Tell a story that speaks to the viewer. That’s one of the most important components of putting together an exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, according Shari Feldman, manager of group sales.
“It has to bring in a human element and make it relatable,” she says. “Encouraging interactions between our visitors and the interactions between our visitors and the pieces in the exhibition is much more prevalent than is has been in the last several years. In the past, exhibitions have relied heavily on wall text but now an exhibition might include a video that shows the process of how an artist creates the object, or it has an iPad that allows the guest to expand an image to see something very small. It (has) to be filled with fascinating facts about the subject and the time period, and a nice open floor plan and great lighting help, too.”
The exhibits, as ever-changing as the museum industry itself, remain on view for about three to six months. That’s what makes seeing these exhibits so important, whether the collections are on loan from other museums or private lenders.
In the fall, the museum will open “Designs for Different Futures.”
“We typically think about design with regards to clothing, buildings or furniture, but this exhibition explores how design is influential in the trajectory of our everyday life,” Feldman says. “It will explore visionary and sometimes controversial designs that promise to transform how we live, eat, heal, travel and even love.”
“Off the Wall: American Art to Wear,” also opening in the fall, will highlight the inventive work of mixed-media artists who use the body as a frame for one-of-a-kind art.
For more information, contact Feldman or go to philamuseum.org.
Top photo by Elizabeth Leitzell
For more behind the scenes looks check out 7 museums you need to visit now.
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