This reminds me of an exhibit we opened last spring. We used real prairie grass in the exhibit and placed it where visitors could easily touch it. We were concerned about the stability of the tiny seed pods, etc. and so we sprayed it all with a good dose of cheap hair spray, and let it dry before putting it out. We then put up small signs that said "DO NOT TOUCH the grass, it has been chemically treated" to protect people who might be allergic to the dried lacquer. One woman apparently couldn't resist touching it anyway and when she finished touring the exhibit, complained that she was itching, and that the toxic chemical we used must be causing it. When we told her it was AquaNet hair spray, she became very quite, because it was very apparent that she had used quite a bit of a similar product that morning on her hair! People are funny and tourists are funnier still. Christine Mouw Assistant Curator Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum West Branch, IA 52358 [log in to unmask] >>> Eugene Dillenburg <[log in to unmask]> 03/21/97 11:21am >>> A little humor for a Friday afternoon... I heard a story, possibly apochryphal, about a small historic house in Texas that had signs saying "After touching linens or pillows, WASH HANDS IMMEDIATELY with soap and water for five minutes. AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES OR MOUTH." Two visitors, after admiring the furnishings from a safe distance, asked the docent what kind of chemical preservative they used. The docent laughed and said, "None. We just weren't having too much success with 'Please Do Not Touch' signs." And a merry weekend to all. -- Gene At 12:41 3/21/97 -0800, you wrote: >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 > >