Meriah wrote:

>When I was a 8 we went to see King Tut at the Met.  I had wanted to see
>this so badly that we treked across the country and stayed with
>relatives to do so.  Most of what I can remember is my parents hoisting
>me up, again and again, onto their shoulders to look over a sea of
>people's heads at the artifacts.  It was exciting and still magical for
>an 8 year old kid, but not at all what I had expected.  I was
>disappointed to not be able to see the works up close.
>

Back in the '70 I worked in the conservation deptartment at the MMA. I
designed and built the mounts and installed the Tut exhibit at each of the
museums in the US tour, but never actually went throught it when it was
open to the public until the final stop back at the MMA. After spending
considerable "contemplative time" with the objects over the previous
months, I was appalled at the density of the crowds and wondered how many
of those people really saw the exhibit on any but the most superficial
level.

That has been my general take on blockbuster shows ever since. They offer
the public a superficial experience and the opportunity to buy souvenirs
and tell their friends that they've been to a trendy popular event. For the
museum administration, they draw crowds, make money and attract
benefactors. Of course, the fact that blockbuster shows are also a pain for
the staff and take time away from the daily operations is irrelevant in the
context of the museum as a corporation.

On the other hand, they often bring together related works from
wide-ranging sources and give us the opportunity to see a comprehensive
collection that would be otherwise impossible.

R.

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