Hello, all--

I like the idea of Rivers as an exhibit theme. Rivers cross-cross the
country, and they tell stories related to transportation history,
commerce, and geology/earth science/ecology. There is also a rich store
of literature, music, and folklore related to rivers. Metaphorically and
practically, they connect us to one another. They suggest escape,
adventure, connection, exploration, inspiration, letting go. Taking care
of rivers is one important thread of contemporary environmental
activity. A theme like "Rivers and Streams" or "Rivers and Roads" could
make the subject bigger, either going in the "waters" direction or the
"byways" direction.

American Roads isn't a bad idea either. (American Routes? Too close to
Roots?)

Martha



Martha Davis Beck
Program Officer, Grants and Community Programs
MN Humanities Commission
987 East Ivy Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55106-2046
(651) 772-4245
[log in to unmask]
www.minnesotahumanities.org
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of David Morgan
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 8:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: New MoMS exhibitions

I am reminded that our Between Fences scholar, Dr. Luther Brown, had
suggested cemeteries as and exhibit theme. I think he may be on to
something.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Carol Harsh
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 7:08 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New MoMS exhibitions

Hi all,

As you know MoMS is launching the tour of Between Fences in September
2005
and New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music in March 2007.  The
MoMS
staff is starting to think beyond these two exhibitions to yet another
new
MoMS exhibition that will begin traveling in 2009.

We would love to hear from you regarding exhibitions that you have seen,
or
possibly that your council helped to develop, that you feel could be
adapted
to make a great MoMS exhibition.

A good MoMS exhibition is one that has a national focus but that
inspires
locally developed programs that are focused on local history and
culture.
The exhibition needs to be thematic in approach and draw upon a variety
of
humanities disciplines. It needs to be limited security so that we can
travel it to small museums and libraries, and therefore can't involve
rare
collections or artifacts. The topic needs to have a broad appeal, and
preferably inspire a passionate reaction at the local level as we have
seen
with barns and food.

Please send your comments and suggestions to me by June 1. Robbie and I
will follow up with curators and explore the viability of the topics.
In
addition to any ideas we get from you, we are currently developing a
handful
of other exhibition proposals on a variety of topics.

Our plan is to distribute a slate of exhibition proposals to you on
August
1, 2005, and ask you to rank and rate them as to which ones might make a
good MoMS exhibition tour in your state.  Surveys will need to be
returned
to us by mid September so that we can make the final determination and
announce the decision at the Federation's National Humanities
Conference.

Please remember that a lot of factors come into play in determining
which
exhibition ideas are appropriate for MoMS.  We value your input and
appreciate your understanding that the MoMS team is working hard to make
sure that only the best and most viable exhibition topics are presented
to
you for your consideration.

I am looking forward to your good ideas!

Carol

Carol Harsh
Co-Director
Museum on Main Street
Smithsonian Institution, SITES
(202)357-1760
(202)465-5267 (cell)
[log in to unmask]