What is the goal of the exhibit? If the
goal is to show differences in dirt from around the world, then dirt can be
obtained through legal and ethical means.
If the exhibit is about collection and the
collecting process, what is the message that the museum wants to send about the
collection process and how does this particular collection fit in? It could be
the basis for an interesting discussion about the ethics of collection. Those
questions could be raised through other representations of the collection or
through other collections? Does the full collection need to be physically
present in the museum?
I personally don’t agree with
calling it art as that was not the intent of the collection or the collector,
i.e. it was not done by an artist with an intent to make art for a stated
artistic purpose or message. To call it art for convenience sake is not in
keeping with the artistic discipline that calling it art would represent.
I guess I see it as a bigger issue than
has been presented in the initial e-mail. If this naturalist had illegally
transported a cultural artifact without permission would that be o.k. to
display? If this naturalist had transported the hide or fur of an animal that
had been killed illegally, would that be ok to display? When I go to a
nature center, there are signs that tell me to take only pictures, and not take
anything else with me: Is it ok for me to ignore those signs for the sake
of my personal collection? Would this same naturalist condone this same
behavior if was going to be conducted on a larger scale by 100 people, or by
1000 people, or by everyone? I think there are issues and considerations
here that go beyond the issue of whether it is legal or not.
Dave
Dave Becker
Senior Manager of Learning Experiences
From: Museum
discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pickering, Bob
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 12:51
PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: exhibiting
illegally-obtained dirt?
Whether the dirt is
dangerous or not, isn’t there an issue of displaying material that is
known to be illegal? Does calling it “art” absolve the museum of
responsibility?
Bob
Robert B. Pickering,
PhD
Director of
Curatorial Affairs & Public Programs,
Director, Museum
Science and Management,
(918) 596-2706
Office
(918) 596-2770 Fax
(918) 805-4780 Cell
From: Museum
discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nina Simon
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 11:07
AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MUSEUM-L] exhibiting
illegally-obtained dirt?
This one is for the
museum lawyers and collection management gurus out there.
For an upcoming temporary exhibition on collections, we would like to
show a collection of vials of dirt that a local naturalist collected on her
travels around the world. The challenge is that much of this dirt was
transferred into the
My sense is that if we can call this art, it might not be a problem.
Frankly, I don't think it's a big problem period - there's no real risk or
danger to the dirt - but I want to learn more about how to address this issue.
Do you know anyone who might have some expertise to bear in this arena?
Thank you,
Nina
Nina Simon
Executive Director
831.429.1964 x7018
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