Jennifer, to answer your question, usually museums are not permitted to let
visitors photograph borrowed pieces of artwork.

As for the breast feeding issue, I completely understand that the breast is
the only thing that calms down some breast-fed children, and that when an
infant is hungry, he doesn't want to/can't wait to eat.

But is it an absolute necessity for you to stay in the gallery to calm your
child down?  NONE of us as children, nor ANY of my siblings children (who I
have been helping to take care of since they were all born)  have ever been
permitted to stay in any public place, restaurant, gallery, shopping mall,
and scream our lungs out to distrub other people visiting, eating or
whatever.  One of the adults would remove said screaming child to go
outside.

Is that peice of artwork in that gallery so important to you that you can't
bear to leave the gallery and your only solution is to pull out a breast to
breastfeed?

I think the rule about not breastfeeding has little to do with damage to a
gallery or piece of artwork and more to do with comfort level of the public
at large.

Breast feeding, in my opinion is a private thing between a mother and
child.. I am not disgusted by it by any means, but that doesn't mean I want
to see it, either.

Trish McDougall



>From: Christina Myatt <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Visitor conduct, sensitive issues...
>Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 10:30:55 -0500
>
>Absolutely.  Even with school groups we explain why you can not do
>certain things.  It is an opportunity to educate.  Help the visitors
>understand the need to preserve artifacts, specimens, and artwork.
>
>"Because I said so" just doesn't satisfy anyone and curiosity can often
>get the best of anyone!
>
>cmm
>Christina M. Myatt
>Theatrical Programming Coordinator
>Putnam Museum
>1717 West 12th Street
>Davenport IA 52804
>563.324.1054 ext. 207 (phone)
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jennifer Rothman <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 08:04:56 -0400
>Subject: Re: Visitor conduct, sensitive issues...
>
> > I'm a big fan of knowing why I can or can't do something.  I think
> > signs that tell us or staff that tells us this can do two things.  I
> > think it keeps us from being a little cynical towards our
> > visitors--we must be able to justify the rules we make. Its very easy
> > to make unnecessary rules. I also think it provides a learning
> > experience. For example, Why can't we use a flash?  What does it do
> > to the artwork?  We may know, but our visitors might not.  It might
> > give them more reason to follow the rule if they knew.
> >
> > I certainly understand the need for this rule in the presence of
> > precious artwork. However, I recently was doing some work in a
> > science museum and visitors were not allowed to take pictures (not
> > even without a flash).  I couldn't find out why...it seemed rather
> > arbitrary to me.  Especially since taking pictures is a great way for
> > families to enhance their visit, extend their memories and perhaps
> > make a lasting connection to the museum.  I really wanted to know why
> > that rule was there and nobody could tell me.  It made me a little
> > angry that there was no justification. Which leads me to another
> > point.  Make sure employees know why the rule is in place.  When I
> > worked at an aquarium, we had a no flash rule in some areas and I
> > always instructed my staff that if you have to tell people not to use
> > their flash, they should give the reason as well.
> >
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