CALVIN CLIFFS – A CASE STUDY

Elaine Heumann Gurian

CALVIN CLIFFS – A CASE STUDY

How one small unknown museum uses many exhibition strategies while on a small budget-- if they can do it, you can too --


CALVERT CLIFFS MUSEUM Maryland seashore Important Paleolithic cliffs, fossils Topic – everything about the area Audience

Yachts and boat enthusiasts Summer tourist season Big Air Force installation nearby Winter rural and isolated School groups


ORIENTATION An interactive map Answers – Where is

this in context.


ORIENTATION -- MAP Has voice over Adds History Further Context


ORIENTATION -- TIMELINE Answers question –

Where in sequence is this.


ORIENTATION – MAP Model Three-dimensional Answers

relationship question.


OBJECTS Many Objects in a

case. Reading rail with

labels. Quite ordinary

installation.


OBJECT & PHOTO Real Object Photo putting object

in context. One of the quickest

cheapest exhibition strategy that answers the question -- “How was this used?”


A REAL OBJECT IN CONTEXT


REPRODUCTION Touchable object Historic story –

Answers question “What is the size of the tobacco barrel that went to England?”

Audience can understand size.


CONSTRUCTED MODEL Answers the

questions – “What did it look like? How big was it?”

Adds emotional quality (intended or unintended?) “How frightened would I be if I met this?”


TOUCHABLE READING RAILINVENTED PAINTED BACKGROUND

Combined labels and specimens.

Visitor can touch material and look closely.

Answers both visual and tactile questions.

These cliffs are only 5 miles away. Thus this serves as a gateway to the real site.


Reading Rail– Contemporary materials

Turns easy-to-find material into museum artifacts.

Lends authority to ordinary material.

Changes the way visitors will attend to ordinary materials in the service of a story.


A MULTIPLE STRATEGY Background Read flora, object Reading rail Mounted touchable

object.


a reproduced full-scale environment

These are the strata of the cliffs down the road


AUDITORIUMAdds: -- Possible Performance

and live demonstrations.

Respite. Additional information. Sound, Motion, Context.


TECHNOLOGY -- Movie Small Theatre in

exhibition Adds context,

motion, etc.


Take advantage of surprise--REALITY Real bird nest Placed by bird Now used by

teachers Visitors don’t touch

or take away.


Amenities Food Service Contemplation Rest Eat Talk, socialize Real environment Also has shop, etc.


INVITATION TO ANOTHER WORLD -- PROCESS

Showcase skilled craftsman

Recognize contemporary tradesman

Talk to real experts Relationship with

community


ROLE PLAY – DRESS-UP Fantasy. Story telling. Transport to

another time. In the best ones,

experience other ephemeral information like gender roles, etc.


ACTIVITY -- SIMULATION Archeology dig Fun in its own right. Also establishes the

care and skill needed for a dig.

Activity as physical and tactile learning over time.


HANDS ON The real object The real sound The real activity


HANDS ON -- TALK-BACK The audience as

teacher. The indication that

the audience opinion counts.

A change in a power relationship.


HANDS-ON ACTIVITY Actively answers

questions. Audience

participation in own learning

Quiz Easy to misuse the

strategy.


MORE ABOUT Multiple levels of

information Here very simple Often technology

used for this purpose.

For audience who wishes to know more.


MORE ABOUT -- OBJECTS For close study Visual Storage For audience who

wishes to know more.


MORE ABOUT –GAMES, BOOKS, TEACHER Children’s room Multi-generational Additional

information Teacher attendant


A REAL ENVIRONMENT This habitat was

created, is small and has an interpretative trail throughout. It is the real flora and fauna


A VOLUNTEER WITH MATERIAL

Real touchable materials on a cart,

Real AnimalsA knowledgeable

teacher.


THE CART !


SECTIONS – TIMELINE Emblematic First person Sequence


ARTIFACT ENVIRONMENT Stage for

demonstrations Craftsmanship Section timeline Real material


SECTION TIMELINE Suggests Dress

and roles Peoples history


RECAPITULATION A reinforcement exit

strategy


COLLECTIONS STORAGE Study Storage Real size For the specialist


REPRODUCTION, CREATED AS A CLASS

LABEL TELLS PROCESS OF MAKING

TOUCHABLE STUDENTS

LEARN HANDS ON HISTORY


THE REAL EXPERIENCE UNSTAND HOW IT

FEELS IN MOTION WHAT THE

WORLD LOOKS LIKE

HOW IT SOUNDS IN ACTION

SOURCE OF INCOME


RESEARCH ARCHIVES OBJECT

STORAGE OPEN TO

SCHOLARS


ENTHUSIASTS INVITATION TO

AMATEURS CHANGE OF

AUTHORITY ENLARGED

DEFINITION OF MUSEUM

WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY


ALTERNATIVE SITE ADDITIONAL

EXPERIENCE

CALVIN CLIFFS – A CASE STUDY

Documents

elaine heumann gurianactivity

exhibitionadds context

ordinary installation

timelineanswers question

case studyhow

real expertsrelationship

real site

ordinary materials