We have signs in our museum saying "please do not touch" which then go on
to explain the long term and invisible problems that moisture, oil, salts,
acid, etc. from the hand can cause to art work. When student groups come,
the lead docent welcomes them to the museum and asks the students if they
can suggest how they should act in the museum.  Not touching is almost
always the first suggestion.

All of this works fairly well with 2-D works, but there is something about
3-D works that seem almost irresistable.  We currently exhibition of Akari
lamps by Noguchi and everyone, almost, wants to fondle not just touch the
mulberry bark paper surface. We have a staff person in the gallery to act
as explainer and security.  This is about the only way to insure that 3-D
objects aren't loved to death.

----------
> From: Jose A. Ortiz <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: do not touch signage
> Date: Friday, March 21, 1997 3:41 PM
>
> Dear Colleagues:
> Thanks for your responses on temporary storage.
>
> New questions:
> Does anyone know if there has been any research conducted on the
> effectiveness of
> "DO NOT TOUCH THE WORKS OF ART" signage?
>
> Has anyone seen changes in the behavior of visitors (that is less
> touching of the works) as a result of the signs?
>
> Thanks
> Jose
> --
> Jose A. Ortiz
> Assistant Manager, The Cloisters
> A branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
> http://www.metmuseum.org/htmlfile/calm_a/m_apg27.html
> Tel. (212) 650-2289