On 18 Apr 1996, Dennis Lloyd wrote:

>
> Hildegard ([log in to unmask]) writes:
> > What *is* the difference between an exhibit and an exhibition?
> >
> > I have always thought (and had it firmly engrained in my education) that an
> > "art" museum has exhibitions, and exhibit implies a historical, natural
> > history, material culture, etc. museum.
> >
> > Now, when I hear the word exhibit being used to refer to contemporary art,
> > I cringe.  Trouble is, I've recently changed jobs and everyone on the staff
> > of my present museum uses the word exhibit in just such a way.
>
>       I feel that your "firmly engrained" education may have had an
> influence here, Hildegard.  The teaching of definitions present a problem
> in the classroom when those terms have many different meanings.  I teach
> a 1st-yr exhibit design theory course, and have to start *somewhere*, so I
> put forth the definitions that I have grown to know and love.  I stress,
> however, that there are different interpretations of the words, depending
> on what institution you are in, or what continent you are on, for that
matter.
>       I tend to think of an exhibit as either a small exhibition, or a
> single display within a larger exhibition.  My thinking tends toward
> historical and natural history museums.  Art museums tend to havbe
> different interpretations for these terms.  Books on basic exhibit design
> will usually have a paragraph or two dealing with these definitions.

        If y'all had to review half a dozen museum presentations every
week you would soon abandon such niceties and quibbles. I use "exhibit,"
"exhibition" and "show" interchangeably, along with any other synonyms or
near-misses I can come up with, in my feeble attempts to be belletristic
as well as bellicose. Repent, o ye hairsplitters!

       Hank Burchard * <[log in to unmask]> * Washington DC