Yari's Baby Clothes: Exhibit Design

In her leaflet, "Exhibit Makeovers: Do-it-Yourself Exhibit Planning," Alice Parman encourages readers to remember when they first discovered a curiosity about any given subject. She suggests that exhibit designers use their art to try to evoke those initial feelings of excitement and intrigue for museum guests. Parman characterizes this experience as romance and identifies it as the key factor in a successful exhibit.

In designing an exhibit for the First Person Museum the romance occurs in finding meaning in the mundane. A collection of everyday objects paired with personal stories from their owners give the viewer an intimate connection with the collection. Creating an effective personal narrative for each object combined with historical background will appeal to a viewer on emotional and intellectual level, hopefully inciting a lasting romance with the subject.

In my attempt to design a mock exhibit for the First Person Museum's new collection, I face one key limitation in that I have never visited the space where the exhibit will be displayed. I, therefore, have chosen to design an exhibit in a space that exists only in my imagination. Additionally, while I have had the pleasure of hearing specifics about the actual intended design of the exhibit, I have also given myself free reign to disregard this information in favor of indulging an original (if faulty) idea. To describe my plan, I refer again to Parman's leaflet, where she outlines six steps to designing an effective exhibit.

Step 1: Mission statement, take-home messages, and storyline

The mission statement of First Person Arts is:

"First Person Arts transforms the drama of real life into memoir and documentary art to foster appreciation for our unique and shared experience. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that sharing our stories connects us with each other and the world."

The take-home message for this museum is a heightened recognition of the significance of objects in the visitor's own life and their meaning in a greater cultural context. The storyline, or the "so-what" of the exhibit is the ability of objects to reveal stories of community members and their values.

Step 2: Organize your storyline into "galleries of thought"

I aim to organize the exhibit based on categories. The collection contains a variety of different objects, which makes sorting them more of a creative than a logical process. I intend to divide the objects into four categories: 1) Exotic/international (passport, map, wall-hanging); 2) Childhood (baby clothes, stuffed animals, birth certificate, dolls); 3) Decorative (pendant, painting, tie-dye shirt); 4) Utilitarian (adult clothes, pen, pan). The objects listed here are merely a selection of the objects in the collection, but they indicate the organizational structure of the exhibit. In addition to allowing space for these four categories, I intend to also reserve a space for guests to write their own stories, contribute to the First Person website forums or talk among themselves in order to facilitate deeper interaction with the exhibit.

Step 3: Inventory the content and pin down the most important facts

The facts about each object will be presented on typed, laminated cards displayed next to the object. For each object, there will be three cards stacked on top of each other with one edge bound together. The top card will very state the object's name. When the viewer flips the first card, the second will briefly expound on the historical significance of the object. The final card will be the personal story of the object. With this structure, I hope to demonstrate the various layers of meaning within the object in a way that is engaging for the viewer.

Step 4: Find ways to motivate and engage your visitors

The exhibit should be as interactive as possible while respecting the integrity of the valuable objects loaned to the museum. While the objects themselves would be protected from physical interaction with guests, other objects may be placed nearby to allow for simulated interaction. For example, Yari's baby clothes could be displayed next to a cradle that has a doll dressed in similar clothing that visitors could handle. Or a passport could be displayed next to a globe. Furthermore, televisions and stereos will be available for watching and listening to the object's owners discuss their contribution to the museum. By allowing for interaction, the exhibit will be engaging to both adults and children.

The exhibit will also engage visitors by allowing for feedback and contributions. A space in the museum will have computers where visitors can contribute to the forums on the First Person Arts website. Writing desks and supplies will be available for people who wish to record stories by hand. Additionally, chairs, sofas and tables will provide a friendly forum where people are able to discuss the exhibit. Information about First Person Arts in the form of pamphlets and leaflets will also be openly displayed in this space.

Step 5: Plan the "look and feel" of your exhibit

My inspiration for the look and feel of this exhibit came from a poem in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women called "In the Garret." In this poem, the main character examines the objects left by her sisters in her family's attic and, in a way, tells their stories. An attic seems like an opportune space to present ordinary objects that merit saving. I imagine a fairly large, open space that is divided into four separate "galleries" and one community space. The division will be created partially with walls and partially with strategic placement of furniture and rugs to guide the visitor. For instance, when a visitor arrives at the top of the stairs, he or she will face the back of a sofa on one side and a long rug on the other. I imagine, they would instinctively turn away from the wrong-facing furniture and follow the path created by the rug.

The galleries would be designed to create the feeling of an attic, with mismatched items and furniture. Items from the collection would be lit with narrow beams of light from a high ceiling, as if being illuminated with beams of light sifting through the rafters. I want the viewer to feel as though they have the unique privilege of exploring an attic that is not their own and discovering the hidden stories behind each object. In keeping with the attic vibe, the electronics in the exhibit, such as the televisions and computers, would be older models. Ultimately, the exhibit would feel comfortable and colorful without being cluttered.

Step 6: Produce and install your exhibit

Below is a sample floor plan of my exhibit, which I created using www.floorplanner.com. For a larger version, please go here.