Exhibition Strategies 2008: An Orientation on Implementation

1. Exhibition Strategies2008 An orientation power point to begin the conversation on exhibition thinking and implementation without regard to content. Useful for: Novice students and as an orientation to create some common language for further discussion. To be used with discussion of audience needs, learning styles, exhibition techniques. Elaine Heumann Gurian

2. Exhibitions • Can be about any subject as long as someone is interested in it. • Must be enhanced by three-dimensional material. • The exhibition creator must be passionate. • The material must answer some overt or unexpressed question. Elaine Heumann Gurian

3. Styles • It is important to know as many design strategies (including interactivity and technology) as possible and then choose the ones that fit best for each application. • Copy from everyone! • Visitors have multiple ways of learning. Therefore always create more than one entry to understanding. • Modulate the levels of activity, noise. Quiet, etc. everything should not be high involvement Elaine Heumann Gurian

4. Money matters -- • But not as much as you think. • Technology is expensive • Tactility does not have to use technology. • Good design can be used for any kind of material Elaine Heumann Gurian

5. LONG AGO1890 • Exhibitions used only objects, cases, labels and walking around. What did it feel like? • Notice the aisle size. www.smithsonianlegacies.si.edu/ photos/133.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

6. NOT SO LONG AGO1970 • Any difference? • It is clear that many museums have retained the classic model with only minor modifications. www.museum.vic.gov.au/history/ images/1970.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

7. EXAMPLES OF EXHIBIT TECHNIQUES • A short series of exhibition techniques follows. It is far from exhaustive. Elaine Heumann Gurian

8. LOTS OF PICTURES -- NO TEXT • Easy to do • Makes a statement • Reinforces idea www.macromedia.com/.../osamu/ images/exhibition.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

9. LOTS OF PICTURES NO TEXT -- MORE • Can be art show • Can be designed • Presents multiple evidence www.arcspace.com/kk_ann/ 4/exhibition.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

10. Few pictures no text • Dramatic • Walls flexible • Focus attention www.randolphdesigns.com/ images/exhib_img2.jpg , Catherine Wagner & IDDA ,1993 Elaine Heumann Gurian

11. MULTI-MEDIA & TEXT • Uses all types of exhibition strategies • Expensive • Exciting, not restful www.ambs.com.au/images/ content/exhibition.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

12. TRAVELING, HANDS ON, TEXT, OBJECTS • Easily packed • Multiple learning avenues • Place for human interaction www.dpie.com/images/ exhibition.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

13. CASES, OBJECTS, TEXT • Conservation, security considerations • Case and lighting design makes aesthetics • Contemplative, offers close looking • Often repetitive and fatiguing Elaine Heumann Gurian

14. CASES, OBJECTS, TEXT -- MORE -- AND WHEN THE SUBJECT INTERESTS THE USER, THE INSTALLATION BE ORDINARY. www.cnn.com/.../people/shows/ diana/images/exhibition.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

15. REAL PLACE, TEXT, IMAGES • Authentic • Atmospheric • Interesting • Environment • Sensory • Special l www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ .../images/exhibition.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

16. TRYING WITHOUT RESOURCESMoney matters but not unduly. Greece 1974 • Explain details • Give an example • Exercise to re-enforce learning www.culture.gr/4/42/421/42101/ 421019/00/lm011901.jpg • POIGNANT • ATMOSPHERIC • WHAT DOES IT NEED? CAN WE HELP WITHOUT EXTRA MONEY ? Elaine Heumann Gurian

17. Atmospheric case II • Organized • Different levels www.phm.gov.au/exhibits/archive/ Powerhouse -- australia Elaine Heumann Gurian

18. Dress Up – Role Play • Great fun • Superficial? • Creative • Maintenance plantpath.wisc.edu/~glf/newest/ children-museum-garden.jpg www.wowmuseum.com/images/Exhibits/ Safari%20Pirates.jpg Elaine Heumann Gurian

19. Hands on -- Experiential • Experiential and engaging • Fosters personal learning • Difficult to successfully create • Often facilitates person to person interaction. • Maintenance. www.pova.com/visitors/visguide/ images/pdx05.jpg www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/ images/group_visits.jpg . Elaine Heumann Gurian

20. Evocative Stage Set www.boisestate.edu/firstnations/ ifthesewalls2.jpg • “If These Walls Could Talk” • C. Maxx Stevens, Artist, Educator, Arts Administrator • Boise Art Museum, First Peoples Conference 2002 Elaine Heumann Gurian

21. Teaching, host, tactile • Human interaction • More object protection • Explaination, educational • Administrative, personnel costs www.thechildrensmuseum.org/ volunteer.html Elaine Heumann Gurian

22. Performance • Reserve space • Site lines • Administrative, performers cost • Engaging, experiential • Group interactive www.cmany.org/images/ IMG_0311.JPG Elaine Heumann Gurian

23. PARTICIPATORY/ SHARING AUTHORITY • Social Networks • Associated with webs • Tagging and clouds • Talk back boards and audience engagement. • Levels of audience engagement see Simon, Nina , The Participatory Museum, 2010. Elaine Heumann Gurian

24. LAYERING • The most effective exhibitions have layers of available understanding to cater to different learning needs and expertise. • Possible layers could include: • Orientation and definations. • Tactility and interaction. • “More About” access to additional information and additional study objects. • Technology • Audience participation. Elaine Heumann Gurian