Campus Closed Today

ETA:  It seems the Colonial Milieu Teams has already left for campus, so I'm now going in from Noon-1:30, latest.

I see from the SacCT threads that some of you are planning to go in today. Campus is closed in honor of Caesar Chavez Day. However, I am willing to open the Museum Lab between 1 and 2 pm, if that is helpful to anyone. Carrie is sending out an email to remind everyone that there are no official lab hours. If you would like to meet between 1 and 2, let me know. Otherwise, I'll see you all tomorrow in our classroom.

Exhibit Team Design Finalization

Each exhibit team needs to continue working to finalize elevation and schematic design and to complete research necessary to produce interpretive panels. (FYI: I uploaded Nancy's professional rendering of the museum gallery floor. Use it to produce your exhibit schematic and to mockup your elevations. In case it helps to know, the cases are 1 meter square, and 3 meters tall.)

Begin the search and capture process for any archival graphics that you intend to you use. Be sure to record the URL for these as you or Nancy may need to download higher res versions. I will prepare a team checklist this weekend; it will be submitted on the Tuesday following Spring Break (along with all the necessary digital files). 

Once you have collectively finalized your conceptual and physical design (this must be done by next Tuesday), you should organize your team so that Carrie and I will have a single point-person for each of the following 1) images 2) Beardsley artifacts 3) props and 4) text (all interpretive panels and label copy). You'll need a different team member for each scope.  Once you've made these assignments, post them to your blog (post your entire team's membership and scope--not just your own).  

I'm not sure we are going to have time to paint.  We may have to work with Marigold Madness. I think it can be done.  Next week we have two guest speakers, so don't depend on that class time to collaborate. Use open lab hours or arrange meeting times among yourselves. 

Calling All Painters

Since everyone in this class needs lab hours, let's settle on a color for the walls (clearly it will take quite a few coats to cover "Mexican Mask Marigold"--or whatever that is). If we get organized, we can get this done over the course of the next two weeks.  Nathan kindly brought some paint chips in on Thursday and at least three of the teams were in the lab to have a look. Tuesday, after story board presentations, we will land on a final color and I'll see if Home Depot might donate some or all of the necessary paint and painters tape. 

And the unveiling continues...

Museum lab hours ran really late yesterday. Eight students dropped in to see what objects they had drawn. After two or three trips up to the repository loft (where I diligently warned students not to crack their skulls against the I-beam but then proceeded to do it myself) and texting Carrie at State Parks to decode some of her temporary locations, we can now see the bulk of the collection. You'll have to forgive the poor lighting and resolution in these iphone pics (not to mention the color on the gallery walls), I'll bring in my DSLR one of these days (which is not to say that the photos will be great).

Reece drew quite an assortment of objects,
including a dagger (w/snake) and lyre-bird
 feathers (the V&A would be jealous).

Maria's pieces run the gamut from the Taj
Mahal broach and beaded staff  in the photo
(below) to basket trays (foreground above) and
 a beautifully-woven ivory-handled fan I've
admired for a long while.

 

Among the objects drawn by Cristian is a
lauhala mat. It is probably the most fragile
and desiccated piece in the collection.

 

Abby examines a ceramic pipe bowl.
She also drew a natural history specimen:
throat teeth from some fish species that
must be native to the South Seas/Samoa.

Mallory with a bamboo-handled spear, a
folding (souvenir) sun shade, and
two clubs (see below).

  

Can you read the lettering? I was surprised to
discover its provenience (but it makes sense
given what we know about Mrs. Beardlsey).

 

Seya inspects an artifact she'll be researching:
a tiny metal dagger and scabbard. The piece
below is also hers (beautiful in person).

 

Nathan drew four objects, one of which I am
REALLY excited about, as I think it may relate
to a publication of Mrs. Beardsley's (Carrie
and I will let him figure that out after her
Tuesday lecture).

Jim drew five objects...a very brittle tapa cloth,
a set of fans, a Satsuma jar, two spear points
(although I wonder if these are mis-attributed),
two books (most in the collection were
apparently de-accessioned), and a fun
set of tapa/bark cloth "samples."

Assignment of Objects

Yesterday everyone drew a series of slips marked with the accession and item-level numbers for the Beardsley artifacts and specimens that they will be researching. Afterwards, David, Holly, Nancy, and Jessica accompanied me and Carrie to the Museum, where they were able to get a first glimpse at the objects they'll be working with (we look forward to the rest of you stopping by during open lab hours).

David removes the basting stitches on the protective
 covering to reveal the skirt below. 

Carrie helps Nancy,  Holly and Jessica retrieve
 their objects from the repository. 

More objects, and a glimpse into the diversity of the
collection (the grid is a ceiling light reflection).