Liz,

I forwarded your email to the head of our exhibits shop. Steve Hooks
is a professional exhibit sculptor and has created exhibits for a
variety of institutions around the country.

I hope this helps!

PS - the idea about folded paper hair sounded terrific!

Cecelia Ottenweller
Southwest Museum Services
Houston, TX 77040
713-462-7754

--- Steve <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From: "Steve" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: "Cecelia Ottenweller" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: RE: Exhibit props and mannequins
> Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 10:32:11 -0500
>
> Hey Ce
> If the point of the exhibit is the clothing and not the people then
> paint
> the mannequins mat white. Any water based paint should work (flat
> white
> latex from Home Depot would be fine). As to the hair, are the
> mannequins
> store bought with sculpted hair or are they bald? If they have hair
> just
> paint it the same color of white. If bald buy the cheapest wig you
> can find,
> glue it on the head and paint it white. Don't worry about the wig
> becoming
> loaded with paint because you don't want the hair to be too
> realistic. The
> point of this is so the mannequins don't look the ones at K-Mart.
> Your
> mannequins need to be either very realistic or very plain.
> Realistic is very
> expensive and only needed when it's the people as well as the
> clothing that
> is being displayed i.e. native Americans, famous individual. If the
> point of
> the exhibit is costumes all you need is a plain overall white
> stylized human
> form. Gender and time period can be show using the appropriate hair
> style.
>
> I don't recommend painting furniture to match walls or the floor.
> Matching
> paint can be tricky and if you miss the furniture will look like
> you tried
> to match and missed! Think about your living room, furniture,
> floors, walls
> are in colors that compliment each other. Paint the furniture in
> the colors
> you think works best.
>
> Hope this helps. Any other questions just let me know.
>
> Steve
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cecelia Ottenweller [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 9:24 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Fwd: Exhibit props and mannequins
>
>
> Hey Steve,
>
> Is this something you could advise her in?
>
> *:)
> --- Liz Jones <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Date:         Wed, 22 Oct 2003 14:34:26 -0400
> > From:         Liz Jones <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Exhibit props and mannequins
> > To:           [log in to unmask]
> >
> > Hi. I have a few questions regarding colors for museum props or
> > platforms
> > and mannequins. We will be opening an exhibit on wedding rituals
> > this winter
> > and want a new look for our mannequins. I have seen various
> colors
> > that they
> > have been painted and was wondering what those of you who use
> them
> > do.
> > Currently, our mannequins are a not so wonderful shade of
> metallic
> > bronze.
> > They are a distraction in the galleries. We are going to paint
> them
> > but need
> > input. Also, what do you do for hair? Do you use wigs, paper,
> etc.?
> > If you
> > use paper, can you provide us with a good source or type that we
> > can use? Do
> > you have directions for making paper wigs? Also, what color do
> you
> > paint
> > your exhibit furniture? Do you paint it the same color as your
> > floor or
> > gallery walls? I would appreciate any and all input. Thanks.
> >
> > Elizabeth Nohra
> > Mahoning Valley Historical Society
> > Youngstown, OH
> > 330-743-2589
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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