MUSINGS HITS THE ROAD: A TOUR OF CANADA'S CAPITAL, MMSt CLASS TRIP 2017

WEEKEND EDITION

BY: NATANIA SHERMAN

This past week was reading week, and rather than hibernating, Musings went on a road trip! For those of you unfamiliar with the Museum Studies (MMSt) program, every year the Museum Studies Student Association, MUSSA, hosts a class trip which is open to first and second year MMSt students. Every other year we visit Canada's capital city, Ottawa, to see what's happening in our national museums.

A foggy view of the parliament building (Photo: Natania Sherman)

This year's trip, organized by MUSSA's social chair and Musing's Museum Innovations writer Kelly Mackenzie, brought us to Ottawa in the middle of February where we had the opportunity to devote four days to experiencing the culture and unseasonably mild weather of Ottawa, Ontario.

Between us we managed to visit the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Canadian War Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, the Bytown Museum and the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.

Since Serena and Hayley already provided an overview of the museums and museum programs in Ottawa, this article will just provide a recap of some of the highlights of the trip.

February 23rd

Our first stop at the CMH in Gatineau (Photo: Natania Sherman)

For our first stop, the Canadian Museum of History (CMH), located in Gatineau, Quebec, hosted us for a variety of candid talks about some of their ongoing projects, including the upcoming Franklin Expedition exhibition, inspired by the recent discovery by Parks Canada of the H.M.S. Erebus and Terror in the arctic. We heard from the Virtual Museum of Canada about how they facilitate museum and community online projects and learned a bit about the CMH's approach to accessibility and repatriation of indigenous objects. The highlight, however, was being led on a tour of the Canadian History Hall which is currently under construction but will reopen on Canada Day. I can't wait to go back to see the finished exhibition!

Part of a behind the scenes tour of the Canadian History Hall (Photo: Natania Sherman)

After our day-long visit to the Canadian Museum of History, we had the option to visit the Canadian Museum of Nature or the Canadian War Museum. Choosing which museum to visit in our free time was much like choosing a favourite child, but I ended up visiting the Canadian Museum of Nature to take in the Reptiles exhibit and play with the interactives. All in all, a long day of successful museum-going.

February 24th

Part of the Alex Janvier exhibition at NGC (Photo: Natania Sherman)

Friday brought us to the National Gallery of Canada where we got to hear presentations from staff about their diverse career trajectories and get an inside look at past exhibit, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Lebrun. We got to learn from professionals in every aspect of the museum, from marketing and digital strategies to education and interpretation. We also received a guided tour of the Alex Janvier exhibition from the curatorial team, which provided a deeper perspective into his life and art as well as background to some of the curatorial decision-making that occurred when planning this exhibition.

Students mingling with alumni at Boston Pizza (Photo: Natania Sherman)

In the evening, all students were able to partake in an alumni networking event at Boston Pizza. It was a wonderful experience to get to meet and mingle with so many MMSt alumni working in the Ottawa region and many of us were able to make new connections and get some advice from those who have been there before us.

February 25th

Walking to the Bytown Museum (Photo: Natania Sherman)

On Saturday, the last day of our trip, we had the option to visit either the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum (CASM) or the Bytown Museum for tours of their current exhibitions. This was once again like choosing a favourite child. At the Bytown Museum, we had an amazing tour of the building and got to learn about museum management, especially for a small museum. Those who visited CASM took part in a tour of the collections facilities and current exhibitions. Then we loaded ourselves back on the bus and departed for Toronto


Key Themes from This Year's Trip 

The Sesquicentennial: Canada 150 is a major event that is bound to take over Ottawa, and a major source of funding for cultural organizations. Most of the museums we visited seemed to have some kind of ongoing renovation project related to the sesquicentennial, many of which won't be revealed until July of this year.

Reconciliation: At both the NGC and the CMH many staff members were putting a concerted effort into placing indigenous stories front and centre and trying to place them as part of a living culture within Canadian History. This meant re-evaluating some of the ways indigenous cultures had been displayed previously in their museums and making major changes to interpretive and curatorial practices.

Government: The challenges of being a national museum can impact an institution's scope and mandate as well as create bureaucratic hurdles. Many of the museums we visited had to balance politics with museology as a result of being located in the capital city and political centre of Canada.

Canada 150 logo at the Canadian Museum of Nature (Photo: Natania Sherman)

Thank you to all of the museums and museum professionals who hosted us and shared their current and upcoming projects with us. We really appreciated you taking time out of your busy schedules to talk to us and answer our questions. A special thank you to social chair Kelly Mackenzie and MUSSA for organizing the trip and making sure that everyone had a great time in Ottawa.

CAPITAL CULTURE: THE ORIGINS OF OTTAWA'S MUSEUMS

THROWBACK THURSDAY

BY: SERENA YPELAAR

The title says it all ... this week I'm with some of my Museum Studies classmates in Ottawa, and today is our first full day in our nation's capital!

During my undergrad at the University of Ottawa, I would religiously keep Thursday evenings open so I could enjoy weekly free admission to museums in the city. It's surreal to be back at my old museum haunts as a U of T MMSt student, so I’ve decided to revisit the origins of each museum we'll be visiting. How were these key learning hubs founded, and how did they evolve into the landmarks they are today? Take a look and get acquainted with the history of these museums below.

Canadian Museum of History
Founded: 1856
Initially located at the Geological Survey Building, the Museum of History displayed minerals, biological specimens, and ethnographical artifacts. By 1910 the museum was named the National Museum of Canada and moved into the Victoria Memorial Museum. Eventually, in 1968, the museum was split into the Museum of Man and the Museum of Nature. The latter would remain in the building while the Museum of Man moved to its current location in 1989. To ensure a more gender-neutral name, the museum was rechristened the Canadian Museum of Civilization in 1986 before becoming the Canadian Museum of History under the Museums Act in 2013. The CMH operates in a shared network with the Canadian War Museum. 

Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. Source.

What to look for: The Grand Hall is hard to miss, as it's one of the first things you'll see upon entering. The vast canoe-shaped hall hosts a dozen totem poles, as well as the plaster cast for Bill Reid's sculpture, “Spirit of Haida Gwaii”. The forest image spanning the back wall is thought to be the largest colour photograph in the world.

National Gallery of Canada
Founded: 1880
The National Gallery was formed by Canada's Governor General at the time, Michael Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll. As a prominent figure in society, the Governor General even selected some of the Gallery's first paintings. As of 1882, the Gallery resided in the Supreme Court building, but it too would move to the Victoria Memorial Museum in 1911. The first National Gallery Act was passed in 1913, giving the Gallery its mandate. 1962 saw the museum move to an office on Elgin Street called the Lorne Building, and by 1988 the Gallery was in its current location on Sussex Drive.

"Maman" sculpture by Louise Bourgeois outside the National Gallery of Canada. Source.

What to look for: There's a large atrium nestled at the heart of the gallery, complete with a glimmering pool, high ceilings and skylights. It's a great place to sit and relax, or to take a quiet moment between viewing all the works. Keep an eye out for a similar garden oasis too.

Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Founded: 1964
More recently founded at RCAF Station Rockcliffe as the National Aeronautical Collection, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum was originally an amalgamation of three existing collections (National Aviation Museum at Uplands, Canadian War Museum collection, and the RCAF Museum). The museum was housed in World War II era hangars, but was moved into a triangular hangar in 1988, where it remained. A new hangar was opened in 2006 for additional storage of aircraft. The museum changed its name to “Canada Aviation and Space Museum” in 2010 shortly after reopening from extensive renovation and expansion. CASM is part of the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation.

WWI Sopwith Ship Camel biplane at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Source.

What to look for: The Ace Academy travelling exhibition allows visitors to operate a virtual aircraft in an immersive environment, using their movements to steer a digital rendering of the museum’s Sopwith Ship Camel biplane.

Bytown Museum
Founded: 1917
The Women's Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa (WCHSO) founded the Bytown Museum, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Based on the collections of influential women in society, the museum was originally located on Nicholas Street across from the Carleton County Gaol. Today it is housed in the Commissariat building next to the Rideau Canal, between Parliament Hill and Château Laurier. The Commissariat dates back to the construction of the Rideau Canal as overseen by Colonel John By, and the Bytown Museum reflects the history of Ottawa and its roots in the building of the Canal. 

The Bytown Museum, situated alongside the Rideau Canal. Source.

What to look for: I'm a bit biased because I was on the Bytown Youth Council during my undergrad, but the museum boasts a number of unique political and military artifacts on the third floor. Look for Thomas D'Arcy McGee’s death hand in the flesh – or plaster, rather – the cast follows a Victorian death mask tradition and was taken just after his assassination in 1868. Keep an eye out for the pocket bible that intercepted a bullet in WWI and saved the life of the soldier who was carrying it.

Hopefully this list was a sufficient primer on the museums we’re visiting. If you’re not with us in Ottawa this week, with any luck you’ll able to visit these institutions in the near future!

SMOKE AND MEMORIES

OBJECT OF THE WEEK

BY: HAYLEY MAE JONES


Have you ever been camping? Imagine yourself out exploring nature. Your tent is set up, and the sun is setting in the distance. You have a fire cracking in the background; the pleasant scent of smoke fills your nose. I cannot explain, but the scent of smoke is very distinct in my mind. Every time I smell a wood fire, I am brought back to my childhood memories of roasting marshmallows on the fire with my family.

When smelling the "scratch and sniff" card at the Bytown museum in Ottawa, I was not brought back to my childhood camping memories. The "scratch and sniff" card is supposed to replicate the smell of the Great Fire of 1900. This fire destroyed both the city of Ottawa and Hull, leaving 15, 000 people homeless. The "scratch and sniff" card provided by the museum gave off a strong, toxic smell, unlike my childhood memories of camp fire songs and marshmallow roasting. The smell made me feel afraid.

Personal Photo: Hayley Mae Jones

This object shows the power smells can have on a visitor.

Many museum scholars such as Sandra Dudley explore the idea of mutisensorial museum experiences. These experiences immerse all five of the visitor's physical senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. These types of experiences are meant to engage visitors while creating unique and memorable experiences.

This being said, the sense of smell is difficult to incorporate into public settings. There are many people who suffer from allergies and sensitivities to smell, making it dangerous to have different smells dispersed throughout museums. The fact that the Bytown was able to incorporate the use of smells within their exhibit in a safe manner, makes their "scratch and sniff" cards my object of the week.

Let me know in the comments below if you have had a multisensorial experience in a museum!

ENTER THE MMSt CLASS OF 2017 #LET'SGETPROFESSIONAL

INTERNSHIP CHECK-IN

BY: MAYA DONKERS

Hello again, Musing's readers! It has been a minute since my last article, and I am embarrassed to admit I just caught up on all-things-Musing's. From the Grad Guide to What's Happening Wednesdays, I feel caught up on the life and times of MMSt students - but what about the interns? The first instalment of internship check-in is here to catch us up on the amazing opportunities underway for my classmates who are fast approaching the half-way mark of their internship placements.

As for me, I started my internship April 25th, which means I am at the end of my FIFTH week and officially half way through my placement at Canada's National Ballet School.

I'm all about that Sharing Dance get-up. Photo Source: Danielle Rutkowski.

As much as I could talk about my own internship for the entirety of this post, I'm not about to 'check-in' with myself and have instead asked four outstanding interns to share their stories... Enjoy!

Anthony, Collections Management Intern at Black Creek Pioneer Village 

When did you start your placement? May 9th, 2016

Tell us about what you're working on! As a collections management co-op student at Black Creek, I am in charge of cataloguing objects and integrating them into Black Creek's Collection. My main project is to create a discovery station using objects in the collection in order to better inform the public about life in the 19th century.

What do you enjoy the most? I like the fact that I get to see how my work actually directly impacts the institution for the better and improves the public's understanding of the past.

What are you most apprehensive about? I think the thing I was most apprehensive about was the distance. Everyone said how far Black Creek is, but with the express buses from Jane, the commute is manageable and can actually be fun!

What is the most important think you've learned so far? Never underestimate the importance of object research. Sometimes you might think an object is for one thing, when it is really for something totally different.

Spinning the First House at Black Creek. Photo Source: Black Creek Pioneer Village.

Dana, Collections and Registration Intern at the Aga Khan Museum 

When did you start your placement? April 25, 2016

Tell us about what you're working on! I am currently working on an Emergency Preparedness Plan for AKM (conducting risk assessment and identifying assets of the museum; researching best practices for emergency response and recovery procedures and creating the Emergency Preparedness Handbook; sourcing and procuring supplies for the Emergency Preparedness Cart). I am also developing a provenance research policy and a variety of collections management tasks, including: processing acquisitions, incoming loans, condition reporting, collections inventory, and training in the collections management software - The Museum System (TMS). 

What do you enjoy the most? The fact that I'm treated as a member of the team, not simply a student or intern. My opinions and ideas are welcomed and encouraged, and my supervisor has invited me to shape the internship according to my own interests. 

What are you most apprehensive about? I was concerned that I may not receive enough guidance or perhaps be left to my own devices during the internship. I was excited to have my own projects and end with something that I could call my own, but I didn't want to be left unsupported either. I really shouldn't have worried about this, the entire staff at AKM is wonderfully supportive and no question is treated as too small. They understand that, as an intern, you are there to learn and they are there to teach you. 

What is the most important think you've learned so far? My very first week was trial by fire. I came into the museum during the installation of the new exhibition Marvellous Creatures and it was all hands on deck. With couriers, conservators, designers, collections staff, and curators running around and passing out tasks I learned pretty quickly that teamwork is essential. Tensions run high, mistakes happen, but so long as your team continues to support one another you will come out of things with a beautiful exhibition (and no casualties)! 

Some artifacts on display at the AKM. Photo Source: CTV News. 

Emily, Exhibitions and Events Intern at Lord Cultural Resources

Contributor's Note: When I approached Emily about sharing her experience for Musing's she informed me that she isn't allowed to discuss her projects, but would share what she could. As each internship is unique, I thought it was a great opportunity to include a different version of a check-in to this shared experience. 

When did you start your placement? May 2, 2016

Tell us about what you're working on! I am an intern at Lord with the Exhibitions and Events team, where I am working on content development, interpretive strategies, sourcing images for various exhibitions, as well as examining best practices for a variety of different institutions. 

What do you enjoy the most? By working on many different projects at various stages of their development, I'm exposed to multiple types of content and processes. I appreciate my team's support, being treated as an equal, diving right into projects, and always being able to ask questions when needed. 

The MMSt summer must-read. Photo Source: Lord Cultural Resources.

Kate, Research and Exhibition Development Intern at Bytown Museum 

When did you start your placement? April 25, 2016

Tell us about what you're working on! I am writing labels and exhibit text for the Bytown Museum's 100th Anniversary Exhibition (opening Feb 2017) and I am assisting the Exhibitions and Collections Manager as needed (exhibit installation, monitoring galleries, etc.)

What do you enjoy the most? I think what I enjoy the most about my internship is knowing that the objects that I helped choose and the research and content that I produced will be used in an upcoming exhibition. I am very much looking forward to visiting the Bytown Museum in 2017 and visiting an exhibit that I helped build! 

What are you most apprehensive about? Apart from emails for administrative things, I had only spoken to Grant (my supervisor) for 5 to 10 minutes before I started my internship. I was (unnecessarily) worried that I had misunderstood what my duties as an intern would be, or that the project I would be working on wasn't actually as cool as Grant made it sound. 

What is the most important think you've learned so far? It's hard to have someone shadowing you - be sure to let your supervisor know that you want to go to the meetings that they do, and help even with what they think are menial or routine tasks. The beginning of an internship is a learning curve for both the intern and the supervisor, so make sure your expectations and needs are clear from the get go. 

"Helping"install the bust of Lady McDonald. Photo Source: Kate Seally.

Well, it looks like we are all caught up with the first round of interns! I would like to thank Anthony, Dana, Emily, and Kate for sharing such amazing insight and experiences. I wish each of you all the best in the remaining time at your placements. 

I love to hear more stories so feel free to share your internship experiences, favourite tasks, high points, crying in the washroom low points... in the comment section below! 

We feel you Dwight Schrute, we really do. #let'sgetprofessional

VIP ACCESS TO CANADA'S CAPITAL MUSEUMS

MUSEUM MONDAY

BY: CADY MOYER

View from the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill.
You can see the Canadian Museum of History to the left, and the National Gallery to the right.

Welcome to another Museum Monday! My name is Cady Moyer, and this is my most exciting post yet.

This past week, students and professors from the iSchool, mostly from the Museum Studies program, embarked on a whirlwind tour of Ottawa. Leaving Toronto in the afternoon on Wednesday, January 14th, and returning late in the evening on Saturday, January 17th, we went behind the scenes at museums big and small, visited national heritage sites, dined with program alumni, explored the tasty offerings of the Byward Market, and froze on the seasonally frigid streets of Ottawa.

In just two full days and two half days, we collectively managed to see:

the National Gallery of Canada, 
the Canadian Museum of History, 
the Canadian War Museum, 
The Museum of Nature, 
Parliament Hill, 
the Bytown Museum, 
and the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. 

Through both special programs set up for us by museum staff, and through our own adventures, we got an in depth look at what it takes to be a museum in Canada’s capital.

The trip’s main events were the special programming put on for us at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) on Thursday, and the Canadian Museum of History (CMH) on Friday.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH
Megan Richardson, Chief of Education and Public Programs at the NGC, and alumnus of our program, met us at 9am for a full day of talks and tours of the gallery. The day’s presentations included the museum’s innovations in programming and design, as well as function with social media, and making the most of statistics to guide a museum through the year. At lunch there was a guest speaker, fine art photographer Edward Burtynsky, sharing both the ideas and stories behind his work as an artist, and the photographs themselves. Our scheduled time wrapped up with a tour of the Biennial Exhibit, showcasing Contemporary Canadian artists’ works. Our tour guide did an excellent job of showcasing the qualities of a modern interpreter by being inclusive and sharing authority to create an engaging experience through participation. The rest of the day students to themselves to tour the rest of the museum, or retire to the hotel to rest for an alumni reception later in the evening.

Heading to the alumni reception.

MMSt students checking out the
Biennial exhibition at the NGC.

Edward Burtynsky at the NGC.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16TH
On Friday, we all bundled up against the bright chilly morning and crossed over into Quebec to visit the newly renamed Canadian Museum of History (previously the Canadian Museum of Civilization). We heard all about the new Canada Hall redesign that is opening in 2017 from both a collections, and project management standpoint. We also got to know a little bit more about the restructuring of the museum from the Director General, Jean-Marc Blais. There was time to explore the museum at lunch and for forty-five minutes after presentations. At the end of presentations, some students ran off to make the most of the afternoon with a special behind-the-scenes exhibit tour at the Canadian War Museum. I was drawn to CMH’s temporary exhibits—1867 Rebellion and Confederation; Canada’s Titanic—The Empress of Ireland; and Ni’N Na L’Nu—The Mi’Kmaq of Prince Edward Island—as well as a quick walk through the Children’s Museum which made me yearn to be five years old again.

Early morning to the CMH.

New name, same beautiful building at the CMH.

MMSt students hearing about dining
etiquette from a volunteer in the
Empress of Ireland exhibition at the CMH

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17TH
After the rigour of the previous two days, Saturday morning each person got to set their own pace at a museum, or museums, of their choosing. Some went to the Canadian War Museum, others to the Museum of Nature or the Aviation Museum. Myself and a small group of students headed off to the Bytown Museum, followed by a guided tour of the Parliament buildings. We had the privilege of a VIP tour with the Executive Director, and MMSt alumnus, Robin Etherington.

The museum was closed to visitors that day which gave our group the unique experience of having a tour that was concurrently about the museum’s content and its management. Robin gave us her undivided attention, establishing a professional dialogue with us and answering all of our very detailed questions. Of great interest to me, was the Bytown Museum’s community exhibition space, where cultural groups within Ottawa can apply to mount a temporary exhibition. I find this such a fantastic idea because it engages the museum directly with its community, it broadens its audiences bringing in new people to the museum, it makes the most of the small museum’s resources, and it breaks up potential museum hegemony by bringing in other perspectives.

Executive Director of the Bytown Museum,
Robin Etherington talking about the
community exhibition space.

MMSt students exploring the Bytown Museum.

MMSt students exploring the Peace Tower.

Inside the library on Parliament Hill. 

As a museum studies student, the greatest value of the trip were times like these, when I saw, heard, or experienced a museum output that was a really great idea, one to be remembered. While “beg, borrow, and steal” is a saying that is often heard from museum professionals, as students, we have the opportunity to meditate upon these ideas and distill them into an essence of what works, what doesn’t, and why; and that can prepare us to innovate in our own careers.

Each of the nearly fifty attendees experienced their own trip highlights. My favourite moment was watching the trip’s organizer, MMSt candidate Alex Somerville, receive a thank-you gift from the group—it was a book about Marshall McLuhan written by Alex’s undergraduate degree supervisor. Alex shot out of his bus seat in excitement, with a look on his face akin to Jennifer Lawrence winning an Oscar, and with the same amount of charm. I wish I had caught it on camera. 

MMSt students waiting to get picked up
by the bus to head back to Toronto.

The bus trip home to Toronto.

Museum Studies goes to Ottawa was jam packed and full of fun, but why take just my word for it? Hear it from those who went on the trip! During the bus ride back Jaime Clifton-Ross, Musings Editor, and I went around and interviewed a few people about their favourite or most memorable moments. Keep in mind that while filming it was dark, my camera was my phone in my hand, and The Princess Bride was playing on the bus T.V. sets (the scene where Buttercup is almost eaten by eels makes a dramatic appearance on a few of these clips), but all the same, the enthusiastic and excited spirit of the trip is easy enough to see. 

That enthusiasm and enjoyment pervaded not only our experiences on the trip, but also beamed from museum professionals we met with in Ottawa. One professional cautioned us during her presentation, that if you’re not having fun, if you’re work is constantly making you want to tear your hair out, then make a change, find a new way, make it enjoyable again. 

Happy Monday everyone, have a great week, and innovate your way to a better day.