Week 4

Exhibition Reception

The KRC hosted a reception for the community featuring the Vietnamese exhibit on Thursday, February 25.  The SunHerald covered the story, which can be viewed at their Web site:

 http://www.sunherald.com/2010/02/25/1983384/vietnamese-cultural-exhibit-opens.html.



    This week we changed out the Mardi Gras exhibit in our display space, and replaced it with the Vietnamese exhibit, which focuses on the culture of Vietnamese people who immigrated to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We had a great selection of framed photographs loaned to the KRC by the photographer, which were hung by one of the docents. I then made labels for all the photos from the artist's descriptions, printed them on clear sticky labels, cut them each out, and stuck them on the wall next to the appropriate photo. 

Framed photos in Vietnamese exhibit.

More framed photos in Vietnamese exhibit.

More framed photos in Vietnamese exhibit.

Sample of photo labels.

Center table display in Vietnamese exhibit.

I created a display using some of the items from her collection in a smaller display case . This case featured a Vietnamese woman who was featured on a cover of National Geographic as a small girl in a Tet celebration in Biloxi, MS, and a follow-up article on the same girl written by the Sun Herald newspaper. We scanned the original cover of the National Geographic and printed a color copy of it, then mounted in on black foam core for display. The original National Geographic was then opened to the article associated with the cover and displayed. I then typed up a text description of the display, printed it on card stock, mounted it on black foam core, and displayed it in front of the article and photos. ( Shugana had to pin the T-shirts to the wall above the case, since I was a bit too short to reach. :) )

Text description of display.

Small glass display case of Vietnamese girl on National Geographic cover.

Small glass display case featuring Vietnamese girl on cover of National Geographic.

We were also fortunate to have a collection of Vietnamese artifacts and memorabilia loaned to us by Linda Van Zandt, from USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage, who shared her personal collection with us for display. The collection included photos, shoes, parasols, postcards, figurines, pottery, paper lanterns, and various other souverniers from her trip. I created a display of these items in one of our large glass display cases.

Large glass display case featuring items from the Vietnamese collection of Linda Van Zandt.

Top shelf of large glass case featuring Van Zandt Vietnamese collection. Overhead skylight created interesting reflections in bottom half of photo.

Top shelf of case in Vietnamese display.

Top shelf of Vietnamese large glass display case.

Vertical shot of three shelves in large glass display case.

Week 3

Our major project for this week was to replace the Shrimp Industry exhibit (in the KRC area that we put up that is displayed as part of the Smithosonian section of the Journey Stories exhibit) with the Mardi Gras exhibit. When I arrived on Monday, the Shrimp industry had already been taken down, and Dr. Nuwer had started on the Mardi Gras exhibit. 
I trimmed and adhered photos to black foam core to display, and assisted Shugana with placement in the exhibit. I also pulled several books from the library collection and displayed them on the center table.  Also, I researched the history of Mardi Gras as a holiday, and then the history of the Mardi Gras Indians, and wrote text for the exhibit which I then trimmed and mounted on foam core to display in the exhibit, as well.
On Tuesday, I researched addresses for supporters of the KRC so that thank you letters could be sent out.
I then spent time reviewing archiving techniques and principles using a CD supplied by Shugana.

Front entrance to Mardi Gras exhibit.

Right side wall of Mardi Gras exhibit.

Photo of Mardi Gras Indian in Mardi Gras exhibit.

Week 2

This week I did a variety of tasks. I created clear labels containing exhibit information to attach to the backs of postcards to be given out to visitors during the Journey Stories exhibit.  I also straightened out the storage room and re-organized it. And called Paul's Pastries to see if they migtht donate King Cakes for our Mardi Gras presentation.
I also researched various local historical societies to get mailing addresses for them so we could send out information about the exhibits to them.
I got started briefly on the Gulf Park Women's Collection archives, which I'll be working on throughout the semester. The collection contains a great deal of material that needs to be digitized and accessioned.
This project will give me excellent "on-the-job" experience and training in processing a real-world archival collection.

Week 1

                                               Entryway to Journey Stories exhibit

 
For my first week at the KRC (http://www.usm.edu/katrina/), I helped prepare for the Smithsonian's Journey Stories exhibit (http://www.museumonmainstreet.org/journeystories/index.htm)
to be held at the center.

Sign in desk at entry to Journey Stories Exhibit.

                       Counter holding postcards, pamphlets, and the television with video playing


                        

First display unit of the Smithsonian's Journey Stories Exhibit (SJSE).

One of the units of the SJSE.

Exhibit unit called "Across the 'Great Desert' to the West!, part of the SJSE.

Back side of "Across the 'Great Desert' to the West!" unit.

Exhibit unit of the SJSE.

Exhibit unit of the SJSE.

Last unit of the SJSE.

The Seafood Exhibit

For the section of the exhibit done by the KRC, as part of the Journey Stories exhibit, I assisted with the exhibit of the history of the Seafood industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The exhibit included photos, rubber fishing boots, and memoribilia donated by Gollott's Seafood Co.

Front entrance of the Seafood exhibit.

Fishing basket and rubber boots, just outside the left side of entrance.

Inside left wall of Seafood exhibit.

Center table display, Seafood exhibit.

Pamplets from Gollott's Seafood Co.

Seafood industry newspaper articles.

Glass display case featuring Gollott's Seafood Co.

I started out by working with photos to be displayed in the exhibit. I edited, printed, trimmed, and mounted the 8 X 10 prints for the Seafood Industry display on black foamcore.

I also ordered cookies and cheese trays from a local store for a  function being given by the KRC.


I met Dr. Nuwer on my second day, and she showed me how the mounted photos would be displayed, and described how the rest of the upcoming exhibit would be assembled in the exhibit spaces. She also showed me a collection of t-shirts that were left by workers after Katrina that had each been decorated, and demonstrated how selected shirts would be chosen and displayed for a Katrina t-shirt exhibit.

Hurrican Katrina T-shirt exhibit

Hurricane Katrina T-shirts.

More Katrina T-shirts.

Small boat, displayed to the left of the Seafood exhibit, mid-floor.

 

I also took a few minutes to look at the items on display around the Center, including a large collection of plates that were painted by children from local schools after Katrina. The images and words they held were both inspiring and heartbreaking. Dr. Nuwer explained that the plates had been salvaged from the dining hall at the Gulf Coast branch after Katrina struck.

The exhibits will be in place by the time I return next week, and I am excited to see how they look and interact with people as they observe them.