A Lesson in the Challenges of a Curator

Assignment #5

The following is my attempt, and I emphasize attempt, at designing the First Person Museum exhibit roughly following Parman’s six step process.  Although I understood my fellow classmate’s critiques of the actual exhibit design, I do like the curator’s approach of placing the objects in their “natural cultural settings” such as a dresser or shelf.  That made it harder for me to create my own design because I kept returning to similar ideas.  However, I harnessed the archaeologist in me and put more of a historic spin on the exhibit layout than the real exhibit.  Here we go…

Step 1: Mission Statement, Take-Home messages, and storyline

The mission of my project would be very similar to that of the individuals already working on the exhibit—I want to create an exhibit readily accessible to the local community, as well at the city at large, which resonates with the average person.  The project should highlight how every person, regardless of age, race, gender, and class imbues commonplace objects with meaning.

1.     Objects change over time; some change more dramatically or rapidly, but most objects evolve as human culture evolves;

2.     Objects can be deceptive; what one person feels is a commonplace blanket, for example, may be a young girl’s most cherished item.  People give objects importance and elevate them to a higher status.

Step 2: Organize the Storyline
For my exhibit, the storyline would show why the past is relevant how people in 2010 can connect with the people of the past by showing that these objects have a past just like their owners and the visitors.  Because of my archaeological background, I am interested in showing how an object from 200 years ago may look today—how has it changed?  Or has it really changed that much?  For this reason, I am using what Parman calls the “Comparison/Contrast” approach to organizing the objects. 

Step 3: Exhibit Arrangement
The floor plan consists of 16 glass cases that will house the objects.  They are placed around the perimeter of three sides of the room.  Each case will be dedicated to one of the objects in the collection and they will be arranged in chronological order depending on the development of that object or object type.  Above each case will hang two pieces of art; it will be like a “then and now” installation where the left piece of art will portray that object in a historical setting (possibly in the 17^th, 18^th, 19^th, or early 20^th century).  The artwork could be an original painting, a lithograph, a copy of an original painting, etc.  The piece on the right will be a photograph of the actual object in its typical context (such as a sugar bowl by a coffeepot or on a kitchen table). By juxtaposing an image of that object from an earlier time with a contemporary image, I hope to highlight how much, or how little, these objects have changed in both form and function.  In between these two paintings there will be a short text panel (about 50-100 words) briefly explaining how that object was originally used or came to be, similar to what we are doing for our final assignment.  However, I would like each actual object to have the owner’s narration accompany it; the owner would explain how they acquired it and why it is significant to them through audio rather than text.  I think by emphasizing the person behind the object, the visitors will have a deeper understanding and connection to the people and the object’s history. 
There is a seating area in the center of the room that is meant to spur conversation and exchange of ideas.  Because this is both a museum exhibit and community project, I hope that the owners of the objects, local community members, and outside visitors will feel invited to sit down and discuss the collection.  Although highlighting the history of objects is one of my goals, it is not the primary focus.  I want to create a space that not only demonstrates how commonplace objects can impact our lives in such profound ways, but enables people from different locations and points of view to openly discuss what they gleaned from the exhibit and maybe share stories about objects that have impacted them in a profound way.

Below is what I created in Floorplanner using my limited computer skills and artistic abilities.