It's an interesting idea: collect and exhibit ordinary objects that have been used to do extraordinary things. That's the idea behind the collection at Western Kentucky University's museum exhibit, Instruments of American Excellence. They've got Sandra Day O'Connor's bound copy of the Constitution from her chambers, Jimmy Carter's hammer from Habitat for Humanity projects, Liza Minelli's shoes from "The Act" (1977-8) for which she won a Tony. Among many other things.
I think that it's an interesting idea from a collection standpoint--ordinary objects made interesting by provenance. Where the object has been and what it has done. But that doesn't make it any different really than the Smithsonian's collection of things like Julia Child's kitchen or the muppets from Henson studios.
What makes this collection stand out for ME is the idea that it is a college collection. The idea that it is deliberately aimed at students, trying to decide what it is that they want from their lives and what matters to them. I think it's amazing to reach these students with a permanent collection based around aspirations and hard work--like Sara Means' ballet slippers, overcoming adversity--material from Temple Grandin's work, opportunity--a studio mic used by Sam Phillips to record Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, unexpected paths and changes--the hammer that Jimmy Carter used (the idea of his post-presidency being a new direction and an area for recognition that few could have seen in the presidency years). I hope they find ways to use it well as part of their teaching mission.
I'm intrigued by the message that you don't need extraordinary tools, if people can see past the provenance and story to the ordinariness of the tools themselves. We can all buy a skateboard or a copy of the Constitution, and the particular one we buy does not make all the difference. It's an anti-consumerist message, and an uplifting idea about our primary obstacles to accomplishment not being our tools.
ReplyDeleteNeat!
ReplyDelete(And it ties in with historicity again.)
Good point about the college collection; cool. But I wonder whether it would be more relevant to the students if more focused on more recent stuff--the Tony Hawk skateboard is great, but he's our generation, and I wonder if current students get much connection with him, much less with Elvis and Johnny Cash. Would a Lady Gaga wig or a Usain Bolt running shoe do more to inspire the student audience? Or would it just feel topical and therefore quickly dated?
Ooh, and I like the don't-need-extraordinary-tools thing, Michael. Nice.