Hello,
I think Dawn raises some great points and really covers the concerns I would have. I'll add to the proximity of the cacti to the visitors point. Dawn covered the possibility of visitors splashing water or dirt onto items but keep in mind if the cacti are within arm's reach of visitors someone is going to hurt themselves. Some child or likely adult is going to touch them for whatever strange reason and someone is going to complain that the cacti were too sharp and how could they possibly know they'd hurt themselves. That or you'll find blood smeared somewhere near the cacti.
It might be a bit pessimistic but maybe realistic?
Good luck!
William Shepherd
Collections Officer
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dawn Roberts
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 8:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Cacti in an art gallery
There are several factors to consider:
1) Review your loan agreements for pieces in the gallery that aren't from your collection. Do they have restrictions regarding live plants or soil?
2) The species of cacti has its own environmental needs for light and humidity. Are they compatible with your gallery? You don't want to bring in a living species that has different needs than the space provides.
3) The cacti will need someone dedicated to its care and who will inspect it regularly for signs of distress, disease, and pests. It will need to be watered periodically (frequency depends on species) and have dead material removed (this can be a source for mold growth and a food source for pests). Do you have a horticulturist on staff or someone who is proficient with cacti and pest management? Have an agreement in place confirming that the plant will be pulled (potentially replaced) if it gets an infestation or presents any additional risk to the collections objects.
4) The soil and the plant can be a source of insect pests, fungi, and bacteria. There are precautions you can take to help prevent their introduction into your building and gallery. Ensure that the soil and plant are from a reputable florist/plant center. You don't want something brought in that is put together with soil that was stored outside at a home warehouse, because the likelihood of insects having deposited eggs is too high. Soil can also harbor fungi and bacteria. The plant and soil needs to be inspected before it is brought into your building and then often if it is accepted.
5) The type of container should also be considered. Preferable materials include plastic, stone, terracotta. Don't use wood or bamboo, as they present a high risk for bacteria and fungi.
Also consider how visitors might interact with it and the distance from the plant to the artwork in the gallery (you've got dirt and water, potential for both to splash out of the container during care or from visitors).
Dawn
Dawn Roberts | Director of Collections
The Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 | www.naturemuseum.org
Collections Facility and Office
4001 N Ravenswood Avenue, suite 201, Chicago, IL 60613 | 773-755-5125
The Urban Gateway to Nature and Science
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Leonard Cicero
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2017 11:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Cacti in an art gallery
Hi All,
The Curator at my institution wants to include cacti in an upcoming installation that will exhibit both works from our permanent collection and loans. Does anyone have experience exhibiting plant life alongside artworks? Any advice on precautions and maintenance would be appreciated. My main concerns are infestation, climate changes caused by the organic nature of the plants, and the required maintenance of plants. Any information would help.
Leonard
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