CREATION OF MIM EXHIBITSCREATION OF MIM EXHIBITS

Bill DeWaltBill DeWalt

President and DirectorPresident and Director

OVERALL PROCESSOVERALL PROCESS

It takes a teamIt takes a team– Curators -- overall contentCurators -- overall content– Exhibits -- execution (labels, maps, Exhibits -- execution (labels, maps,

design)design) EditorEditor Copy EditorCopy Editor Image Acquisition CoordinatorImage Acquisition Coordinator Graphic designerGraphic designer Exhibit designersExhibit designers Production (vitrines, pedestals, labels, etc.)Production (vitrines, pedestals, labels, etc.)

OVERALL PROCESS -- 2OVERALL PROCESS -- 2

It takes a bigger teamIt takes a bigger team– Multimedia producers -- AV componentsMultimedia producers -- AV components– Construction team -- platforms and Construction team -- platforms and

elements of displayselements of displays– Mount makers -- presentation of Mount makers -- presentation of

instrumentsinstruments– Installers -- implementationInstallers -- implementation

EXHIBIT DEVELOPMENTEXHIBIT DEVELOPMENT

Christina LinsenmeyerChristina Linsenmeyer

Curator for Europe and Mechanical Curator for Europe and Mechanical InstrumentsInstruments

Exhibit VisionExhibit Vision

Geo-galleries: every country in the worldGeo-galleries: every country in the world Exhibits: multiple exhibit componentsExhibits: multiple exhibit components

Non-traditional scope of collectionsNon-traditional scope of collections Open air displayOpen air display Contextual informationContextual information Sennheiser “Museum Guideport” Sennheiser “Museum Guideport”

TechnologyTechnology

MIM DifferenceMIM Difference

First steps: “Virtual” First steps: “Virtual” exhibitsexhibits

Initial design phase: Gallagher & AssociatesInitial design phase: Gallagher & Associates Floorplans: built on virtual wish listsFloorplans: built on virtual wish lists Elevations: built on virtual photos and mm.Elevations: built on virtual photos and mm. Acquisitions phaseAcquisitions phase

PrototypesPrototypes First finished bay in museumFirst finished bay in museum

Acquisition to ProductionAcquisition to Production

AcquisitionsAcquisitions Registration: record, unpack, photo, Registration: record, unpack, photo,

measuremeasure Object selectionObject selection Finalized drawings with TCIFinalized drawings with TCI Schedule DRM at 80%Schedule DRM at 80%

DRMs (Design Review DRMs (Design Review Meetings)Meetings)

Curatorial Assistant prepares “DRM book”Curatorial Assistant prepares “DRM book” Registration pulls all objectsRegistration pulls all objects Meeting of Curator, Designer, and Meeting of Curator, Designer, and

ConservatorConservator

DRM GoalsDRM Goals

At meetingAt meeting– Review condition needsReview condition needs– Confirm designConfirm design– Discuss mountingDiscuss mounting

Following meetingFollowing meeting– Document DRM notes in TMSDocument DRM notes in TMS– Objects Objects mount makers and conservation mount makers and conservation– Conserved objects with mounts Conserved objects with mounts installation installation

teamteam

ChallengesChallenges

Unprecedented scale and scope: timeUnprecedented scale and scope: time

Getting to production: supply chain and flowGetting to production: supply chain and flow

Production realization: communicationProduction realization: communication

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Vision and assets bring challengesVision and assets bring challenges Get as many tools in place as possibleGet as many tools in place as possible Keep it simple, improve it laterKeep it simple, improve it later Identify ways to maintain realistic Identify ways to maintain realistic

scheduleschedule Flexibility has rewardsFlexibility has rewards Communication maintains positive Communication maintains positive

momentummomentum

Next StepsNext Steps

Tying up Phase I installationsTying up Phase I installations Review and responding to feedbackReview and responding to feedback Prioritizing Phase 2 goalsPrioritizing Phase 2 goals Installation of Phase 2Installation of Phase 2 Preparation for Fall seasonPreparation for Fall season

MIM PARTNERSHIPSMIM PARTNERSHIPS

April SalomonApril Salomon

Exhibition ManagerExhibition Manager

MIM Partnerships MIM Partnerships Exhibit DevelopmentExhibit Development

Fender Musical Instrument Fender Musical Instrument CorporationCorporation

C.F. Martin Guitar & Co.C.F. Martin Guitar & Co.

Steinway & SonsSteinway & Sons

FenderFender Exhibit Exhibit

MartinMartin Exhibit Exhibit

SteinwaySteinway Exhibit Exhibit

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Agree on the message Agree on the message Balance recognition vs. “branding”Balance recognition vs. “branding” Remain flexible to changeRemain flexible to change Start the process Start the process earlyearly

AUDIOVISUAL ASPECTS OF AUDIOVISUAL ASPECTS OF MIM EXHIBITSMIM EXHIBITS

Garry KlingGarry Kling

Manager of Multimedia CollectionsManager of Multimedia Collections

What is the purpose of What is the purpose of audiovisual material at MIM?audiovisual material at MIM?

Illustrative rather than Illustrative rather than interpretiveinterpretive

Provides visual and musical Provides visual and musical context for the physical context for the physical

collectionscollections

Ideally, clips are themselves Ideally, clips are themselves museum objectsmuseum objects

Where does it come from?Where does it come from?

Commercial materialsCommercial materials

Curatorial consultantsCuratorial consultants

FilmmakersFilmmakers

Archival materialArchival material

How is video selected?How is video selected?

To show particular instruments in To show particular instruments in actionaction

To demonstrate musical traditionsTo demonstrate musical traditions

Musically compelling contentMusically compelling content

Excellent visual quality and contentExcellent visual quality and content

How is video exhibited?How is video exhibited?

4 clips per exhibit, 2 minutes total4 clips per exhibit, 2 minutes total

Each clip averages 30 secondsEach clip averages 30 seconds

Some exhibits share monitorsSome exhibits share monitors

Estimated total of 8 hours of content Estimated total of 8 hours of content – so far– so far

How is video exhibited?How is video exhibited?

Many steps to prepare video for Many steps to prepare video for exhibitexhibit

Physical and digital labelingPhysical and digital labeling

Sennheiser Guideport – wireless Sennheiser Guideport – wireless audioaudio

Video is delivered via individual Video is delivered via individual players in each exhibitplayers in each exhibit

Audio ExperienceAudio Experience

Identifiers in the exhibits pair with receivers and head phones carried by guests

Audio is active in an area near the exhibit so that multiple guests hear the same audio

Audio is hands-free, cross fades between exhibits automatically

Video ExperienceVideo Experience

Exhibit identifier and labelExhibit identifier and label Exhibit with video screenExhibit with video screen

Video Example – Sierra Video Example – Sierra Leone and LiberiaLeone and Liberia