Deconstructing Exhibits: What is an Exhibit Anyway?

What is an exhibit anyway? To exhibit: to present for others to see To present in a public exhibition or contest To give evidence or an instance of; demonstrate To present or introduce officially To put something on public display Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

What does an exhibit do? An exhibit raises issues visually (and maybe with other senses) so that they can be grasped quickly. Creates “call-outs” Can ‘call-outs’ readily be identified by the visitor? The thoughts, feelings, and responses as you experience the exhibition as a visitor

The reinvented museum meets its test: the authority of exhibits “Authenticity is not about factuality of reality. It is about authority. Objects have no authority; people do… Authenticity – authority – enforces the social contract between audience and museum, a socially agreed upon reality that exists only as long as the confidence in the voice of the exhibition holds.” (Crew & Sims p.163) Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

The reinvented museum meets its test: the authority of exhibits “Although curators might hold authority over interpretations stemming from their technical and scholarly knowledge, that does not necessarily qualify them to speak to meanings that are based on nonscholarly criteria of knowing” (Lisa Roberts “Changing Practices of Interpretation”) Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

McLean “Dynamics of Dialogue” Embracing the tensions “Museums are both temple and forum….exhibitions are about people communicating with each other. By embracing the tensions inherent in a dialogue,…we will become better able to articulate our issues in common.” Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

Recall your favorite exhibit: What made it so memorable or enjoyable? Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

First - Some basic ways to think about exhibits Duration Scale Modes of communication Process Space Experience Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

On the matter of representation To represent: To stand for; symbolize To indicate or communicate by signs or symbols To depict in art; portray To present clearly to the mind To draw attention to by way of remonstrance or protest To describe or put forward (a person or thing) as an embodiment of a specified quality To serve as an example of Museum exhibits often are “models” of very complex concepts and realities. Selection of objects, label text, arrangement, and design all carry value and have an impact on the viewer

Kinds of exhibits: Duration Permanent Temporary Traveling Mobile / Portable

Kinds of Exhibits: Scale Range of scale: Blockbuster –large size (# objects, sq.ft.) –high profile –big budget Small, temporary –Few or single object focus –Low budget –Low tech (little media) –Few interactives

Kinds of exhibits: modes of communication Not mutually exclusive : –Emotive (Aesthetic and Evocative) –Didactic –Interactive/ Participatory I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Other ways to think about exhibits: what makes them effective? As a process As a designed space As an experience Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

The Rules of Display Simplicity: ‘ cleanness’ and lack of complication Simplicity is difficult Emphasis: the stress or prominence given to an idea, object, or design element. If all elements are of equal interest, no one of them will receive attention. Unity: singleness of effect or style, related style, or totality of related parts Repetition and consistency are crucial. Balance: the "weight force" or influence countering the effect of another element in the display Determining the visual weight of various design elements is difficult. Derived from Sally Lancaster’s Exhibits in the LibraryExhibits in the Library

Exhibits as process: exhibits are authored, designed, created by people Exhibit Development staff (museum staff, exhibit design firm, or combination) Curator-centric model –Curator as expert and author with support team of assistants, designer, educator, registrar Team model –“Core” team (curator, designer, exhibit developer, educator) –Broader team (adding one or more of the following: fund raising/development, marketing, collections manager, facilities manager, museum store manager (if merchandising is an issue), school programs coordinator, media specialists (web designer, etc.) Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

Exhibits as process: How are exhibits created? Models for thinking about exhibit development –Film production Varied roles on the production team Story boarding process –Plot line and drama –Visual communication –Research paper Main message, point of view Supported with scholarly research –Amusement park ride Planned experience, drama Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

How are museum exhibits different from other models (films, research papers, amusement rides)? Different goals Different tools Different relationship with the community Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

An exhibit mission statement? Mission statements vs. plans Elements of an exhibit mission statement should reflect the museum’s mission statement

Exhibit goals “Objects, ideas, and people are met in the interpretive exhibition, a kinds of narrative form. It is a narrative concerned with re- presenting the past, making present that which is not usually present” (Crew and Sims, p.173) Learning outcomes (changes in visitor knowledge, skills, attitudes, etc.) Experience design (what visitors will do and feel, how they will interact Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

Exhibits as a designed space: The toolkit Objects Images Text Media Interactives Props Live interpreters Audience Design of Ambience/environment Infrastructure Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?

An exercise: Deconstruct two online exhibits Discuss Civil War and Edison examples Duluth Lynchings Online Resource An award-winning Minnesota Historical Society virtual exhibit Native American Art: Irish American Trade A British Museum exhibit that is the focus of an IUPUI MSTD class and a possible Eiteljorg exhibit Deconstructing exhibits: What is an exhibit anyway?