Hi All-

(Forgive if my thoughts are a bit scattered).  Although I am not wedded to
any ideas on specific themes I would love to see the MOMS folks continue to
take on ideas of immediate impact.  Like Between Fences,  there seems to me
to be certain topics that would be nice, safe topics, but others that could
be extremely provocative as they contribute or take part in current national
debates.  Fences, for example, talks about the way we contextualize and
visualize separation and distinctiveness.  Frankly, I was surprised that so
many museums/libraries wanted it in Illinois and, to me, it seems to say
that communities are eager to wrestle with less than celebratory histories
and heritages.

Rivers, roads, and highways seem like very doable projects but I think they
can run the risk of becoming a bit facile.  There are many angles of
approach, and with these kinds of topics communities can reach out to people
that have - and continue - to labor in maintaining, creating, and
conditioning these things. What a good way to encourage them to work with
museums, libraries, and the like.  I would agree, also, that an idea like
rivers be combined into something bigger as I guess there would be many
land-locked communities with tangential connections, at best. Yet, I would
not hesitate to include sub-themes that deal with the ways in which
Americans "eat up the road," where life in the age of the automobile has had
significant impact on our politics, our social structures (i.e., owning a
car is essential in some communities), and our global resources.

I think, especially, too, about topics like the "graying" of America and all
that an idea like that contains within - I wonder, for example, what outlets
exist whereby folks can engage in current debates on the future of things
like Social Security, Medicare, prolonged living through advances in
medicine, etc., etc.  But what else might there be?  In Illinois,
out-migration is a REAL problem in nearly 1/3 of its counties -
economically, socially, culturally.  In some instances, counties report
demographics well over the average state or national average in persons over
65, or well below the rates for persons under 18.  Yet, the theme need not
be so bleak, or rather, it need not deal with the "problem" of the graying.
There is something to the idea of 'elders', it seems to me, that contains
those things best in human beings - i.e., respect for a life well-lived,
stories shared, and experiences gained.

What also of exhibits that deal with sports and the sporting culture of
America?  There's no shortage of provocation there - especially for smaller
communities where some may see athletics, or are forced to see athletics, as
the only ticket out of town. I'm certain, too, that if we were to ask
particular clubs in American high schools about their feelings about sports
and their classmates who participate in them, we might not like what we'd
hear.  In fact, we know that these kinds of resentments have had tragic
consequences all across this land.

I suppose my point is to say that I am glad to about those topics that
appeal to and elicit passionate responses from our communities, but I do not
think we should shy away from dealing with difficult, relevant topics that
ask museums to become places where differing viewpoints might be heard.

Most sincere thanks for the opportunity to participate in this process.

Best, Ryan

Ryan Lewis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Program Officer
Illinois Humanities Council
203 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2020
Chicago, IL 60601.2417
312.422.5585 ext. 231
312.422.5588 Fax
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the
source of all true art and all science.  - Albert Einstein





-----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)
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