The finest example I have seen on several continents is at the International
Antarctic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, a most interesting place
jointly operated by the Kiwi, US and French governments (I hope I didn't
leave anyone out!).
When you enter the exhibits area of the Centre, you start off in a large
very cold room. simulating very well the Antarctic ice. The wind howls,
you're BLOODY cold and, if you have the staying power, the lighting cycles
through the 24 hours of an Antarctic day at (as I recall, but I may be
wrong, mid-summer). This is used to orient you "to the ground".
It is an absolutely superb setting/experience, produced (I think) by a
Melbourne company.
The then-director was concerned that his museum did not adequately address
the role of Christchurch as the jumping-off place for Antarctica. His vision
was to do a mockup of the interior of the fuselage of a Hercules transport
aircraft, which visitors would enter via one of the side fuselage doors and
then be treated to a simulated take off and very much condensed flight to
Antarctica, during which they would see an orientation video. On "landing",
they would exit, via the fuselage ramp, onto the "ice" of the cold room. A
brilliant concept; I wonder if it was ever carried through?
Harry
----- Original Message -----
From: Sarre, Jane - E&L CDU <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 4:55 AM
Subject: Re: "outdoor"-like exhibits
> I don't know if it's what you have in mind, but the National Maritime
> Museum in Greenwich London have some interesting new displays on this
> sort of thing. I think the area has a loose theme of weather or ecology
> or something. It's on a mezzanine in the newly enclosed great court so
> it's a massive space with a glass roof.
>
> Exhibits I remember are,
>
> A spherical container about 4m high which you walk into. The internal
> wall is totally covered in video screens showing film of the sea &
> marine life with a soundtrack of waves with a commentary about
> evolution. I think the screeens were on slightly staggered timings so
> images pulsed across the wall a bit. I think the global currents were
> mapped across the exterior.
>
> A huge (10m?) square glass tower with a wind machine in it and fabric
> mounted to 'flutter' like a whirlwind. You could stand in the bottom,
> but i can't remember whether the wind went up or down.
>
> A big 'installation' about marine pollution, roughly diamond shaped
> floorplan, I think two sides were made of things like rotating
> billboards so the images changed, and two sides were open to walk into,
> I guess there was something across the top to suggest the surface of the
> sea, the whole thing must have been at least 6mx6m and 8m high. Exhibits
> hung from the 'sea surface' above you, others were on the floor giving a
> strong sense of enclosure, & the light slanted and shifted as things
> moved.
>
> Their web site is at www.nmm.ac.uk if you want to check them out.
> Otherwise I could look up a phone number for you if it helps?
>
> All the best for an interesting sounding gallery.
>
> Jane Sarre
>
> Museum Development Advisor
> Kent County Council Education & Libraries
> Cultural Development Unit
> Springfield
> Maidstone
> Kent ME14 2LH
>
> tel 01622 696439
> fax 01622 696419
> mobile 0411 722010
>
>
>
> >----------
> >From: eliot stadler[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> >Sent: 08 February 2000 14:39
> >Subject: "outdoor"-like exhibits
> >
> >Hello, here at the Minnesota Historical Society we are in the very
beginning
> >of planning for our WEATHER exhibit, scheduled to open in Fall, '01.
Given
> >an interest in producing an exhibit that will speak to multiple senses,
it's
> >possible that we might be venturing into producing " outdoor" areas
within
> >our gallery. I'm interested in hearing about anything that even smacks
of
> >creating the sensual aspects of the outdoors, indoors.
> >
> >Has anyone seen some really terrific lighting techniques somewhere, and
> >where might that be? Is anyone familiar with using room-sized smells
> >(something bigger than small vials and squeeze bulbs)? How about the use
of
> >fans to create air movement, or even the use of rain/spray indoors? The
> >list is open and completely unfocused at this point so brain storming is
> >encouraged.
> >
> >Yes, we realize that some ideas may lead us into potential conservation
> >problems for our collections. On the other hand, though, we're just
> >dreaming at this point... and that's the best way to begin. I hope to
hear
> >some great ideas. Thanks.
> >
> >Eliot Stadler
> >Minnesota Historical Society, Exhibits Department
> >(PH) 651-215-6885
> >(FAX) 651-297-8224
> >[log in to unmask]
> >______________________________________________________
> >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
> >
>
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