As a museum and gallery reviewer, I think that it would be
appropriate to post a modest list of whodunits in every major exhibit. My
reviews often concern themselves as much or more with how and why material
has been presented as with the contents. I frequently am at pains to point
out things such as outstanding or substandard lighting and limpid or lousy
texts, and usually have to search out the name of the person or persons to
whom credit or blame should be attached.
     Exhibition is a theater art, and viewers should be aware of the cast.
Personifying an exhibit also might tend to result in somewhat more freedom
for curators by allowing the institution implicitly to distance itself
from the opinions and judgment calls involved.
     In the case of Smithsonian exhibitions, of course, it would be
necessary to cut off the credits below the committee level.

     Hank Burchard * <[log in to unmask]> * Washington DC USA