The final presentation for the Red Team in this summer\'s Exhibition Strategies course at Johns Hopkins Museum Studies program.

1. A Story of Corn Red Group – Final Presentation

2. Topics Team Roles and Responsibilities Project Scope Plan – Big Idea, Audience, Goals, Bubble Diagram Interactive Plan Environmental Plan Sample Labels Lessons Learned 8/28/2010 2 Red Group - Final Presentation

3. PowerPoint Presentation 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 3

4. The Red Team Members Curator – Lisa Seymour Exhibit Designer – Amanda Kreklau Educator – Eric Schwass Project Manager – Chèrie Whipple 8/28/2010 4 Red Group - Final Presentation

5. Curatorial Responsibilities 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 5 Provided vision and content direction on each deliverable Led charge on the Big Idea (project scope) and Sample Labels

6. Exhibition Designer Responsibilities 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 6 Created the bubble diagram Led charge on the Environmental Plan

7. Educator Responsibilities 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 7 Led charge on the Interactive Plan

8. Project Manager Responsibilities 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 8 Planned, monitored project schedule; documented the project Led charge on Team Contract and Final Presentation

9. Deliverable #1 Team Contract 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 9

10. Contract Outline 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 10 Roles and Responsibilities Communication Plan Deliverable Submission Project Schedule Project Standards Personal Accountability and Expectations of Team Members Approval Signatures

11. Deliverable #2 Project Scope Document – The Big Idea 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 11

12. The Big Idea Corn has been and continues to be an important staple for both food and other uses, and has played an important role in shaping the history and culture of the Midwest The Importance of Corn: It’s Everywhere! The Influence of Corn on the Midwest The Social and Cultural Importance of Corn 8/28/2010 12 Red Group - Final Presentation

13. Our Museum 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 13 History museum, centrally located in the Midwest City of approximately 50,000 people 15,000 square feet of permanent exhibits Our temporary exhibition will fill approx. 1100 sq. ft. Local branch of a large bank is the funding source

14. Target Audience Based on our museum description and our assumptions about the region, the target audience for our exhibit is as follows: Families (parents with children, grandparents with grandchildren) School tours, grades 1-8 (i.e., if we launch the program to coincide with the school year) Educators from the local schools 8/28/2010 14 Red Group - Final Presentation

15. Exhibit Goals 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 15 As a result of this exhibit, the visitor will Have a better appreciation for the role corn farming and production has played regionally Understand the significant role that corn has on the economy from its many uses portrayed in the exhibit Relate to the stories of corn products in use in our daily lives and the opportunities and challenges that corn provides Engage in activities about how corn has impacted our culture in the Midwest

16. Bubble Diagram 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 16

17. Deliverable #3 Interactive Plan 8/28/2010 17 Red Group - Final Presentation

18. How a Combine Harvester Works 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 18 Mechanically activated cutaway model of a modern combine harvester Illustrates level of technological advancement applied to modern-day corn harvesting Appeals to children 8 and up Question and answer label Comparison chart nearby of hand harvesting methods and amounts

19. The ‘Corn or No Corn’ Game 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 19 Multi-station kiosk consisting of a screen and two buttons “Is there a corn product in the pictured item, or not?“ Appeals to children ages 12 and up and adults Visitors learn about some of the more clever uses for parts of the corn plant

20. Deliverable #4 Environmental Plan – Graphic Look and Feel 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 20

21. Color on Walls and Labels Red Group - Final Presentation 21 Colors mimic nature Maintaining appropriate contrast between text and background, and objects Light sky blue for wall space around clerestory windows Light grassy green for the exhibit walls Dark brown for exhibit text and other accent points Butter yellow for text panels and object labels 8/28/2010

22. Materials and Finishes: Floors and Doors Red Group - Final Presentation 22 Bold planks of stained hardwood for flooring Doors in prairie-style with frosted windows 8/28/2010

23. Materials and Finishes: Seating 8/28/2010 Red Group - Environmental Plan 23 Oak benches selected to match prairie-style design Comfortable, colorful cushions with fabric protector Space below for exhibit brochure

24. Materials and Finishes: Lighting Red Group - Final Presentation 24 Wall-mounted track lighting for stormy days or nighttime hours Temporary coating on upper-story windows to reduce UV infiltration to avoid damaging objects Diffused display case lighting set in tracks along the base of the plexiglass cover 8/28/2010

25. Materials and Finishes: Labels and Cases Red Group - Environmental Plan 25 Label material: laminated recycled composite Font choice: abcdeABCDE (Century Schoolbook) Cases: recycled, formaldehyde-free MDF, painted dark brown, and topped with UV-resistant plexiglass 8/28/2010 Sample

26. 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 26 A Story of Corn This exhibit is made possible by our generous sponsor: The Farmers Bank The Museum of Midwestern History wishes to thank our corporate members.

27. Sample Wall Section Red Group - Final Presentation 27 8/28/2010

28. Deliverable # 5 Sample Labels 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 28

29. Sample Section: Corn: It’s Everywhere! Introduction Panel 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 29 In a way, you may be eating corn even when you don’t see it on your plate! Livestock are the biggest consumers of corn in the U.S., so the beef, chicken, pork, eggs or dairy in your supermarket originated with livestock as part of the corn economy.

30. Sample Section: Influence of Corn on the Midwest Red Group - Environmental Plan 30 8/28/2010 Secondary Panel Cornhusk Shellers Farmers used hand-held iron corn shellers to strip corn from the cobs as early as 1815. By the mid 1800s, shellers were operated by hand cranks. Separators sent the cob out the side while the kernels fell to the bottom. Museum of Midwestern History permanent collection. Anonymous gifts.

31. Sample Section: Social and Cultural Object Label 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 31 Indian Corn Harvest by Carrie Dearing Gourd bowl, wood burned and dyed, hand beaded with glass seed beads along rim. Gift of the artist, 2010.

32. Lessons Learned 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 32 Refine the big idea to a manageable chunk – this takes time, discussion, and collaboration Define and articulate the big idea (10 seconds at gun point or elevator speech) clearly and early in the project Start planning the project as early aspossible, determining personal schedulesand project deadlines for workload leveling

33. Lessons Learned, Continued 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 33 Don't get too attached to content – you will inevitably do more research than you can incorporate, write more text and labels than you can possibly use, so ruthless editing will be in order Don’t take feedback personally and offer feedback in a positive, constructive manner

34. Lessons Learned, Continued 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 34 Determine each team member's expectations for the project – are we building a wall or a cathedral – do we share the same vision of the outcome Learn about team members’ work, learning, and behavioral styles in the initiation phase of the project – understanding and adapting to each others' styles makes for easier working relationships

35. 8/28/2010 Red Group - Final Presentation 35