVITATION TO AMATEURS CHANGE OF AUTHORITY ENLARGED DEFINITION OF MUSEUM WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY

Elaine Heumann Gurian ALTERNATIVE SITE ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE