As fascinating as this collection (and the interpretation you are
proposing) is, I think it is more trouble than I would go to-
especially if the collector herself is concerned about displaying the
dirt.  If you would not display a piece of art that you know was
stolen, or a human skull taken from a Native American grave site, you
should not display other illegally obtained items either.  The act of
displaying the items will be seen by most people (as I think this
discussion shows) as condoning illegal collecting, and you really
don't want to go *there*.
This is not to say that you should not address the issue of illegal
collecting.  There are a *lot* of people out there who collect illegal
things, including, but not limited to: human remains, cultural
artifacts, animals, plants, dirt, water, rocks, and stolen property.
The reasons for collecting things illegally are fascinating and worth
exploring, but maybe in a more abstract way.  Just my two cents.

On 5/31/12, BECKER, DAVID <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Nick,
>
>
>
> You and I are one a similar page. I have really enjoyed this discussion.
> I am also aware that I am a bigger "museum geek" than the average
> visitor, so it may take a little bit more work to get the visitors
> hooked into a debate over when it and isn't o.k. to display illegal
> dirt, but it sure would be a lot of fun to pilot and prototype to see if
> this same type of conversation/debate could be generated among visiting
> public.
>
>
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Nick Partridge
> Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 7:01 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: exhibiting illegally-obtained dirt?
>
>
>
> Nina,
>
> Certainly that is a concern, but only if you name the collector. Judging
> only by this thread, the collection is much more interesting as a
> question of motive and legality than it would be as "this is Jane Doe,
> and these are her Jars of Dirt." An anonymous recreation of the
> collection would hold your visitors' attention in the same way you've
> grabbed our's.
>
> Nick
>
> On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 6:36 PM, Randy Little <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> Nina I can't wait to come to your museum of condoned law breaking.
> Can I just take stuff I'm not supposed to from your museum?
>
>
> Randy S. Little
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 3:07 PM, Nina Simon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Hi Nick,
>>
>> My only concern with this is that it implicates and endangers the
> collector.
>> I'm not sure we're willing to do that. We want to all take the risk
> (or not)
>> together.
>>
>> Nina
>>
>>
>>
>> On May 31, 2012, at 2:02 PM, Nick Partridge wrote:
>>
>> Dave,
>> In light of your clarification: why not just recreate the exhibit with
>> domestic soil? Get a bunch of vials and a variety of soil samples.
> Label
>> them from different countries. Then state on the exhibit label that
> its a
>> reproduction of a collection that this person obtained illegally, and
> go
>> into the motives and issues surrounding her actions. You're right:
> it's
>> a fascinating component of your exhibit. By using a recreation of it,
> you
>> can not only use this great example of a personal collection but also
> go
>> into the illegalities of it. It will make it much more interesting. As
> for
>> displaying the original: it's far too dangerous to involve yourself
> and your
>> institution.
>> Thanks,
>> Nick
>>
>> On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 3:50 PM, Selma Thomas <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Thank you for your comments! I've been watching this discussion and
>>> wondering - what about the ethics involved?  It's not just a legal
> issue but
>>> also an ethical one.  If a country makes it illegal to export, or
> import,
>>> organic material,  how do museums set themselves above this law?
> Aren't we
>>> all mindful of the cultural and natural plundering that has taken
> place for
>>> centuries?  Don't we owe those home countries some respect,
> especially if we
>>> are cultural visitors?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Museum discussion list
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