Completely agree to a good extent - car and motorcycle components CAN be a
really good thing. Something that is in common use (and that the client can
still get 10 years from now just in case) such as a wiper motor for a car,
or a steering box, can be a very good thing to use - if a steering box is
good enough for 250,000 miles in a car, it's good enough for most museum
applications provided that it is operated within its design limits, but the
way in which the object is integrated and used, and the quality of what is
built around it matters. 

 

The problem is that I'm seeing too many cases where things are just not done
right - over the course of a 2 year period some time ago, a friendly
competitor and we replaced 9 installations that people had paid for, one of
the venues in question hadn't even opened yet and had to completely change
their systems as they would never have worked. Another venue I found was at
serious risk of fire as someone cut corners and went low cost (at a major
European airport no less) to the point where we had to shut an exhibit down.
Another venue we were involved in had a dive system that was done by an
amateur and could have killed a diver. In too many venues people are being
forced to use circuit breakers to turn their equipment on and off - not only
illegal, but again causing a fire risk. These are serious issues, and much
as you mention, these things need to be done right or not at all. Good
design and quality matter, and the basic consideration for all of our
efforts should primarily be towards doing things as well as we can - within
a reasonable budget.

 

 

Maris J. Ensing

Mad Systems Inc

 

 

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Curtis Morris
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 2:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Exhibit (displays) on the Cheap

 

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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