On Wed, 28 Feb 1996, Musynergy wrote:

 snip
>  I like Richard
> Rabinowitz's idea of inviting visitors into behind the scenes areas.
> Lifting the curtain on some of the mysteries that take place in the bowels
> of museums could have a big impact on visitors' behavior in the galleries.
> It's also a way of showing respect for visitors that would probably have
> the mutual benefit of increasing their respect for us and what we do.
>
> On the other hand, the notion of occasionally opening up "staff only"
> areas of the museum may strike terror in the hearts of some.  Are the
> potential costs worth the benefits -- or vice versa?

I have seen several museums who create conservator spaces on public
floors.  The conservators (kind of like animals in the zoo) work behind a
plexi wall.  In one case there was an interpreter outside to handle
questions so the conservator wouldn't be bothered and could get his work
done, in the other case there was a microphone that a visitor could use
to ask a direct question of the conservator.

I remember the first time I encountered this type of "display."  It was
about 15 years ago at one of the museums in Golden Gate Park.  The
conversator was working on a stele.  His "office" was near the front door
of the museum--down the hall was an exhibition of Central American
stele.  I don't remember much of the exhibit now, but I do remember being
facinated by the conservator's painstaking work and appreciating what I
did see in the gallery more.

Lisa Falk
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