ExhibiTricks blog

• How to "Expand" Time at Your Museum

  
  
  

  
  

  Sometimes, when I'm speaking with a new consulting client, our perceptions of the time needed to complete project tasks on-site at their museum are very different.

  
  

  Usually, my contact will express that there is "no way" we will complete all the activities I've proposed at their museum in the allotted time.  It doesn't matter whether the time involved is two days or two weeks.

  
  

  However, I know a little museum consultant trick that "expands" time.  Well, it's not really a trick, but rather a way of playing with an all too common reality for museum folks -- they don't get regular large blocks of "uninterrupted" time to do their work!

  
  

  No matter if someone works in Exhibits, Education, Development, or Administration, they seem to be constantly pulled away or distracted by meetings, building concerns, visitor complaints, board issues, malfunctioning exhibits, etc., etc.

  
  

  However, when everyone knows a consultant is coming (especially from out of town!) staff working at the museum make a commitment to create blocks of "untouchable" time to meet, prototype, brainstorm, or whatever with the consultant (like me!) 

  
  

  And, unsurprisingly, when talented and creative museum folks dig into challenges together for those uninterrupted blocks of time -- LOTS of cool stuff happens.

  
  

  There are also ways to "hack" your work calendar to create these "time-bending" calendar blocks.  Some folks prioritize their "high concentration" tasks at the beginning of their work day (ideally before the museum opens) to maximize their workflow.  If possible, some folks shift their starting times an hour earlier to maximize concentrated quiet time or even book standing meetings with themselves to build in those blocks of focused time.

  
  

  All of this begs the question of whether all those workplace "interruptions" are really necessary.  Of course, if a real emergency like a water pipe bursting happens, it requires immediate attention. But could other work events or meetings, be put into a temporal "parking lot" to be dealt with at specific times -- after lunch or two hours before closing, for example -- leaving the rest of the day for concentrated bursts of thinking, creating, and problem-solving?

  
  

  It's worth spending a little time thinking about how your workdays normally flow -- or don't.

  
  

  Or you could just contact me to work with your museum so we can bend time together!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.
  
  Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!
  
  If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

• What's Your Favorite Museum Work Poem or Quote? (Plus a HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!)

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Do you have a poem or quote that you keep coming back to that inspires or resonates with your museum work?
  
  
  I do.  It's a poem called "The Real Work" by Wendell Berry.
  
  
  
  
  The Real Work

  
  It may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work,

  
  and that when we no longer know which way to go we have come to our real journey.

  
  The mind that is not baffled is not employed.

  
  The impeded stream is the one that sings.

  
  

  
  

  It seems that so much of our museum work often brings us to places and ideas that we don't quite understand yet.  And I guess that's part of the reason that "The Real Work" resonates with me, and why I keep Berry's poem on my phone so I can share it with my creative partners.

  
  

  
  

  And now the HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!

  
  

  In the spirit of quotes and poems, I'm going to give away three of Harry White's "Exhibit Aphorism" card decks to some lucky ExhibiTricks readers!  

  
  

  For your chance at one of those three decks, just email me your favorite quote or poem that drives and inspires your museum work before December 11, 2023.  And tell me a little about what the words mean to you and your work.  I'll choose three winners from all the responses submitted.

  
  

  Depending on the number of responses, I'll put together a future ExhibiTricks post sharing some of the inspirational poems and quotes.

  
  

  
  

  GOOD LUCK!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.
  
  Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!
  
  If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

• Sharing Stories (and Sticks!)

  
  
  
  
  
  I'm still reeling a bit from the loss of Brad Larson, whose tragic death is a tremendous loss to the museum community and beyond.
  
  
  But if you'll indulge me a bit, I'd like to refer you to this YouTube video from a few years ago when I had a conversation with Brad featuring great suggestions about how to gather stories from visitors -- both inside and outside your museum. (Plus the video comes with a bonus "Work From Home" (WFH) tip on how to break up your routine -- using a stick!)
  
  
  Please take a few moments to check out the video and spare a kind thought for Brad and the family and friends he leaves behind.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.
  
  Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!
  
  If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

• Remembering Brad Larson

  
  
  
  
  
  My friend (and long-time Museum Conference roommate) Brad Larson just died in the past day or two.
  
  
  Of course, it's sad when anyone dies, but I'd like to remember the joy and spirit that Brad shared with others, rather than the unfortunate circumstances of his passing.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I will always remember Brad with a big stick or staff because he loved the practice of Shintaido. As well as being a practical martial art, Shintaido aims to be a form of artistic expression, a healthy exercise, and a path of self-discovery and transformation.  I remember being with Brad at many conferences where he would get up early in the morning to run or move in a local park with his Shintaido staff (or even a big stick he found!)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Brad also loved to dance! Because he was so tall, it was not unusual to see Brad's head bobbing above the crowd near the front of the stage at many a conference dance party.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Brad especially enjoyed writing haikus. So I'll end this remembrance by sharing one of the last haikus he wrote on his Facebook page:
  
  
  
  
  Trail Run Haiku 10/26/23
  
  
  Time to catch my breath
  breathe in breathe out, stand and watch
  golden leaves falling 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.
  
  Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!
  
  If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"

• Four Qualities of Great Creative Partners

  
  
  
  
  
  I've just returned from Blagoevgrad, a large city in Bulgaria, where I helped lead a week-long series of professional development workshops (called MUSE Academy) for Bulgarian colleagues working in museums and allied cultural organizations from across the country.
  
  
  One of the things I've been thinking about after this most recent trip to Bulgaria is how to recognize the four qualities that make for great Creative Partners.
  
  
  For me, the best Creative Partners are the ones that 1) Have Fun; 2) Think Big;  3) Work Flexibly; and 4) Get Stuff Done.  Below are some of the ways that the MUSE Academy fostered Creative Partners, and the four qualities below are important indicators to keep in mind when working with partners on any creative and challenging project.
  
  
  
  
  1) Have Fun
  My memories of working with my two MUSE Academy co-instructors, Christina Ferwerda and Jamie Lawyer, are filled with laughter.  We all really believe in working hard during our trips to Bulgaria, with extensive planning ahead of time. And yet, our work is enjoyable because we have fun together.
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  2) Think Big 
  Our creative partners at the America for Bulgaria Foundation sponsor the MUSE Academy, and we are so lucky to have Nadia Zaharieva and Yuliana Decheva as the point people from the Foundation driving everything forward.  Nadia and Yuliana push for us to "think bigger" and to create more opportunities for the MUSE Academy participants and, in turn, build even greater capacity in the Bulgarian museum and cultural sectors.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  3) Work Flexibly
  In every project I've ever worked on, unexpected events occur. Our time in Blagoevgrad was no exception, as a few "Bulgarian surprises" came up during our week there. Despite this, I was sure that my Creative Partners would be flexible and figure out ways to overcome any challenges rather than complaining or pointing fingers.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  4) Get Stuff Done 
  Можело is a Bulgarian word meaning roughly, "This can be done!"  We strive for a spirit of Можело during our week together with MUSE Academy participants -- to push against the notion of "This is not possible" and to accomplish a lot together and challenge ourselves creatively.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Here's hoping you can find wonderful Creative Partners that meet all four of these criteria when you put together your next project!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Don't miss out on any ExhibiTricks posts! It's easy to get updates via email or your favorite news reader. Just click the "Sign up for Free ExhibiTricks Blog Updates" link on the upper right side of the blog.
  
  Paul Orselli writes the posts on ExhibiTricks. Paul likes to combine interesting people, ideas, and materials to make exhibits (and entire museums!) with his company POW! (Paul Orselli Workshop, Inc.) Let's work on a project together!
  
  If you enjoy the blog, you can help keep it free to read and free from ads by supporting ExhibiTricks through our PayPal "Tip Jar"