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From: Regan Myriam Lee
To: DOWNS, Trish
Subject: Re: INTERNET EXHIBITIONS
Date: Tuesday, April 09, 1996 9:02PM


On Tue, 9 Apr 1996, DOWNS, Trish wrote:

> Would anyone like to discuss with me the implications of exhibitions on
the
> internet? For example, 2D images versus 3D images; possible impact on
public
> programs; general impact world wide (eg increased access);; what sort of
> exhibitions are/could be in existence, etc; what impact would internet
> exhibitions (images of objects)  have on the museum's unique'drawcard'
> (access by the public to the 'real thing').
>
>  I'd be really interested in any comments on the above or any other
thoughts
> of any Museum-L subscribers.  Discuss on Museum-L or contact  me on my
email
> address.
>
> Trish
> Museum of Victoria
> Melbourne, Australia
> [log in to unmask]
>


Doug replied:

>I'm very interested in internet exhibits, Trish, and would be interested
>in a discussion group. How do you want to proceed? You could continue
>the thread you've started, and we could all talk to the list. Then
>someone (usually the thread initiator <G>) would prepare a cogent
>summary of the discussion for all to download.
>First item to discuss might be: is 'virtual exhibit' an oxymoron?
*************************************************************
>Doug Hoy              Evaluation           National Museum of
>[log in to unmask]           &              Science & Technology
>(613)998-6863v         Research       P.O.Box 9724, Station T
>(613)990-3654f                          Ottawa K1G 5A3 CANADA
*************************************************************

Regan also replied:

>Trish,
>I'm interested!  This is an intriguing, and important, consideration. On
>the one hand, exhibits on the "net" are a positve way to allow those to
>see what they might not otherwise seek out.  It is also a "quick fix" for
>those of us who want to see a particular work ....but there is something
>artificail about it all. Viewing folk art, for example...much of which is
>3d (well, it all is, isn't it?) one cannot properly see the work.  BUt it
>could encourage those to seek out more info. on such things, once they've
>seen it via the net.  MOre coudl be said on this...it's late, (or seems
>so, been a long day) but I've wondered about all this as well.

>Regan


Doug
What an interesting idea ie your question: <... is 'virtual exhibit' an
oxymoron?>

The unique 'product' possessed by museums and which we presume gives the
museum its special quality is its objects ie the museum has 'the REA:L
thing'. So how can this uniqueness be conveyed by virtual exhibitions.

What implications arise from the presentation of exhibitions via the
internet .  Perhaps it would be a means of advertising the product and,
hence, attract audiences to view the 'real thing'. Perhaps this would be the
only way some audiences can  be reached and access to a virtual exhibition
is better than no access at all.

But to get back to the original question  - Is 'virtual exhibit' an
oxymoron. I think it must be if we take 'exhibit' to mean something
tangible. Can an image on a computer screen be an 'exhibit'?  And 'virtual'
 - doesn't this mean almost the same as 'the real thing'?

I also agree with Regan that seeing an exhibition on internet is better than
not seeing it at all.

ITrish Downs
Museum of Victoria
Melbourne Australia