Day three- mystery and meaning
Today at an undisclosed location, we were given access to the collection storage facility of an incredible museum. When I teach, I often compare the reality of museum work to the credits at the end of a movie. You only see a few of us, but it takes a tremendous amount of effort and skill behind the scenes to ensure that the finished product is just right.
As we traveled through the maze of storage, I was most struck by the organization that is provided by the museum’s accessioning process to safeguard not only the object, but the employees. Before an object can be officially accessioned, its condition must be assessed, its provenance must be researched and verified, and any potential safety concerns must be recorded. All of this information is then included in a report which is presented to a board for approval. The level of detail on the front end, provides employees with vital information that informs their approach to the object’s long-term needs.
JHU Bloomberg Center, Photograph: ©ALAN KARCHMER/OTTO
The overarching theme of the day was “meaning making” or the value we assign to an object based on our personal interpretation of its context. This concept was explored in depth through Mike Lesperance’s lecture which explored Interpretation and Storytelling. Mike encouraged us to identify our favorite museum experience and why it was special. We all, of course, had very different answers which revealed personal attachment. I was reminded of a John Falk reading which stated that although every visitor enters a museum with a different set of expectations, most will find their needs met by the same exhibits. We play an active role in our experiences and naturally gravitate towards objects that provide a touch point to the feeling we crave.
Material culture is unique because there is often a sense of familiarity or even intimacy with the objects. For example, a suit is nothing particularly special, but if I told you that a beloved public figure wore it, for better or worse, your perspective shifts instantly.
The concept that items carry memory is certainly not new in the grand scheme of things, but many museums are still coming around to the idea that something like the previously mentioned suit can be just as, if not more so, impactful to audiences as a famous painting.
I will leave you with one final takeaway. At the storage facility, we were directed to look at a large, rather nondescript storage unit. It was explained to us that it was used for “deep storage.” The choice to conceal these items was not for the benefit of conservation, but rather the emotional well-being of employees due the items’ connection to traumatic themes and events. A well known example of this concept are the shoes often displayed in Holocaust museums. They are very clearly no longer “just shoes.”
Unsplash/William Warby, Shoes confiscated from prisoners at a concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland.
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