This is not even close to my field of expertise, but my thought would be
to make these works "interactive" without being "touchable".  A
display/docent could explain the way that art is typically viewed in a
museum, and its fragility - could even show how greasy hands can degrade
a painting, etc.  Laser pointers could be used by docents as well as
visitors to point to the parts of the picture that kids want to discuss.
Different techniques could be highlighted in a more "touchable and
interactive" portion of the display, so that something like pointillism
could be shown by enlarging a portion of the work on display, and
allowing kids to try to re-create or create their own works using that
style.

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Megan DiRienzo
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 12:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Non-touchable objects in a hands-on gallery

<>Hello everyone,
/
A Place for Discovery /is a hands-on children's gallery at the Illinois 
State Museum.  The museum's collection (anthropology, paleontology, 
botany, natural history, geology, and fine and decorative art) is 
represented in the gallery by real specimens that can be touched, along 
with other hands on activities.  The only collection that is not 
represented by actual objects is fine and decorative arts.  Although we 
do have some building activities and a felt board where children can 
create pictures using stick on foam shapes, there are no actual works of

art in the gallery for the children to look at. 

I am a huge advocate for exposing children to art at a young age. One of

my internship goals is to put art in the gallery along with some 
activities that will encourage families to look closely at and discuss 
the works.  The fine art department is more than willing to display 
works in the gallery and a few paintings have already been picked out.

My challenge is having non-touchable items in a gallery that is 
specifically hands-on.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to 
protect the work without causing it to come off as stuffy or 
unfriendly?  The art department has already suggested plexiglass 
coverings, but there is still concern for the frames and the works being

bumped or moved by wandering little hands, and of course, there is the 
conflicting message sent by untouchable items in a hands-on gallery. 

I'm interested to hear thoughts on this dilemma.  Thanks so much!

Megan DiRienzo
Monticello Intern in Museum Education
Illinois State Museum

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