Um, I think it's pretty clear that the Brooklyn Museum didn't "stumble" into
controversy with Sensations.  I do think that it is incumbent upon the
Director and Board to think about how each exhibit enhances or detracts from
the Museum's mission and be able to articulate that, especially when it's
likely that there will be some kind of vocal negative response.  As my mom
says, think about what it is you want to accomplish and decide if what you
are doing will help get you there.

Janice Klein
DIrector
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: William Thornton <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, November 04, 1999 10:49 AM
Subject: Re: preparing for controversy


This response is truly off the mark and smacks of what is wrong with museums
and risktaking today. And The Sennsations exhibit proves how easy it is to
stunble into a tempest in a teapot.
Will Thornton
J.Paul Getty Museum
[log in to unmask]


"I wouldn't host an exhibit like this or touch it with a ten foot poll, in
other words.   Take a lesson from the Smithsonian and their timebomb
situation with the Enola Gay exhibit. Controversy for the sake of it is not
worth it. Find another exhibit and topic that will be educational and
exciting to your audience.  You really do not want to invite trouble just
for
the sake of publicity."

Regards,

Todd Kreamer
Curator of History
The Museum of Mobile
Mobile, AL

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