Dear Harry,

Actually, my solution almost backfired.  I had to sit through a couple of very
emotional sessions during which members mostly voiced their greivances about the
Museum.  I just listened, made notes of them on a blackboard and got people to
agree that those grievances should serve as a basis for what would be done during
the next few months.  In other words, the Museum was providing its members with a
chance to make it what they wanted it to be.  But I was worried for a moment there.

Hervé

Harry Needham (Tel 776-8612) a écrit:

> Both Hervé Gagnon and Deanna Kerrigan have both raised interesting approaches.
>
> There was a most interesting exhibition which the Woodlands Museum near
> Brantford Ontario circulated some years ago. "Fuff and Feathers" depicted
> virtually every stereotype in the arts, advertising, etc., that anyone could
> associate with North American Indians. It was VERY effective in making visitors
> realize just how demeaning stereotypes usually are and I think it playes a part
> in sensitizing visitors to exhibits elsewhere in the museum in which I saw it.
>
> I really like Hervé's creative solution to his problem. That took guts, as it
> could easily have backfired.
>
> I'm looking forward to a small exhibition we are planning with a large
> veterans' hospital in Ottawa. The 400 or so veterans in the hospital are all
> there for the duration. I was struck by the fact that, outside the door of each
> room (they are mainly single rooms, if not all) there is a lighted floor to
> ceiling display case, with shelves, where the room resident is encouraged to
> display things that are meaningful to him/her. Some people fill these with
> photos and reminders of their grandchildren; others with memorabilia of their
> military service. Some craftsmen display carvings, etc.
>
> In cooperation with the residents' committee, we will work with them to develop
> a changing exhibition to be located in their dining room area. They will supply
> the cases, we the mannequins and we will both work together to design the
> exhibitions and contribute artifacts.  It is not quite what Hervé did but I
> think it will be interesting process and anything we can do for our veterans is
> worth doing, in any case.
>
> Harry Needham
> Canadian War Museum