Museum Project, To Have and To Hold, Project Guidelines

Each student is required to design and construct a display case. The display case will house original objects made by the student.  The content and meaning of the objects will be derived from research conducted at the St. Augustine Historical Society Library. Ideas about display will come from time spent looking at the many display options at The Lightner Museum. Display cases will be designed so the structure is easily movable. The display cases will be on view at The Lightner Museum. Dates and locations TBA. Each student will produce an artist statement that introduces their research and discusses their concept.  

Objective:
Expose students to the processes of research and group discourse to develop an idea. This approach to art making will provide students with an opportunity to make work that has meaning and content. Utilizing local resources provides opportunity for a site-specific project. 

Step 1:

Class field trip to the St. Augustine Historical Society Library. Discuss the need and desire to collect and document images and objects from the past. 

Step 2: 

Each student conducts their own, individual research at the library. At least two hours required from each student. 

Step 3:

Present research to class for discussion. 

Step 4:

Visit The Lightner Museum to gather ideas about display. 

Step 5:

Present display ideas to class and decide on a format. Display cases will be similar in size and design so that materials can be purchased in bulk. 

Firm up individual ideas for objects. 

Step 6:

Mold Making Workshop. Russell Maycumber, MFA candidate, Jacksonville University, will demonstrate how to make molds. This process may be of interest for producing small scale objects for this project. Discussion - artifacts, reproduction, mass consumption, souvenirs, the significance of objects, Venus of Willendorf. 

Step 7:
Begin construction of display case and objects.

Step 8:
Complete required reading and write a one page personal response. A hard copy of the reading will be given out in class. 

Required Research: 
St. Augustine Historical Society

Link here to view website.

Lightner Museum

Link here to view website.

Additional Reading and Research:

To Have and to Hold: 

An Intimate History of Collectors and Collecting 

by Philipp Blom

The Hare with Amber Eyes 

by Edmund DeWaal

Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder 

by Lawrence Weschler

Museum of Jurassic Technology
Los Angeles, California

Link here to view website.