I was thinking about gum and "NO" signs the other day.
During a recent trip to a museum I had never visited before, I was struck by the gigantic sign (and I mean smack you in the face giant-size) immediately inside the front door with a list of "NOs." No photos, no running, no food, no drink, no gum ... and "no fun" I thought. It was hardly a welcoming experience, and it set a poor tone for the rest of my visit.
If any museum has a reason to put up a gigantic "NO gum" sign, it would be The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). A few years ago a 12 year old student stuck a wad of gum onto a Helen Frankenthaler painting, valued at over 1 million dollars.
So what happens if you make the mistake of chewing gum inside the DIA? I know from experience that a guard comes up to you quietly and reminds you that gum is not allowed in the galleries, and then hands you a small slip of paper.
The paper lets you know that gum is not allowed in order to protect the artworks, and politely suggests that you wrap your gum inside the slip and deposit it in the nearest trash can. End of story. No giant signs, no loud/rude guards, just a request for your cooperation to protect the art.
Even after the guard handed me the slip of paper, I enjoyed the rest of my visit to the DIA very much.
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