As a former professional mechanic and having built my own home, I've spent
a lot of time considering "alternative" sources for exhibit "stuff." We
use a lot of commonly available items from home centers, auto parts
stores, industrial supply houses, and etc. to build exhibits with. Rarely
does anything get scrapped around here that I don't first strip it for
parts.
Just like the Myth-Busters, we rarely use things as they were intended,
but (usually) get the job done. Just don't get over your head with things
like electrical wiring and don't run afoul of building safety and fire
codes, etc. Know when to call people with licenses. Safety first, then
have fun.
Curtis Morris
Exhibits
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
_____
From: Cass Karl [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 4:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Exhibit (displays) on the Cheap
I would agree that one should not skimp on technology- generally it will
not be worthwhile. However, there *are* places where costs can be cut
when designing an exhibit. Most people never think beyond either what
they have immediately on hand (a stapler and scotch tape= free) or what
they see in Exhibit Builder (= thousands of $$). There *is* a middle
ground to be had, it just takes creativity and common sense to find it.
On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 2:54 PM, unknown <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
On subject #1 : "There's never enough money to do it right the first time,
and always enough money to do it twice because it got screwed up the first
time."
"cheap" encoder $26.50 "expensive" encoder $450
Life expectancy of cheap encoder : 24 hours after opening day, fudging and
daily maintenance to keep it going thereafter
Life expectancy of expensive encoder : 10 years absolute minimum if
applied correctly (which costs more money)
Difference in gallery: "Out of order again" sign
"cheap" resistive touchscreen $350 "expensive" capacitive touchscreen
$800
Life expectancy of resistive touchscreen: until someone decides to rub it
with a nail or a coin
Life expectancy of capacitive touchscreen: years
Difference in gallery: "Out of order again" sign
"cheap" signage $100 "expensive" equivalent $250
Difference in gallery: edges peeling on sign
It is truly better spend money on quality and have a few very good things
than it is to spend a little money everywhere and have something that
doesn't work and looks shabby inside of a few weeks..
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Cass Karl
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 12:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Exhibit (displays) on the Cheap
Laurie,
When exactly is your conference? Where is it to be held? I live in SE
Texas, but have friends in the Atlanta area who I have been trying to
visit for a while now. I co-led a workshop for the Wisconsin Federation
of Museums on cost-effective exhibit design, so I believe I'd be
qualified. Please send me more information to the email below. Good
luck!
-Cass Karl
[log in to unmask]
On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 12:38 PM, las <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Hello:
I am a curator at a small museum in West Georgia. I am tired of looking
at my own exhibits and thinking "surely this could look better!", feeling
like some of my text looks one step above an elementary school bulletin
board! Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who doesn't know the
secret of quality displays with little expense and all of you are experts
at it, because I am often very impressed at the brilliant suggestions that
come across this email in regards to text, lebels, production, furniture,
etc. Well, because I have just about had it with my own limitations in
these areas, I am potentially planning to moderate a conference session at
January's Georgia Asso of Museums and Galleries on the topic of
cost-conscious exhibit design/fabrication and are currently looking for
people who would like to be on our panel. The three topics areas are:
1. Interactives (mechanical, hands on, audio, video, intro films,
interactive kiosks, etc),
2. Furniture and supports (platforms, pedestals, acrylic bonnets,
cases (all-in-one), artifact supports and artifact mounts, etc),
3. Graphics (large background photographs, smaller images, titles,
text, i.d. labels, graphic panels, etc)
Now, I am guessing that not many of you are here in the south, but if you
are or would like to attend our conference, or just, by chance, are
passing through (yea, right!) and could potentially be on my panel, and
you are one of those brilliant people out there who knows the secret of
fabricating these types of things (mostly in house, especially for #2 and
#3) at very little cost but WITHOUT sacrificing/compromising quality,
please respond to this email and I will contact you to discuss further off
list.
Best Regards,
Laurie Sedicino, Curator
Legacy Museum on Main
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