GHM Analysis

The “Voices” Exhibit began well. The mass of the room upon entrance was well designed. An oval space with faces lining the walls was an appropriate entrance to an exhibit entitled “Voices”. The oval is more effective to display many images because it provides more flat spaces. This problem of curvature in relation to the display of flat art is evident in the Guggenheim in New York.  The extrusion of some images away from the wall gave depth and dimension to the space, where flat mural images would lack in excitement. Then to further the attractive quality lights were placed behind larger images to draw attention. The images seem to gravitate around the larger images. This technique draws the eye to the larger image with light and size then attention is dispersed to the surrounding objects. One single stool was placed in the center of the oval. This is meant to draw the viewer to a sitting position and a sense of rotation is established around the piece of furniture. However I believe rotation is implied due to the oval form and ring of images. The stool also marks the edge of a corridor in which to travel to the door, but blocks direct travel to the images. The stool could have been left off the circulation route.

Moving out the door from the oval entrance room the display area zig zags with displays lining the walls. Track lighting illuminates the displays here as well as in the oval entrance. Tiled carpeting sections off space into appropriate squares. The option of the right angle is apparent in the square and the shape of space. The change in color in the exhibits defines the age in history. Red and green are predominant as these are the colors of Greensboro. The displays weave and lead you appropriately into the gift shop. Is this appropriate to have the gift shop at the end of the first exhibit? This may not be the most appropriate pare for the gift shop. This placement commercializes the display and in a way cheapens it. Perhaps the gift shop should be under the mezzanine on the first floor. The option of purchase instead of implied obligation.

The pottery section is set with historic room detail surrounding it. This is appropriate as pottery could be argued is of more historical significance than room layout. The pottery is displayed on small furniture like blanket chests within the cases. Was this how it was displayed in historical times? Why would you display perishable pottery on a chest that opens on a regular basis? Pottery was probably kept on a shelf where it was away from motion. So to keep with the times of display; appropriate historical shelving can be used to display the pottery. This would cut down on display room, narrowing the cases and allowing the room displays to become more prominent. The reason the pottery is displayed along with furniture is to show the relationship between the two. How much relationship is there between a wooden box and molded clay? The same comparison can be made through historical shelving and pottery, possibly even more so. Maybe shelving and trim can match that of an amoire relevant to the period.

The Gate City exhibit was divided into separate rooms on opposing sides. There was too much division within this display and no fluid circulation. The rooms were wall papered or plastered. This seemed to cheapen the area. The colors were dull providing no sense of excitement. In certain rooms mechanical elements were present on the ceiling and it distracts from the scene. A disguised drop down ceiling would hide these. The HVAC plenum in the “theater” causes the screen to be offset from center. This room is too small for the purpose and need not exist within the space. There was a sense of confusion and disorganization to the room order of displays. Certain rooms need to be combined. It is not necessary to have a separate room to display two telephone operation stations.  The division wall of fake brick where the fire engine juts out of an irregular opening must be removed. This irregular opening impedes circulation and causes claustrophobia. The purpose of the opening is to allow a view of the fire engine while walking towards the door to the classroom at the end of a dead end hall. The door to the classroom must be at the front windows of the classroom. The door at the rear is not even evident and there is nothing but the removable railing to indicate that one should pass in this direction. This is a waste of space and shouldn’t be there. Opening the wall to the engine room guides the eye into this area after one would pass by the entrance to the classroom. The plenum within the engine area is an eyesore. There is no dropdown ceiling due to the height of the fire engine. Perhaps moving the engine into the street area would allow for a ceiling to be installed. Possibly replacing the ductwork with forced air tubing will decrease its size. This may not be a possibility due to the requirements of air movement for specific areas. Spot track lighting is unnecessary in this area there are few wall displays and the reflection off white walls gives too much glare and institutionalizes the display.

Another note on the rear exit staircase; if this is the staircase that the lobby was modeled after, is nothing spectacular. It is just a based in staircase. This furthers my decision to remove the base of the lobby stair and expose the space behind as one continual unified mass. The space still may not be usable but the implied reflection of area opens the floor space.

The Down Home exhibit was very open upon arrival. Single displays were organized in cluttered masses. Structural columns became hindering objects in circulation and view. White walls laid a background against the furniture and pictures. This also institutionalized the scene and gave a feeling that the objects did not belong. Green rectangular rectangles occupied background space and furthered to cheapen the displays.  Modeled displays were set in boxed framing in the middle of circulation tightening the spaces. The display was also exhibited on the first floor. The towers of display were arranged in a tight pillared square. This seemed very uncomfortable to move through.