How to Revise and Outdated Exhibit
This blog is dedicated to the glass display case – you know – the one that was donated to your museum in the 1980s by a well-meaning retailer after their remodeling project. These cases are huge, heavy, and if you are unlucky enough to have the kind that load from the rear – practically impossible to make look attractive. I have seen these in nearly every small museum (and some large) across the country. In fact, I worked with one museum that purchased these intentionally!
This week’s “HOW TO” is about building a foundation for displays and the dreaded glass case is a great example to work with. Even though curators hate these museum relics, they serve a purpose and because we can’t afford the new convenient cases with magnets and lift booms, and sliding doors that don’t break your back, we have to dress them as best we can. Here are a few rules to help:
Add Color. Just because glass is inert doesn’t mean you have to schlop artifacts down and stick an ID tag alongside. Create a base for your objects with a flat piece of foamcore, MDF, or even cardboard, wrapped in a colored fabric. A solid base in a coordinated fabric color makes a huge difference in the way an object appears. Here are a few things to remember for making this hack work:
Cut your base material neatly. Squares and rectangles cut just slightly larger than the object work best. Use a straight edge and sharp craft knife for best results.
Any fabric that is going to come in direct contact with an artifact should be laundered first. Use a “free” detergent and no fabric softener. Iron the fabric, cut it so it wraps around the cardboard base like a present, and then hot glue the edges on the underside.
Lift It Up. One step above a flat base for your objects is a plinth. A plinth is a little box that lifts artifacts. I find it amazing that you can take a thing – anything – dust it gently, put it on a plinth and suddenly it looks amazing. Several plinths of differing sizes and heights can be scattered throughout a case to make the contents look interesting and to highlight the most important ones. Plinth can be custom made with MDF or plywood, but if you don’t have the equipment, you can also try these hacks:
Wrap a sturdy cardboard box with fabric (see steps above). Pull the fabric tight and wrap the box like you would a present, with folded edges. Glue everything neatly with a hot glue gun.
Buy craft squares at your local crafting store or on amazon and paint them to match the color palette of your display. Here are a few I’ve used in the past.
In a pinch, wrap acrylic vitrines with fabric. When you glue, be sure not to adhere the fabric to the acrylic and these can be used again in the future.
When you paint items that are going to come in contact with artifacts, use a barrier layer between the two when you can. A small strip of muslin, a piece of mylar sheeting, or acid free tissue paper tucked under the artifact will help keep it from damage.
Anytime you include paint in your museum display case, let is cure completely before adding any artifacts.
Below are a few before and after shots of glass cases we’ve gussied up over the years using these simple techniques. A how-to video is also on our YouTube Channel @museumprosllc6500
Next week, we’ll throw out suggestions for signs. Until then, happy curating!
