mus(eum)ings

Historian Job Update

2011-09-16T12:54:00.000-05:00

The past few months have flown by! I can't believe I started working for a corporate archives department six months ago. I've accomplished a lot in such a short period of time.

Cataloging
I've cataloged new accessions and donations, entered additional information to previously cataloged files and reorganized archival materials. Entering additional information and reorganizing the collection will hopefully allow staff members to find materials quicker in the future. Overall, I have gone through roughly four hundred files on our collection information management system.

Research requests
I receive approximately one to two research requests a week. Research requests are generally from internal departments, interested visitors, collectors, authors and museum staff members. I recently completed research requests for a historic house, art museum and poetry author. Research requests, similar to organizing and cataloging the collection, are a great way for me to learn more about the collection and our company's history.

Exhibitions
I've created three exhibitions over the past few months. I've enjoyed working with the exhibit designer and manager to create exhibits that families and interested visitors would enjoy. I was primarily responsible for pulling the content and creating the exhibit labels, while the exhibit designer and manager helped create mounts, set-up the exhibit and provided feedback about content and design. I'm currently planning two temporary exhibitions that will be set-up in December.

Museum texts
I've created flyers and exhibit labels for the above exhibitions. I'm also currently working on a e-newsletter to further promote the exhibitions, the archives department and our company's history. I'm hoping the e-newsletter will be a jumping off point for a blog or other social media website.

Archives tours
I started giving tours of the archives department early this summer for new hires, interns and visitors. The archives tours are a great way to teach new hires about our company's rich history. I have given roughly seven or eight informal tours. I've received positive feedback about the tours, but I'm currently looking into creating an evaluation survey.

Museum Studies: Fall Classes = Last Semester!

2011-09-07T20:15:00.000-05:00

This summer flew by! This summer I was very busy. Aside from working at the archives department, I was also juggling the Girl Museum, volunteer work and graduate school--all while trying to see family and friends. It was all worth it though, because I'm almost done with my MA in Museum Studies. I will be completing my degree in December 2011, so this fall is my last semester.

I'm enrolled in Material Culture and the Modern Museum and the Practice of Museum Publishing. Classes officially started today and so far I have quite a bit of reading ahead of me.

Do you have a history, library or museum-related degree?

What was your favorite course?

9/11 Museum Exhibits

2011-09-01T08:24:00.000-05:00

Dozens of museums around the country have created exhibitions to remember and educate the public about the September 11 attacks. I recently visited the Newseum in Washington, D.C. It was interesting to see how visitors reacted to the Newseum’s 9/11 exhibition and with one another. I have never seen tissue boxes in a museum, but I have to admit I definitely needed them during my visit.

Have you been to the Newseum? Or any of the following exhibitions? What did you think?

Would you change anything?

National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Memorial Exhibition

The exhibit is currently open.

American Folk Art Museum

9/11 National Tribute Quilt

The quilt is currently on exhibit.

Penn Museum

Excavating Ground Zero: Fragments from 9/11

Organized in conjunction with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in New York, “Excavating Ground Zero” will be on view from Aug. 20 through Nov. 6, 2011.

Field Museum

Ground Zero 360

The exhibit opens on September 2 and runs through the end of the year.

National Museum of American History

September 11: Bearing Witness to History

The exhibit will be on view September 3 through September 11, 2011.

Brooklyn Museum

Ten Years Later: Ground Zero Remembered

The exhibit opens September 7 and runs through October 30, 2011.

Museum of Mobile

9/11 Exhibit

The exhibit opens on September 11 and runs through December 2.

State Museum

9/11 artifacts on tour

Ground Zero Museum Workshop

Images & Remnants from the Recovery

Newseum 9/11 Gallery

2011-08-30T08:24:00.000-05:00

Newseum 9/11 Gallery

Many museums have been planning and installing exhibitions in remembrance of September 11 for the past few years. I had the opportunity to see the Newseum's 9/11 Gallery - Chronicling an Attack on America this summer.

The exhibit is emotionally powerful. Visitors see the exhibit's focal point, a 360-foot antenna from the World Trade Center, across the room. Behind the antenna hangs a wall of hundreds of newspapers. The newspapers feature various cities and countries reporting on that tragic day. A nearby tissue box brought my attention to a small theater. Many visitors grabbed a few tissues before entering the theater.

A short 10 film, Running Toward Danger, is intense for each and every visitors. I was in middle school and overseas on Sept. 11, 2001. I didn't have anyone that I loved or cared about near the Pentagon or World Trade Center and I'm thankful for that, but the short film immediately brought me to tears. The film focuses on first-person accounts, including accounts from journalists who went into Ground Zero, instead of evacuating the area.

Please note that there is a sign - “Warning: Some material in the film may be too intense for young children” - in the theater.

Overall, I found the exhibit to be educational. The exhibit serves as a reminder and allows visitors of all ages to learn or learn more about the tragic event. Visitors will also learn about the challenges journalists, newspapers and the media face when reporting on sensitive topics and events. It's interesting to see the differences in how various cities and countries reported on this tragic day. It's also interesting to see the how different each visitor responses to the gallery.

What did you think of the Newseum 9/11 Gallery?

Have you been to any other 9/11 exhibitions?

Ask a Historian: Job Duties and Favorite Internship

2011-08-28T09:00:00.048-05:00

Ask a Historian - Job Duties

What do you like must about the museum field? Your Job? -Susan

I first became interested in the history, archaeology and the museum field when I was in fifth grade. I could not stop watching Indiana Jones :) The thought of discovering something that no one had seen or used in hundreds, thousands of years was exciting to me. As an anthropology undergraduate student, I became interested in how to describe and display objects for the public.

One of my favorite aspects of the museum field is that museums, museum professionals, bloggers, reporters and authors can provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes aspects of museums, archives and libraries. Open storage, interviews or seeing someone set-up an exhibition not only allows the public to understand the importance of the museum and collection, but it can also allow others to want to become involved. One of my earliest memories of a museum visit involved an exhibit designer telling me how different types of lights can allow the visitor to better appreciate an object's beauty. Although I did not focus on exhibition design, I will never forget that conversation.

My favorite job duties are research requests and providing tours of the archives department. Tours allow visitors behind-the-scenes access to the institution. Research requests allow me to share the collection in a unique way with authors, scholars and museum professionals.

Ask a Historian - Internship

And what was your favorite internship experience? How did you find out about it? -Susan

My favorite internship experience was probably my first internship experience. It was my favorite because I became a jack of all trades. I worked for a small, history museum with only one paid staff member and several volunteers. Due to the size and limited budget of the museum, I was able to acquire multiple skills (research, exhibit design, tours, etc).

This internship was not advertised. I basically created the position for myself after visiting the museum and meeting the curator. I contacted my school, the volunteer manager and the curator to set-up an interview. To my surprise- they said yes. I started the following week. This experience made me realize that we shouldn't be afraid to ask!

Look for new Ask a Historian posts every Sunday!

Want to ask a question?

Feel free to email me at museumings@gmail.com or ask me on Twitter.

More on Exhibit Labels: Does Font Size Matter?

2011-08-25T14:57:00.002-05:00

Exhibit Labels - B. Serrell

As a museum visitor do you notice exhibit labels? Do you find them helpful? Or do you think they provide not enough or too much information?

Prior to starting my new job, I had only created exhibit labels for Exhibition Strategies (a Museum Studies graduate course). It's easy to say that exhibit labels should be simple, concise and support the exhibit's main theme, but it's not an easy task to create labels.

I've been busy planning and installing a few exhibits (including small display cases) over the past few weeks. Exhibit labels can make or break an exhibit for some visitors. Font size and design can be just as important as the content.

For example, prior to planning an exhibition featuring greeting cards from 1900 - present, I noticed very small font on the exhibit labels in the location I will be using. The exhibit labels are about the size of a 3x5 card, but the font size was about 8 - 10 Times New Roman. Using smaller font sizes creates more room for content, but not all visitors would easily be able to read the labels. Font sizes should be larger and at eye-level. Personally, I prefer exhibit labels to be between 25-50 words (photo caption, object label) and 50 - 100 words (introduction panel, secondary, primary panels, etc).

Personally, I prefer the font size to be above 12 - 14 Times New Roman. Larger font sizes allow visitors, esp. children and the elderly, to read labels easily. Larger font sizes also allow visitors to read the labels from farther away (which is helpful when the exhibit area is packed with visitors).

Do you notice exhibit labels?

Do you notice a difference between font sizes on labels?

What makes labels successful?

If you have created an exhibit label, feel free to share your experience in the comments section!

How to Set Up an Exhibition

2011-08-24T18:55:00.000-05:00

The past few weeks have been pretty busy for me! I'm currently in the process of discussing and planning possible exhibits for the next few months. As many of you know, I work for a corporate archives department. I am responsible for pulling content for exhibits. I'm also responsible for setting up two temporary exhibitions every two to three months.

Every exhibit plan is different. The size of the exhibit team and institution, time and budget can affect an exhibit plan. Below are some basic steps on how to set up an exhibition.

Research

1. Create an exhibition team
2. Decide on the Big Idea or main theme of the exhibit
3. Select a set-up and/or opening date
4. Discuss the location
5. Research
6. Pull content
7. Take photographs and fill out a condition report and loan form, if applicable
8. Frame objects, if necessary
9. Purchase and/or make mounts, etc
10. Exhibit labels
11. Transport the objects
12. Set up the exhibit space
13. Advertise the exhibit

Acid free boxes, content

The last two exhibits, (1)1960s candles and (2) photographs, company product 1960-1980s, I've were a bit time consuming, however the objects were easy to transport and pack due to their size and weight. How did I pack the objects? Acid free boxes and tissue paper can be a museum professional's best friend. Keep in mind that objects should be carried with two hands, one at a time, when working with the object. Use a cart to transport objects for an exhibition.

Check out the links above to learn more about installing an exhibition!

Upcoming posts include More on Exhibit Labels and 9/11 Exhibitions.

Ask a Historian - Internships

2011-08-21T09:00:00.001-05:00

Ask a Historian- Internships
I work full-time and have a part-time job on the side. I'm also working on a graduate degree, however I have little to no museum experience. I don't think I have time for internships, so how can I acquire museum experience? If internships are the only way to go, where can I find internships that aren't very demanding? - Sarah

Although a graduate degree is a great thing to have and seems to be needed in most fields in today's economy, I can't stress enough volunteer positions and internships can help in the job hunt. Not only can you gain practical experience, but you will also make valuable connections. My first internship involved me working directly with the curator. The curator ultimately became my mentor in the museum field. He helped me find other internships, introduced me to museum professionals and provided insight on which graduate courses I should enroll in.

Most internships are advertised for a specific amount of time (i.e. three months, one year, 120 hours, etc.), however don't be afraid to ask if the museum offers shorter internships. Also don't be afraid to contact museums that don't offer or advertise internships. All they can do is say no. Perhaps, even guide you to another department or museum offering internships. I would recommend volunteering, even if it's just a few hours a week or even a month, at a local museum. Many museums need docents!

Do you have any vacation time saved up? Last year, I used my vacation to complete an internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The NMNH offers an Alternative Spring Break Program and Alternative Winter Break Program for undergraduate and graduate students that have limited time for internships. Each program advertises internships for specific departments that can range from one week to a couple months. I interned in the Botany and Mammals departments over Spring Break and Winter Break 2010. I made some great contacts and gained valuable experience. Search NMNH on my blog for details of my experience.

Hope this helps!
Samantha - Mus(eum)ings

Look for new Ask a Historian posts every Sunday! Want to ask a question? Feel free to email me at museumings@gmail.com or ask me on Twitter.

Royal Opera House Costume Sale

2011-08-18T12:01:00.000-05:00

Image from the londonist

Deaccession can be a touchy subject for any institution (i.e. whether it should be done or not, how it should be done, etc), however when it is done--with transparency--deaccession objects can be easily bought by other museums and institutions that would like to display the objects.

The Royal Opera House will be selling costumes at the High House Production Park on September 24 and 25, 2011. Prices will range from 20 to 500 Euros. The proceeds will be used for funding work at the Royal Opera House.

Image from the Royal Opera House blog

Collectors, museums and other potential buyers will have the opportunity to purchase costumes from the Sleeping Beauty, Don Carlo, Duke Bluebeard's Castle and many other productions. To learn more about the sale and plan your trip, please visit the Royal Opera House.

Ask a Historian - Graduate School

2011-08-14T10:10:00.006-05:00

Ask a Historian- Graduate School

I'm currently looking into graduate schools. I hope to become a curator in the future. I'm not sure what type or size of a museum I would like to work for though. What graduate schools are the best option for someone that wants to continue to work full-time while attending? What schools have you attended? Will graduate school help me find a job? -Megan

Hello Megan,

Have you looked into local state-school programs? Many graduate school programs can be done part-time. I'd recommend looking at the nearest schools that offer history, art history and/or museum studies programs.

I have an undergraduate degree in anthropology from a state school, but decided to attended an online program for graduate school. Why? I could 'attend' class and do homework anytime during the day or night. I could still work full-time and make contacts from all over the world.

Have you thought about online programs? I’m currently attending Johns Hopkins University. JHU offers a great online Museum Studies program. The program also helps students find internships and connect with museum professionals online and in person. Students can make professional connections at meet-ups around the country and at the two week on-site seminar. I will be completing my degree in December 2011.

Johns Hopkins University, Master of Arts in Museum Studies

JHU offers many classes that focus on all types and sizes of museums. This program is well rounded and each course can easily be applied to the real world. As an undergraduate, I rarely had the chance or felt like my education was focused on theory. However, many of the online courses at JHU (i.e. Exhibition Strategies, Collection Management) have allowed me to apply what I have learned to my job on a daily basis.

I think the contacts I made online (museum professionals, students, professors) and in-person (onsite seminar, events) helped me in the job hunt, but I also made sure to continue doing internships. I have worked full-time and completed two internships on the side while taking two classes each semester. It's a bit hard to juggle, but I'm sure it helped me land my dream job.

To learn more about JHU, check out the Course Descriptions, Frequently Asked Questions and Highlight on Students.

Other great museum studies programs? I've heard good things from friends and other museum professionals about the University of Leicester and George Washington University.

Good luck and remember to apply early!

Samantha - Mus(eum)ings

Look for new Ask a Historian posts every Sunday! Want to ask a question? Feel free to email me at museumings@gmail.com or ask me on Twitter.

Ask a Historian

2011-08-11T15:39:00.001-05:00

I've recently received a few emails asking about specific procedures and internship opportunities. I plan on posting answering these questions in upcoming posts.

Do you have any questions? If so, email me at museumings@gmail.com or feel free to post your questions in the comment section.

Feel free to ask library, museum or archival questions. I'm also happy to answer questions about my experiences.

Want me to review a specific exhibit? I do travel quite a bit, so let me know! Check out my exhibition reviews in the tab above.

What makes me qualified to answer your questions? I'm sure I'll be learning more about my field for the rest of my life, but I have (1) held four museum internships, (2) worked at a research library for over three years and (3) am currently a historian for an archives department. I am also almost done with a graduate degree in museum studies.

Hope I can help!

When should you turn down a donation?

2011-08-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Acquiring new materials for the archives department is part of my job as a historian. It is also important to know when to say no.

When you say no to a donation...

-The object does not fit the institution’s mission.

-It is a duplicate of another object.

-It is not what the owner thinks it is.

-The donor has too many strings attached to the donation.

-There is be provenance (ownership) concerns.

-There is not enough space to store it.

How to say no?
Rejection can cause hurt feelings, so it is important to get to know the potential donor. Instead of simply saying no, I have explained what the decision was based on. For example, a few weeks ago—after seeing a display I created featuring candles—someone came by the archives department to donate a candle from the 1960s. I did not accept the donation because we already had an identical object in the collection and this object was in poor condition. Explaining my decision in a tactful manner will hopefully allow the donor to feel as if he or she can still make donations in the future.

How to work with small display cases

2011-08-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Display case at the Smithsonian NMAH

I'm currently working with two small or awkward display cases. It is important to plan and brainstorm an exhibition space, but smaller display cases can be a challenge.

Difficult Exhibit Space

I've previously worked with a difficult exhibit space for Exhibition Strategies (a museum studies graduate course). Due to our narrative concept and the exhibit space's angles, we found it necessary to create a Bubble Diagram (a layout of the themes and space) prior to creating the Narrative Walkthrough (description of the themes within the space). A Bubble Diagram, although helpful for an exhibition, is not necessary for display cases that are not part of a larger theme.

Horizontal Display Case

The horizontal display case, approximately the size of a jewelry counter, currently has 1960s candles on display. It is important to think about the following: How many objects can fit in the display case comfortably? Will the objects fall over if someone bumps into the display case? The candles are standing on their own, if heavy enough, or have small mounts to provide support. Due to the size of the case and the amount of objects featured, I decided to use only one description label or panel for the collection.

Vertical Display Case

Over the next two weeks, I will be planning the layout and context of a vertical display case. This display case is approximately the size of a door, but is about twelve inches deep. Greeting cards, correspondence, photographs and gifts will be featured in the display case.

A vertical display case causes some major concerns in regard to mounting the objects. Framing each paper object may be a solution. Due to space, time and a limited budget, archival photo corners can do a similar job. Although archival photo corners do come with glue, the backing can be stapled to the wall or foam board. Archival tape can placed over the backing.

If the archival photo corners are placed on foam board, there is a vast range of possibilities for hanging the objects. The objects can be hung with fishing line, little supports to make then stand up, or creating a card structure such as a pyramid or column.

Museums on Twitter

2011-08-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

I recently joined Twitter! Interested? Follow here. Many museums and museum, history, archives and library professionals are on the social media website to talk about anything and everything. Museums and professionals are using Twitter and other social media websites to connect with visitors locally, nationally and internationally in new, innovative ways. Visitors can learn more about museum roles, upcoming events and history in general. Visitors also have the opportunity to interact directly with the museum by asking questions.

I plan on using Twitter to talk about my day to day life as a historian and museum intern. I will also be providing behind-the-scenes pictures. If you have a question, feel free to ask me on here or on Twitter! Hope to see you online.

http://twitter.com/#!/museumings

Preserving family and famous correspondence

2011-08-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Over the past few weeks, I have been cataloging, organizing and storing famous correspondence, photographs and newspaper clippings for the archives department.

How should old letters or documents be handled and stored? Make sure your hands are clean! Oils from your hands can easily transfer to the documents. Gloves might be suggested by some professionals, but be careful! Gloves can cause a loss of feeling or awkward mobility when handling paper-based objects.

Instead of writing the catalog information directly on the letter or envelope, I mark and/or label the acid-free folder and box in which the materials will be stored.

Interested in preserving your family letters or documents?

Below are some quick tips:
-Digitize the document.
This is useful in case the object becomes damaged or lost.

-Handle documents as little as possible.
Doing so will help keep the document in its current condition.

-Do not use staples, rubber bands, paper-clips or post-it notes.

Check out my previous blog post about this here.

-Do not laminate letters

Place the letters in acid-free folders and/or boxes. Clear, plastic sheets can be used as well.

-Do not throw out the envelopes.
The envelopes can provide names, locations and the date.

Alexander McQueen Exhibition

2011-07-31T11:34:00.001-05:00

Fashion is a form of art.

The exhibition features the late Alexander McQueen’s collections from 1992 to 2010. Over one hundred ensembles are featured. Alexander McQueen will forever be know for the way he "challenged and expanded the understanding of fashion beyond utility to a conceptual expression of culture, politics, and identity."

Although I have not seen the exhibition, the photographs, videos and exhibit reviews all focus on the unique exhibition design. Each space is a representation of McQueen's thought process of history, naturalism or romance. Design elements feature music, air machines, concrete, wood, mirrors among other things.

Please note the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition will be closed on August 7, 2011. The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be open extended hours, until midnight, the last two days of the exhibition.

Have you seen the exhibit? If so, please share! What did you like? Dislike? To learn more about the exhibition, please check out the Met's About the Exhibition webpage. A video of the exhibition space and objects can also be viewed on the Met's website.

History on TV

2011-07-30T17:38:00.001-05:00

1950s Television Set

Sorry for the delay in posts! I took a mini vacation from the internet. I've been pretty busy the past few weeks at work--so more posts coming soon.

My vacation consisted of watching quite a few history TV shows. My favorite shows from the History Channel are Pawn Stars, American Pickers and American Restoration. Each show features unique, historical items that people are willing to sell and/or want to restore.

Pawn Stars
Historical documents from presidents, military uniforms, rare coins, sunken treasure, Salvador Dali artwork and the Batmobile are some of the items that the Pawn Stars have seen come into their store. It's amazing to see what people have inherited, collected or even found at garage sales! It makes it seem like every estate or garage sale, abandoned storage unit or grandma's attic could be an opportunity for treasure. My favorite part of the show is the fact that the Pawn Stars call in professionals (museum curators, handwriting analysis, rare book experts, etc) to authenticate and/or value the object in question. It's interesting to see and learn more about the experts background in each episode.

American Restoration
I first heard of Rick Dale, from Rick's Restoration, after learning that the Pawn Stars call him to restore objects prior to selling them in the pawn store. American Restoration allows the visitor to see how Rick restores objects like a gas pump, barber shop pole and bank safe among other things. Restoration can really increase the value of an object for collectors, if the process is done correctly.

American Pickers
I have an undergraduate degree in anthropology and a concentration in archaeology, so it probably comes as no surprise that I love American Pickers. The stars of the show are willing to travel anywhere on a lead, crawl into dirty places, if need be and haggle for the ultimate find. With my background in anthropology, museums and the fact that I love going to flea markets, estate sales, garage sales and search the internet for unique items---I guess you could say I'm a picker!
Are you a picker, too?

Vacation

2011-07-30T15:15:00.001-05:00

Upcoming posts on cataloging, exhibitions and museum news will be posted soon!

Smithsonian Live Online Event: Value the Land

2011-07-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Are you interested in learning more about the Smithsonian Institution? Do you want to connect with Smithsonian experts? Do you want to share ideas and help solve environmental challenges? If so, check out the Smithsonian Live Online Event: Value the Land on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. I'll be working most of the day, but I plan on attending the Community Narratives lecture. Hope to see some of you there.

Smithsonian Tree Banding; 9:00 to 9:50 am, EDT; Presenter: Josh Falk.

American Indian Responses to Environmental Challenges: Working for a Sustainable Future, 12:00 to 12:50 pm, EDT; Presenters: Genevieve Simermeyer, School Programs Manager and Ed Schupman, Education Product Developer, National Museum of the American Indian

Community Narratives: Citizens Recording History, 2:00 to 2:50 pm, EDT; Presenters: James I. Deutsch, Curator, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage; Alex Griswold, Executive Producer, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; and Joshua Bell, Curator of Globalization, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History

Stories of the Forest: Human Impacts of Deforestation, 3:00 pm to 3:50 pm, EDT; Presenter: Joshua Bell, Curator of Globalization, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History

To learn more about the online event, please check out
http://www.smithsonianconference.org/shout/schedule/

(Please note the above information has been re-posted after learning about it on the Museum- L serve. The blogger was not paid to promote the event. The blogger simply will be attending the free event).

Evergreen Museum and Library

2011-07-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

Image from PlanetWare

I loved visiting the Evergreen Museum and Library in Baltimore, MD. It was interesting to see that many of the rooms did not have objects under display cases. Object labels were also neatly tucked away in binders. Not seeing display cases and labels everywhere made me feel like I stepped back in time and could be joining the Garrett family for a party in the salon or studying in the library.

Target Audience: The target audience is scholars, faculty members, JHU students and alumni, art lovers and the general public. The Evergreen House has been open to the public since 1990.

Exhibit Design: The exhibit designer’s goal was to design each room as the Garrett family had it previously. The Garrett family’s seamstress, who lived at the home, could tell the exhibit designers the exact location of specific objects. The Evergreen’s chairman of the board, which is a Garrett family member, may have also provided this information. Everything from the wall colors, curtains and placement of cigarettes, lemons, wine, and tea cups have been placed in the rooms to provide the mood and ambiance of the time period. As a whole, the exhibit designer must have imagined the Evergreen as a place that would allow visitors to step back in time.

Engage visitors: Visitors of the Evergreen Museum and Library can only enter the historic house with a docent. Tours are on the hour. I found Susan Sandberg, a docent, to be very engaging and a great story teller. Visitors will enjoy traveling back in time with Susan! Visitors can also pick up a few brochures including the American Throne, Exhibitions, and Garrett Family Interests to learn more about the historic house and family history.

Interactives: I did not see any interactives during my visit. The historic house does offer a few brochures and visitors can read additional exhibit information located in a binder in each room. Visitors can attend the Lecture Series during specific months or even see a performance (music, artist or actor) in the Theater.

Evaluation: I did not see an evaluation survey at the Evergreen Museum and Library. I was expecting one to be in the Museum Shop since we started and ended the docent-lead tour there, but instead the docent just asked us if we enjoyed the tour and if we had any questions or comments.

To learn more about the museum, please visit JHU Museums Evergreen Museum and Library. Other museums on campus or run by Johns Hopkins include the Homewood Museum and the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum.

Girl for Sale - CNN iReport

2011-07-07T08:47:00.001-05:00

As an intern for the Girl Museum, I am primarily responsible for researching future exhibition themes and gathering images or maps. Girl for Sale is the latest online exhibition I helped create.

The Girl Museum creates online exhibitions to explore contemporary social issues concerning girls and the history of how those situations came into existence. Exhibitions feature artwork, photographs, blog posts, audio and/or video recordings.

Girl for Sale is an interactive exhibition, created by the Girl Museum and the American Poetry Museum, that discusses and responds to girl trafficking through poetry, art and education. It is about outrage, survival and prevention. The exhibition allows visitors to share words, images and resources to raise awareness about human trafficking. Visitors can also participate in polls that will test their knowledge on how to prevent or escape a possible trafficker.

Girl for Sale is an innovative exhibition, because it ultimately allows the visitor to help create the exhibition. Girl for Sale will continue to expand over the next three years, incorporating contributions from the public, new partnerships and Girl Museum staff members.
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To learn more about this exhibition, please check out CNN's iReport page. The Girl Museum and other organizations are posting information on CNN's iReport page to raise awareness and help end human trafficking.

Walters Art Museum

2011-07-05T09:00:00.004-05:00

I really enjoyed my visit to the Walters Art Museum. The Walters Art Museum’s mission is to bring art and people together for enjoyment, discovery, and learning. During my visit, I felt very comfortable, engaged and excited to learn more!

Image from Arts Beat

Ergonomics: After entering the Walters Art Museum, I visited the Visitors Information Desk to pick up a map and a few Family Guides. The entry to the museum was very loud, due to the nearby café, but overall I found the galleries to be quiet, serene and a place for me to think. The map of the WAM floor plan is an easy to use tool that helped me locate specific galleries in a timely fashion. I found the galleries to be easy to navigate.

Exhibition materials: I noticed the following exhibit elements; wall colors, lighting and labels. I found that the objects and labels are greatly supported by the both bold and neutral colors of the walls. The neutral colors are light blues and yellows, while the bold colors are rich reds, dark blues and vibrant greens. Some of the wall colors are also reminiscence of vintage wallpaper. The wall color and texture remind me of entering a period home and the materials helped tell the story of the exhibition. The mood of the exhibition is further stimulated by the artificial light. The lighting allowed the mood and ambiance of most of the galleries to be calm and inviting.

Image from Museum Coupon

Family Guides and Activities: The museum is family friendly on-site and online. I saw numerous families with children under the age of 12 point out Waltee on the display cases. For example, “I saw this with Waltee!” and “I haven’t found this on Waltee’s Quest.” Visitors with children will also enjoyed reading about Waltee exploring specific galleries in the Family Guides. While in the Asian Art Hackerman House, I noticed one family with a young girl going through the Asian Art Family Guide. The young girl was trying to find the objects on her own despite her parents telling her to follow Waltee’s paw prints on the Family Guide’s map.

Interactive(s): Aside from overhearing comments about Waltee’s Quest, I did not see many interactives. I saw one computer screen in the Islamic gallery on the third floor. The computer in the Islamic gallery featured an interactive view of the Islamic Manuscripts. I really enjoyed looking at the beautifully designed manuscripts online. I also saw reading materials, including children books and catalogues in the galleries but perhaps I overlooked other interactives. If other visitors are also overlooking the interactives, it would be helpful to include clearly defined symbols on the WAM map that indicates the interactive.

Museum Conferences

2011-07-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

AMM

Did you miss the American Association of Museums (AAM) conference in Houston?

If so, check out the following conferences!

I plan on attending the Association of Midwest Museums conference, also known as MUSEUMPALOOZA, in July.

Hope to see some of you there!

Visitor Studies Association (VSA)
Sustaining a Community of Learners
Chicago, Illinois, July 24-27, 2011

Association of Midwest Museums (AMM)
2011 Annual Conference
Chicago, Illinois
July 24-27, 2011

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

2011 Annual Conference

Atlanta, Georgia

September 12-17, 2011

American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)

2011 Annual Meeting

Richmond, Virginia
September 14-17, 2010

Western Museums Association (WMA)
2011 Annual Meeting
Honolulu, Hawaii
September 23-26, 2011

Association of Science - Technology Centers (ASTC)
Knowledge That Works — From Theory to Practice
Baltimore, Maryland
October 15-18, 2011

Mountain Plains Museums Association(MPMA)
2011 Annual Conference
Helena , Montana
October 17-21, 2011

Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC)
2011 Annual Conference
Greenville, South Carolina
October 25-27, 2011

New England Museum Association (NEMA)
Museums in the Mirror: Reflecting Relevance in a Diverse Society
Hartford, Connecticut
November 16-18, 2011

Feel free to post information on upcoming conferences in the comments field! Thanks!

LOL: A Decade of Antic Art

2011-07-01T10:00:00.008-05:00

Contemporary Museum

The LOL: A Decade of Antic Art exhibition at the Contemporary Museum in Baltimore, MD is a special exhibition that shares the stories of an indirect participant’s involvement in funny, real situations.The artists find unique ways to insert themselves in their art whether it is in live performance, news articles, neighborhoods or other public areas. The Contemporary Museum’s unique character and mission allows the museum to act as a social instrument.

Design: Visitors made their way through various white painted rooms, which focus on numerous funny, real stories of the artist or the causal passerby. For example, photographs titled Zebra Crossing explained how to make a crosswalk in nine easy steps. It was an interesting social experience. Although the general design of the exhibition is lackluster, the exhibition’s big idea or main theme is inspiring. To me the big idea is the ability to recognize the importance of the individual as a member of society in all types of situations. Ultimately, this exhibition has the ability to spark conversation, because the artwork is personal, provocative and relational to the visitor.

Labels: The labels provided simple, cohesive explanations to the artwork on display, however the information was just printed off a computer and taped to the walls (CORRECTION: Sue Spaid, Director of the Contemporary Museum, notes that "object labels are printed on adhesive paper"). I would have liked to see a unique format or design for the labels and panels.

Collection: I really enjoyed seeing the different mediums (including performance art) make up the antic art movement. One artist was dressed in a rabbit costume. I was expecting the artist to jump or make the visitors laugh, but instead he stayed perfectly still during his performance (CORRECTION: "The rabbit never budges because no human being hides inside"). My favorite piece was Why you should buy art? by William Powhida. This print was funny and made me interested in learning more about the artist.

Ergonomics: The signs for the LOL exhibit are easy to read, but are not spread out throughout the exhibit. I had a hard time finding the next gallery area within the exhibition because there was not proper signage. After pulling a curtain back, thinking it was a staff only area, I discovered the exhibition also included digital art in a theater-like setting. If I didn’t pull the curtain back, I wouldn’t have seen this part of the exhibition.

Aside from being difficult to navigate, there is not much room for the physically handicapped to move around. The space between each gallery might cause bottlenecks, uncomfortable crowding and/or confusion. There is also no air condition. The concrete floors and lack of air condition could make visitors cut their visit short if they feel physically uncomfortable.

Summary
Overall, the visitors might have a hard time navigating the exhibition due to the lack of signage and exhibition layout. The staff did a great job on keeping the labels short and to the point, as to not overload the visitor; however the exhibit labels could be presented in a different way.

PLEASE NOTE: Exhibition reviews are based on my personal opinion. I urge each reader to visit the exhibitions, whether I give the exhibit a positive or negative review.

Image from

http://www.city-data.com/businesses/524615549-contemporary-museum-baltimore-md.html

What I learned.....

2011-06-30T17:40:00.001-05:00

Aside from creating the conservation video for the Walters Art Museum and JHU, I also had the opportunity to visit multiple museums and meet museum staff members. I spent most of my time in Baltimore working on individual and group assignments, but I did get to walk around JHU's campus, see the city and create relationships with current and future museum professionals. Although it was stressful at times, I know I can apply some of what I learned to my current archival position.

The conservation video I helped create made me realize that others (internally and externally) would like to see what the archives department does and virtual tours could also be created for those that can't attend an archives tour. I also can apply the some of the evaluation methods (visitor observation, tracking, surveys) we discussed to my own department.

My next few posts will focus on some of the museums I was able to visit while in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. this month. I'll also be posting more about my job over the new few weeks!