WHAT MAKES AN EXHIBITION GREAT?

EXHIBITION REVIEW

By Meaghan Dalby

I find it bittersweet that school is coming to a close. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to talk about in my final Musings post, and I realized I needed to talk about why I wanted to write for the Exhibition Review column. So let’s break down what, for me, makes an exhibition great.

How to get that "Meaghan Dalby Seal of Approval"
Source: Meaghan Dalby

INTERESTING TOPICS
I feel like many of us take this one for granted. Of course, we find the topic we’re working on exciting and special, especially when you work on it for 8 months straight, you tend to adopt that topic as your own. Who wouldn’t want to come to an exhibition on an obscure 18th century technique to get rid of mice from wheat fields?? THAT’S INTERESTING STUFF!

I think we can all agree that the topic is what will either draw visitors in, or repel them. So a great exhibit has a topic that is relevant, interesting, and thought provoking to their public.

GOOD DIDACTICS
An exhibition loses me if the text is too dry or too long. I want to get to the point, and quickly.
Give me some context, give me some quotes, and give me the most important facts so I can wow my friends later.

VISUALLY PLEASING
Let’s be honest here, design matters. If your colour scheme is neon green and orange you better have a really good reason. And, there’s nothing worse than an exhibition that tried to jam too many things in their cases because they couldn’t bear to cut some things out. Or perhaps there’s no way-finding directions and you’re not sure where you’re supposed to go. Find a good designer and never let them go.

I just... I don't .... ugh
Source: http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/images/cabinet-of-curiosities-2.jpg

SOME HANDS-ON STUFF
This is so so so important for me. The best exhibit’s I have ever been to, all had some kind of interactive element for me to fool around with. I’m a firm believer in having a variety of learning channels available to your visitor. For some, reading isn’t the best way to learn. Maybe it’s building something, touching something, or listening to something. One of my most memorable museum experiences was listening to the difference between a happy swarm of bees and an angry swarm of bees at the Museum of Food and Agriculture .

Admit it, you want to know what the difference sounds like...
Source: Meaghan Dalby

A POWERFUL MOMENT
This one is harder to come by. It can depend a lot on your topic, and it 100% varies visitor to visitor. It’s that magic moment where a visitor experiences something new, or discovers something mind blowing. It’s the Stanley Cup for museum professionals; the whole reason we’re here is to try to make an impact. And every great exhibit creates one.

BUT ULTIMATELY...
As one of my exhibition teammates and I were sitting on my livingroom floor eating Smartfood, veggies, and sipping on wine asking ourselves “What makes a meaningful visitor experience?” and “How can we create interactives which extend learning?” I realized I was excited about answering these questions. As we kept shooting our own ideas down, and building them up to be better, it suddenly became clear that passion and dedication is what makes an exhibit great. The people who eat, sleep, and breathe exhibition design and interpretive planning are why the best exhibitions are the best. At the risk of sounding corny (ok, definitely sounding corny), I hope one day I will be one of those people.

1 IN 4.63 MILLION: A VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN AMSTERDAM

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

As some of you know, I was lucky enough to travel to Amsterdam over Reading Week to visit a dear friend of mine. She still had to work while I was there, and that left me plenty of time on my own to do all the museum things. I had my list and set out to conquer it.

The first museum I went to see was the Anne Frank House. A friend had suggested I book tickets online, so I booked them on a whim a couple of hours before. And THANK THE SWEET SWEET LORD I did.

Only a small section of the line up....
Source: http://www.thewanderblogger.com/2013/09/experiencing-the-anne-frank-house-amsterdam.html

When I hopped off the bus, and went looking for the House, I came across this alarmingly long line of people. That couldn’t be it, right? Wrong. This line of (no exaggeration) 100 people definitely lead straight to the Anne Frank House. I couldn’t believe it - I’ve never seen so many people wait in line for a museum. Apparently wait times can exceed 2 hours. I not-so-quietly patted myself on the back for buying ahead of time and walked past all those poor suckers. 

Anne Frank House from across the canal
Source: Meaghan Dalby

With this experience in mind, I made sure to pre-buy a ticket for the Rijksmuseum. This time, I thought I was an old pro. I knew to expect the lines, even on a Tuesday morning in February, but I had my special pre-bought ticket, nothing could stop me. Wrong again. The Rijksmuseum is the Number 1 visited museum in Holland, and a new temporary exhibit Late Rembrandt had just opened three days previous. Needless to say, even though I had already bought my ticket, I still waited over an hour to get in to see Late Rembrandt and the rest of the galleries. 

Waiting to get into the Rijksmuseum

Source: Meaghan Dalby

Line up to get into Late Rembrandt 

Source: Meaghan Dalby

This experience made me think about what museums were like at home vs. what they’re like in Europe. Why do so many more people flock to these institutions, while our own continue to struggle with attendance?

I don’t know for sure, but I would hazard to guess that the majority of visitors to the Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House are tourists. According to Wikipedia, there were 563 million international tourists to Europe in 2013, compared with 169 million to the Americas. There is an expectation of history in Europe; I think it is perceived as being “older” than North America, and therefore somehow more culturally significant.

Accurate depiction of myself abroad
Source: http://textandcity.blogspot.ca/2013/05/tourism-as-sin-12-spies-and-idea-of.html

I have never seen lineups at the ROM or the AGO, or even at the Canadian War Museum or the National Gallery, the way I saw them in Holland. While it certainly is positive that people are visiting museums, I wonder how we as Emerging Museum Professionals can create the kind of quintessential destination in our Canadian institutions, as I witnessed abroad. Why is there this stigma that North American museums and culture are not as interesting or worthy of our time and money?

That all being said, I’m going to play my own devil’s advocate here and questions if out-of-this-world attendance is ideal. My visit to the Rijksmuseum, while informative and interesting, wasn’t my best museum experience BECAUSE there were so many people. Perhaps we can strive for a happy medium? What does that look like?

AWESOME OR NOT AWESOME? RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM EDITION

EXHIBIT REVIEW

BY MEAGHAN DALBY

I have mixed feelings about aquariums. It’s probably because I watched too much Free Willy as a kid, and my mother’s disdain for Sea World, but I just can’t tell if the fish are happy. Anyway… this post is not going to be about animal rights (though maybe we'll have a post about that in the future), it’s about Ripley’s Aquarium as a centre for learning. But it was because of my moral dilemma that I haven’t gone before now. Well, that and the fact that it costs $30. But I kept hearing how AMAZING it was, so I managed to get a discount, and a few friends and I went on a watery adventure. 

Dramatic lighting sets the mood
Source: Meaghan Dalby

For this post, I’m going to review some elements of the aquarium. There were things that were awesome, and things that were less awesome, and since we all love lists….

Spin Browser … Awesome!
These “Spin Browsers” (definitely could have had a cooler name…) allowed the visitor to control the speed and direction of the video being played. You can move the wheel to make the video move super fast, you can rewind, make it go in super-slow motion. It was very cool because it allowed the audience to take control and explore the things they wanted to further.

Of course, if I had been thinking, I would have filmed myself playing with Spin Browser. But I wasn’t thinking, so all I have is this photo. You can kind of get the idea…

Spin browser allows visitors to control the action
Source: Meaghan Dalby

Moving Sidewalk … Not Awesome
Seriously? This seems super unnecessary and also made me feel like I had stepped onto the set of Wall-E. The walk moved super slowly, and forced you to move along at a prescribed pace, which didn’t jive with the speed I wanted to go. To be fair, there was normal floor right beside, so I just avoided the moving part. I’m not sure if it was installed to keep people moving during high-traffic times, but honestly, thinking about the maintenance I'd bet it’s more trouble than it’s worth. 

You can see the resemblance...
Source: http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_original/divusykzeshocmo8vvb1.jpg

Jacob unable to contain his excitement on the moving sidewalk
Source: Meaghan Dalby

Blatantly Obvious Signage … Awesome!
There is nothing more frustrating than coming up to an interactive and not knowing what to do with it! The Aquarium has sought to destroy this frustration with these signs. Simple problem? Simple solution.

Source: Meaghan Dalby

Broken Interactives … Not Awesome
I am fully aware that thousands of kids run through the Aquarium every week. Any science centre worth it’s salt knows that everything has to be robust and nailed down, because kids are little you-know-whats and will destroy everything in their paths. However, it was still disappointing that when I went to “see like a shark” I couldn’t. Stupid kids. 

Now I'll never know what a shark sees :(
Source: Meaghan Dalby

Showing Behind the Scenes Up Front and Centre … Awesome!
A really cool part of the Aquarium was seeing all the tanks and regulators needed to control all the different pools. It’s a trend to let audiences come “behind the scenes;” it’s popularity is proven with the increase in Collections tours. I think Ripley’s made the right choice in showing this feature, and making it part of the attraction rather than hiding it from view. THINK OF ALL THE SCIENCE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES … THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES! 

Pumps and science stuff
Source: Meaghan Dalby

Immersive Experience … Awesome!
The reason, I’m certain, that the Aquarium is so popular and I kept hearing rave reviews is because of how you feel when you’re walking through. The tanks which house the animals are overwhelming, and you get the sensation that you’re at the bottom of the ocean looking up at all the fish and other marine creatures. There’s also some pretty spectacular mood music, which made me feel like I was a mermaid (so obviously super brownie points for that). The entertainment aspect of it was spot on, and you really felt like you were swimming with the fish.

"Fish are friends, not food"
Source: Meaghan Dalby

Guys! We found Nemo(s)!
Source: Meaghan Dalby

Pretty Lion Fish
Source: Meaghan Dalby

Overall, my experience at Ripley’s Aquarium was pretty average. There were some really cool things, and the stars of the event, the fish, were extremely beautiful. However, I didn’t quite get the unified, curated experience I am used to getting from a museum. I felt like I was bouncing around, and gathering random facts. This is where you can say, “well, duh, Meaghan, it’s not a museum, it’s an aquarium”. To that I say, no, not necessarily a museum, but yes, cultural and educational centre. There were some really neat elements, which I would use in my own cultural heritage institution, but there were a few lessons learned too.

What do you think? Are my expectations too high? What's your experience with the Aquarium? 

THE BEST ONLINE EXHIBITIONS

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

Welcome Back!! I hope you all are full of turkey and chocolates, and are ready to tackle a new semester.

Sadly, my holidays did not include any trips to museums, so I thought I’d take a crack at evaluating some online stuff. I did some research, and made a (small) list of the 3 Best Online Canadian Exhibitions.

Since the internet is literally limitless, and there are thousands and thousands of museums online all over the world, I thought I’d create some criteria to narrow down my list. I decided I wanted to look at exhibitions that are solely created for the internet, and do not have a physical component in any museum. And then I thought I’d just look at Canadian exhibits, just for kicks. This narrowed the field considerably. Here’s what I came up with:

# 3. MAVERICKS: AN INCORRIGIBLE HISTORY OF ALBERTA

Screen Shot of the landing page to Mavericks
Credit: http://www.glenbow.org/mavericks/

This exhibit was created this year by the Glenbow Museum in Alberta. I chose it for a couple reasons. 1: it uses the word incorrigible. I couldn’t help myself, and 2: It’s an example of good intentions not QUITE hitting the mark. Right off the bat, they have a fancy intro video, and I’m getting all excited to learn about Alberta (which is rare… I apologize to a certain Musings writer). But the whole exhibit is on this weird pop-up screen, which is pretty small. The icons are great, the photos are beautiful, but the text is tiny. And every time you hit the home button you have to watch that damn intro video (I was excited, now I’m annoyed). However, not all is lost. The information IS interesting and I did learn about Mavericks in Alberta, but there are little things that made the site not-so user friendly. Also, there weren’t any interactive elements… bummer. Hence, the #3 spot.

#2. CANADA AT PLAY: AN ONLINE EXHIBITION OF TOYS AND GAMES 

Screen Shot of the home page
Credit: http://www.historymuseum.ca/canadaplay/introduction/

This online exhibit was created by the Canadian Museum of History. There is no copyright date that I could find, but I would guess that it was created within the last 5 years or so. Canada at Play explores how playtime and toys played a role in development and socialization for Canadians from past to present. Visually, it’s quite compelling, using well-known themes from retro toys and packaging to draw the audience in. While retro on the surface, underneath, the website is quite modern, and has the interactive elements contemporary users are looking for. It’s also very visual, and doesn’t rely too heavily on text. What I really liked (because I’m a giant kid) was the “Play!” section. Here, games tested your knowledge learned in the exhibition. Yes, I played them. Yes, it was awesome. Another component in the Canada at Play exhibit was a Teacher’s Corner, which had lesson plans and work sheets for grades 1-7. I think it’s a nice inclusion, but I wonder, in practice, how much that actually gets used.

#1. BURGESS SHALE

Screen shot of the home page
Credit:http://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/index.php

This is exactly the kind of website I was looking for, when I started this little quest: a truly autonomous, on-line exhibition. This exhibit was created in 2011 through a partnership with the ROM, UNESCO and Parks Canada. As a result, it has more of the up-to date visuals, layout, and interactives (some cool virtual videos) I am used to seeing/was expecting.

Online exhibits can easily give the reader MUCH too much information, since they are not hampered by space constraints, but I think that the Burgess Shale Exhibit does a nice job of not overwhelming readers.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Ok, so obviously this isn’t a comprehensive list, but I learned a few things from scouring the internet (well, the Canadian internet…is that a thing?):

1. A really well put together online exhibit that is visually pleasing, interactive, and informative costs a lot of money and time. My favourite websites were from large institutions, who (presumably) have the resources. So, while an online exhibition may SEEM like a cheap and cheerful way to reach your audience, once you get down to it, it might not be. 

2. An online exhibit is NOT (I repeat not) simply links to your collection page.

3. Online exhibits get old fast. Even exhibits from 5 years ago can seem outdated.

What do you think? Are there some fabulous exhibits that I’ve missed? Share them in the comments below!

REMEMBRANCE IN MUSEUMS: FIGHTING IN FLANDERS

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

Hello Musings Followers,

As I’m sure you are aware, today is Remembrance Day, and lucky for me, things fell into place last week so I could write a blog post appropriate for this day. I was invited to an exhibition opening in Ottawa at the Canadian War Museum (CWM). This exhibition is called Fighting in Flanders: Gas. Mud. Memory., and it tells the story of Canadian soldiers fighting in Belgium during the First World War. So in the spirit of Remembrance Day, I thought I would take this opportunity to reflect on how we remember these events, especially in museums.

Poster for "Fighting in Flanders"
credit: http://www.focus-wtv.be/sites/default/files/styles/article_full/public/canada_0.jpg?itok=dkCSGS5f

First thing’s first: full disclosure. I worked a little bit on this exhibit during the summer, so I MAY not be reviewing it with full impartiality. However, I thought you might forgive me since it turned out to be such a cool exhibit. And yes, if you are going on the Ottawa trip it will still be up so you can form your own opinions.

Melanie Morin-Pelletier, the main historian for the exhibit, giving a speech at the opening
credit: Meaghan Dalby

Ok, down to business. In two sentences, Fighting in Flanders looks at three battles Canadians participated in in Belgium: the Second Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Mount Sorrel, and Passchendaele. Each of these battles introduced a formidable weapon the Allied soldiers had to fight against; the exhibition explains what those were (poison gas at Ypres, firepower at Mount Sorrel, and mud at Passchendaele) and how the soldiers adapted.

There’s a lot I could say in regards to the content of this exhibition, but the best part for me was how they chose to display and disseminate said content. Here are my Top 5 Things To Take Away From Fighting in Flanders:

1. THE TIMELINE OF POPPIES: There are three areas, or zones, in the exhibit, each dedicated to a particular battle, and one zone at the end dedicated to “Memory.” In this section there is a display case that shows how the poppy pin evolved over time, and how its significance changed after the First World War. Of course, part of the reason the poppy was chosen as a symbol of remembrance was because of Canadian John McRae’s poem In Flanders Fields. Not only is it really neat to see how the poppies we wear have changed (or not changed), but I really like how they are mounted on circular pucks, to give some depth to the display. (I thought I had taken a photo, but alas, I did not. So I'm sorry you can't see what I'm talking about)

One of the first poppies worn after the First World War, from the CWM's collection
credit: http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/education/toolkit/images/thepoppy/photos/19720228-001.jpg

2. DISPLAY CASES & OBJECT MOUNTS: It is SUPER obvious I’m a nerd? But honestly, I was so impressed with the quality of the cases (repurposed for the most part from past exhibitions, so not brand new, and not spending a ton of money) and the subtlety of the mounts. 

Not the best photo, but you can kind of see how the guns are mounted simply and effectively
credit: Meaghan Dalby

Case for duckboard taken from Passchendaele
credit: Meaghan Dalby

3. THE SMELLING INTERACTIVES: Yes, you read that right: SMELLS people! SMELLS! In the Ypres section, there are canisters containing (non-toxic) aromas of chlorine, mustard, and phosgene gas. Visitors can gain a little bit better understanding of what a gas attack may have been like. I particularly like it because smell is a sense that is often underused in museums and galleries, so the experience is novel for most visitors. There are some other neat interactive features, but this one was my favourite.

Smelling stations for phosgene and mustard gasses
credit: Meaghan Dalby

4. THE LAYOUT: I can attest that this was debated at length. Every curatorial team has to decide how they want the visitor to experience an exhibit: guided or free range. Fighting in Flanders is kind of both. There is a clear chronological order provided by the battles, but the space itself allows the visitor to wander to each section how they want, as opposed to following a very strict guided path. I like that the visitor is given the information of a preferred path, but then is allowed to make their own decisions and guide their own experience.

5. THE OVERAL FEEL: There are floor to ceiling wall graphics, floor to ceiling video footage, large, crisp fonts, big, attention-grabbing artifacts, and a well thought-out story. There is enough information without it being overwhelming, and it is peppered with activities and interactive elements that make it an experience, not just a text book. 

Looking into the Ypres section (the green screen is a gas wall, meant to make the visitor feel
like they're being engulfed in a cloud of gas)
credit: Meaghan Dalby

Intro panel with impressive wall graphics
credit: Meaghan Dalby

Overall, Fighting in Flanders gives us pretty much everything you want in an exhibit. Having the chance to work on it taught me some key things, which I hope to take forward into my career.

More broadly in terms of us as emerging professionals, it is important to remember that interactives and immersive experiences are good, and can enhance learning, but not to use them for the sake of using them. Days like Remembrance Day remind us that the people we display in our exhibits were real humans, and it is an honour to tell their story 100 years later. We don’t want to get caught up in “making a game” of their experience (which, for the record, I don’t think Fighting in Flanders does). There is a delicate balance between being able to engage our visitors and being respectful of the topic, something all exhibition teams must learn to navigate. Museums can be places of memory, and this element must not be put aside for “edutainment.”

EXHIBITION IN PIECES: PIECE BY PIECE AT THE GARDINER

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

I must admit, Clare Twomey’s exhibition Piece by Piece at the Gardiner is not the kind of exhibit I usually get excited about. Personally, I find a lot of "modern" art too static. However, this piece (or pieces, really) might just change my mind.

Piece By Piece as you walk into the exhibition
Photo Credit: Meaghan Dalby

Piece by Piece is an interesting installation. When you walk in, you are immediately greeted by 2,000 porcelain figurines arranged some what haphazardly on the floor. They're all unpainted and have a white unfinished feel. It's overwhelming. At first glance it kind of looks like they were running around and froze in that spot à la Toy Story (no luck catching them yet…). There are three plinths housing the original figurines, from the Gardiners' collection, which were used to cast the moulds. They are raised up, above a comfortable eye line and are turned facing away from the visitor. Many people don't like this, but to me they are positioned purposely to shut us out. They are raised above us, living in a spot light, as the image of perfection looking down at all their carbon copies relegated to the floor. Full disclosure, it took me probably two days of staring at the exhibit to come to this conclusion. So I don't blame visitors who spend 20 minutes in here for not “getting it” or finding it somewhat inaccessible. 

Some broken pieces on display
Photo Credit: Meaghan Dalby

What is a really cool element, though, is the inclusion of the “maker.” Once a day, an artist will come in, sit at a desk positioned at the other end of the room and make more porcelain figures which are to be added to the floor. The “maker” is part of the exhibit, also has her back to the visitor, and is not allowed to interact with anyone. Again the visitor is shut out, like we're intruding on this weird, almost mad process of creating more and more “perfect” figurines. It's delightfully insane.

The "Maker's" Table
Photo Credit: Meaghan Dalby

I do like this installation. There is so much going on, you could talk about themes and meanings for days. What I like is that every person who comes in has a new take on it from how I've understood it. However, from a museological standpoint, it leaves something to be desired:

1. It's hella dark. The figurines are small, and it's very hard for visitors, especially elderly ones to see them. I know this is how the artist wanted it set up, which raises some questions about balancing the look and feel of an exhibition with accessibility for the visitors.  I'd love to hear your opinions on this below...

The "Maker's" table in the spotlight, the figures in shadows
Photo Credit: Meaghan Dalby

2. There's next to no explanation. There is one wall panel, but it’s written in a way that is hard to understand. Most visitors ask for clarification, so I suppose that having a gallery attendant is in lieu of panels… Though I don't think that was the museum's intent.

3. People don't understand why they are shut out by the “maker” and the objects on the plinths. If they don't talk to the Gallery Attendant, or stay long enough to sort it out, it can be a very uninviting exhibition.

Leita, one of the original figures on the plinths, with her back to us
Photo Credit: Meaghan Dalby

4. I wanted to walk between the figurines SO BADLY. That feeling makes me wish there was some kind of interactive element, even an opportunity to respond to the exhibit in some way. For the most part it feels like we've stumbled into a workshop behind the scenes that we weren't supposed to. But I think maybe that's the whole point (art…amirite??).

Overall, I really like this exhibit. I think there is so much to talk about, and some of the museological concerns I've outlined above can't be avoided. In fact, some of them lead to conversations - which I imaging is part of the artist's intent. 

Has anyone else seen it? What do you think? It's entirely possible that I've been staring at the installation for too long and have over-thought the whole thing. Let me know!!

OPENING NIGHT AT THE AGA KHAN MUSEUM

EXHIBITION REVIEW

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

WELCOME BACK KIDDIES! I hope you’ve all enjoyed your first week of classes.

Without any ado - this week, my Exhibition Review will actually be an “Opening” Review. This past Friday I was lucky enough to volunteer at the VIP Opening of the Aga Khan Museum (AKM). Musings has already written about this wonderfully unique institution here , so I will not be discussing what the Museum is, but rather the historic moment I got to be a part of.

Perhaps it’s because last semester the ROM was celebrating it’s 100-year anniversary that I found myself particularly reflective over this event. Perhaps it’s because my background is in history, so I wonder how people 100 years from now will look back at the opening of the AKM. Perhaps I’m a big suck with far too many romantic notions for my own good (most likely). Either way, the entire time I was there, I couldn’t help but feel that I was witnessing museum history. Even though we weren’t allowed into the auditorium to watch His Majesty the Aga Khan or the Prime Minister give their speeches, they were live streamed for us behind the scenes. It was exactly like you would expect, both speakers made mention of the importance of pluralism and the relationship between Canada and the Ismaili communities. They cut the ribbon, and people applauded. I couldn’t find a video of the speeches, but you can read more here.

H.M. the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Harper unveil the plaque at the Ismaili Centre
Photo Credit: http://www.voiceonline.com/prime-minister-to-open-ismaili-centre-and-aga-khan-museum-in-toronto-on-friday/

Even though the ceremony wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, the building was full of life and excitement. There was traditional music and dancing in the atrium, cementing the idea that the AKM will not be a museum dedicated to just static art, but a place where all Islamic art is celebrated. And don’t get me started on the restaurant. It is decorated with artifacts, which lends an authentic air to the space. The chef was trained for 6 months in Turkey so he could prepare the best of the best Middle-Eastern food. The culinary arts are, after all, arts as well. (Perhaps we can plan a field trip – Irina, what do you think?)

Aga Khan Diwan Restaurant
Photo Credit: https://twitter.com/AgaKhanMuseum/status/510805646942695424/photo/1

The opening of the first museum dedicated to Islamic art in North America is an historic occasion in itself. As Prime Minister Harper said in his speech, “the wisdom of acceptance and tolerance are lessons the Canadian Ismaili community teaches still. In so doing, you have contributed to these fundamental values at the heart of our national identity.” As a frequently misunderstood religion, I could feel the drive for education and understanding at the opening of this museum dedicated to Islamic art and culture. In short, I was very moved.

The Ismaili Centre at Night

Being in this brand new space, which exudes promise, renewed my excitement about entering the work force. I know for myself, I sometimes get trapped in the idea that museums are immovable institutions which have been around forever, and making changes seems incredibly daunting. After all, what can I as a young emerging professional actually hope to do? Witnessing the birth of a brand new museum and seeing new museology in practice was incredibly uplifting. Already, the AKM is inspiring visitors (me!).  It reminded me that new things happen all the time; we will not be students forever. Who knows, maybe 25 years from now I’ll be working in my own brand new museum reflecting on a time when I was in awe of the opening at the Aga Khan Museum.

Cameron and I in front of the Museum

EXHIBITION REVIEW: Bee Exhibit at the Museum of Food and Agriculture

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

So, since this post is about exhibition reviews – I thought I might actually review an exhibit this week. Shocking, I know. Last month, I went to see what would end up being one of my favourite exhibits. The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is located just outside of downtown Ottawa, and is geared towards children and families. There is a petting zoo, live demonstrations, lots of activities, and exhibition spaces. While I was there, one exhibition was about bees. First of all, it was called “Taking Care of Beesness.” Enough said, amiright?

The exhibit was simply laid out, in a linear fashion around the room. It was also very accessible both physically and intellectually. Again, it was obviously focused on kids as an audience (perhaps that’s why I liked it… big kid at heart?). They used the honeycomb shaped plaques (as seen in the picture below) to provide us with information, which added to the atmosphere. There was a great mix of information provided through traditional reading, touch screens, and self-discovery “hands on” activities.

The picture above shows a glimpse in to some of the information visitors are given. They cover topics like how honey is made, how people have used it for thousands of years, why the bee is important to the ecosystem, how bees are different from wasps and yellow jackets, and different kinds of bees found in a hive. It’s simply and aesthetically laid out, with options to explore further on the touch screen.

It was by no means the most complex exhibit I have ever seen, but the Agriculture and Food Museum effectively presented the information to their audience in an entertaining and informative way. The information was not overwhelming, and there was a simple path to follow. What I liked was how they used their interactive activities to reinforce the information presented. For example, after reading about the different kinds of bees in a hive, the visitor comes across a double sided plexiglass case, which has housed a live bee colony. Visitors are encouraged to identify the queen bee, the worker bees, and the drone bees.

I actually learned something on my trip to the Agriculture and Food Museum (not always the case in museums). It was clear that kids and parents alike were enjoying the exhibit. I had to wait a good 15 minutes to take the above picture because there were little faces pressed against the glass. 

Taking Care of Beesness presented what it promised: information about the lives of bees, and their impact in our world as humans. At a time when the importance of bees in the ecosystem has been somewhat prominent in the news, this exhibit was poignant, informative, and effective.  It also reminded me that sometimes simple is better.  They didn't spend thousands of dollars on fancy displays, but used alternative methods of communicating the information.

What do you think? Have you seen any exhibits which are simple, yet effective? Do you think having a live bee colony is an effective learning tool or potentially cruel to the bees?

MY TIME AT THE CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM

INTERNSHIP CHECK-IN

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

I’m actually having such a hard time believing that I’ve already been at my internship for 7 weeks! I was lucky enough to land a position at the Canadian War Museum (CWM) working for the Creative Developer, Britt Braaten. I must admit, a museum dedicated to war, would not be my first pick. I do have a degree in history, but military history is not really my jam. So why did I choose this internship, you ask? Well, at the beginning of the winter semester I looked through the list of possible choices on that website, and assistant to the Creative Developer working in the Exhibitions, Creative Development and Learning department sounded cool. (Actually I’m pretty sure those were my exact words … “That sounds cool”) It seemed like an opportunity to be creative, and do something a little outside my comfort zone. Not to mention, an opportunity to work for a federal level museum was too good to pass up! All the other positions on my list were in collections management. I must admit, when I started at the iSchool in September, I really thought that was where my heart was – caring for the objects so integral to museums. I thoroughly enjoyed Sue Maltby’s Museum Environment as well as Cara Krmpotich’s Collection’s Management. I still am very drawn to objects and artifacts, and yet, after my interview with Britt, I felt like I couldn’t pass this position up.

 

The CWM at dusk
http://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Awards/RIBAInternationalPrize/2006/Canadian/CanadianWarMusuem-Foster.aspx

As I continue at my position at the CWM, I’ve learned a lot about the kinds of things that make me excited about working in museums. I have been lucky enough to accompany my supervisor to all kinds of meetings regarding the planning of upcoming exhibitions. I’ve been able to observe a meeting with designers where the museum staff work with a third party company to create a layout for an upcoming exhibition. You would not believe (well… actually you probably all would believe) the amount of thought that goes into a floor plan. I’ve sat in on brainstorming meetings to figure out what kinds of interactive elements will be in this exhibit (and even got to contribute some ideas of my own – yay!). There are so many details of putting together a successful exhibit, and I’m getting to participate in essentially all of them!

 

Me with a poster for my upcoming event: Human LIbrary: Witnessing Conflict

What excites me about a position in Creative Development, or exhibition planning depending on where you are, is that I will get an opportunity to share a story with an audience. Help them learn something new, or experience something from a different vantage point. What challenges me about this is ensuring that the story told isn't biased, or offensive, and that the facts are presented in an appropriate way.  I'm observing how the War Museum deals with presenting difficult subject matter, and I know these are skills which will help me in the long run.  

Seeing the ideas from my co-workers brains being manifested into a real exhibition is beyond amazing. Now, I want to see my ideas in the flesh. I know I’m gushing like a 14 year old with a crush, going on and on about how this is the coolest, most amazing thing in the world, but honestly that’s how I’m feeling right now. I have a major crush on Creative Development; I just hope it likes me back!

Let me know, what do you think about Exhibition Planning/Creative Development? How are your own internships going? Do you have a crush yet?

EXHIBITION REVIEW: THE BRAIN SCOOP AT THE FIELD MUSEUM

BY: MEAGHAN DALBY

This week, my post is reviewing not an exhibition, but rather a YouTube channel. A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across this video:

I thought the concept was so great, and everyone had such cool ideas about what a museum is (I could go on and on about that… maybe next week..) But I wanted to know more about The Brain Scoop and Emily Graslie.

According to their blog Emily Graslie is the host of the Brain Scoop, originally filmed while she was volunteering at the University of Montana Zoological Museum (UMZM). In 2013 she accepted a job at the Field Museum in Chicago as their first ever Chief Curiosity Correspondent (WHAT?! Coolest job ever? Probably. Emily… if you ever read this, do you need an assistant?!)

I think what I like about this vlog series is that it’s accessible to a range of audiences, it takes visitors behind the scenes of the Field Museum and the UMZM (watch the Spirit Collection episode below if you thought the basement of Fischer Library was bad…), answers questions posed directly from watchers, and it’s funny. Emily is obviously very knowledgeable in her field(s), but brings a great personality, which makes me want to keep watching.

The “Behind the Scenes” aspect of the museum world is gaining more and more popularity. It was only a few weeks ago that the ROM opened up it’s back of house to the general public for their 100th anniversary. Visitors like to see what’s “off limits,” and this vlog does it in a very controlled, yet entertaining way.

 

The Field Museum’s mission is to inspire “curiosity about life on Earth while exploring how the world came to be and how we make it a better place” (actually – go to their website  and check out the sweet video they made for their mission page… apparently they're really into digital media). As a result, some of the videos include some pretty explicit content about how they prepare some of the taxidermied animals on display, and other projects they undertake in their labs. If you’re not squeamish check out this video:

(had enough videos yet??)

I think by not censoring their process, and being very direct, it gives an air of authority and encourages frank discussion.  Many natural history museums have real animal specimen, all of which had to die in order to be on display. The Brain Scoop says “lets have a discussion about it. We’ll show you what we do, and how we do it. You tell us what you think.” From an educational stand-point, I think it’s great.

Lastly, I think this series gives a punch of personality to the museum world. For years, museum have been moving away from the stiff, dusty, institutions of the Victorian era. Constantly rebranding themselves as fun, energetic, immersive places of education. Personally, I think this is one of the better museum vlog series I’ve seen – but I’m sure there are tons out there! What can you recommend? Do you think this is an effective way to engage your audience?