I don't think an exhibit has to be problematic or controversial or even
particularly creative to be unforgettable.  It will depend on the audience.
Despite what museum professionals want the audience to learn or experience,
what the visitor remembers will be those things and ideas that had a
personal impact on them--like my almost spiritual connection with the Mask
of King Tutakhnkamun, or my favorite artifact at the Valentine Museum in
Richmond, VA--the ram's head humidor (not in display, it's in the
collections storage) or the dollhouse at the NMAH or the Chess Sets exhibit
at the Metropolitan (1990?) or Renoir's Little Girl with the Watering
Can...Or Tim Reed's fascination with the Smithsonian Elephant or the
village at the Cahokia Historic Site..

I was at a Museum Education Roundtable discussion once in the mid 90's when
a discussion was taking place about trying to do more with educational
exhibits in Fine Arts museums and I had to agree with the guy from the
National Gallery (sorry I can't remember his name) who said that at the
Gallery people came because there were certain icons that they wanted to
see--they didn't necessarily want to be educated (and I know some of that
has to do with its being a "National" museum).  While there is a place for
ideals, stirring up dialogue and educating audiences about the various
disciplines and missions our museums represent, we can't forget that
museums started as "cabinets of curiousity"  because objects and art touch
something unameable within us and inform and uplift us sometimes just
because they are there.

>what makes an exhibit unforgettable?  if it's problematic? creative?
>
>ces
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Shirley Kathryn Woods <><
Associate University Registrar
The University of the South
Sewanee, TN  37383
TEL 931-598-1731
FAX 931-598-1894

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