Science On A Shoestring

A great set of articles from Nature outlines many interesting examples and applications of "Science On A Shoestring" from around the world.

One of my favorite examples is the $4.00 bamboo microscope (pictured above) produced by the non-profit group in India called Jodo Gyan

SketchUp for Exhibits

If you don't already know about SketchUp, the free** tool from Google, temporarily stop reading this post and point your browser to the SketchUp site to download your favorite flavor.

(Once you start using SketchUp, their blog is well worth checking out as well.)

I know a fellow exhibit developer that calls SketchUp "AutoCAD for Dummies." While SketchUp may have a much more straightforward learning curve than other 3D programs, the results are beautiful and professional even for a clod like me. (The drawing above is a simple SketchUp rendering that I created for a museum project.) So download SketchUp and give it a whirl!

I'd be interested in setting up a network for sharing SketchUp models and projects related to exhibits and museums. Is anyone else interested?

**Once Google bought the original SketchUp company they started offering a free "basic" version, and charging for the "pro" version (although non-profits, like museums, can get the pro version at a reduced rate.)

Idea-A-Day

Sometimes even the most creative exhibit developers get stumped.

How about a fun website or e-mailing service that gives you an "idea-a-day"? OK, OK, not every idea is a keeper, but it's still a quick jolt for your designer brain in the morning that doesn't involve caffeine!

Go to the idea-a day website to find out more.

Early Childhood Exhibit: Little Sky Country

You may have read my earlier report about "Little Sky Country" an Early Childhood Gallery in the soon-to-be-open museum called "ExplorationWorks" in the "Big Sky Country" of Helena, Montana.

Well, now the gallery has been installed, as you can see on this Flickr page

The gallery was a collaboration with DCM Fabrication (of Brooklyn, NY) and the staff and volunteers of ExplorationWorks.

One unique thing about ExWorks is that their LEED-certified building was also a "community build" project. (Sort of like a modern barn raising!) In keeping with the eco-friendly theme, we were also able to make use of great "green" materials throughout.

So, if you're ever in "Big Sky Country" make sure to save time for some "Little Sky" too!

Exhibition Design: Why Your Project Costs Too Much

I've just gotten the details on another RFP that I've been short-listed on. Whoopee!

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm has waned now that the actual exhibition scopes and budgets have been released.

I'm all for inexpensive exhibits and production budgets that are frugal, yet allow for creativity. (There's a reason I edited The Cheapbooks for ASTC!)

That being said, it is clear from following the time and money trails backward, that a large part of the client's funding that could have gone into "hard goods" (that is to say ACTUAL EXHIBITS) instead were frittered away on fancy master plans and consultants.

Let me pause the blog to state "THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES!"

Clearly, every exhibition project needs money and often fundraisers and consultants to help raise that money. But you have to wonder when the majority of a project's funds go into overhead, consultants, fancy fundraising packets, etc. rather than the exhibits and programs for visitors.

If you want great exhibits, spend your time and money on the exhibits!

William Gibson: EBay as Guest Curator?

William Gibson, the godfather of cyberspace has a cool interview in the Washington Post.

In it, Mr. Gibson contends that there is a great opportunity for people to become connoisseurs due to the inadvertent curatorial power of eBay: "Every hair is being numbered -- eBay has every grain of sand. EBay is serving this very, very powerful function which nobody ever intended for it. EBay in the hands of humanity is sorting every last Dick Tracy wrist radio cereal premium sticker that ever existed. It's like some sort of vast unconscious curatorial movement."

Maybe eBay is another way to deploy the power of "Web 2.0" into museums?

In any event, an interesting interview.