Before we get too far into the New Year I’d like to take a glance back into 2017 and re-visit the exhibitions that made a lasting impression offering new inspiration. Out of the countless exhibitions I experienced this past year, there are two that I’ll never forget. Two very different experiences, with nowhere near similar content and yet each as equally captivating. Shall we take a look?

The first is at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA. 2017 was a huge year in that the museum opened just this past April. While the entire experience is new, there is one specific area that, in my opinion, is a perfect “wow” moment: The reveal of George Washington’s Headquarters Tent. You walk into a theater, take a seat and view a short but sensational video that sets the stage for Washington’s Headquarters Tent. As the video continues, you begin to see something forming in the background, slowly the video fades in the forefront and you realize the tent has been behind all along. Lighting and projection bring the tent to life, showing the changing seasons and even Washington pacing inside.

Entrance to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA. Image © Reo Flickrone It is an experience that gives life to an artifact in a way I had never experienced before. The tent itself is static, and yet the visual storytelling about, around and within the tent create a dynamic and even intimate awe-inspiring moment. It had me thinking how this type of experience could be used to enhance other artifacts. How can we use lighting, projection, and audio to animate a still object? How can we infuse life back into something, show its original use and offer up a connection with the visitor that is unique and memorable?

For a glimpse at the experience check out this video of the install.

The second experience was at the Des Moines Art Center in Des Moines, IA. From September 28th, 2017 through January 21st of this year, their galleries were filled with a temporary show, Drawing in Space, featuring work by three artists and one artist collective: Dave Eppley, Monika Grymala, Numen/For Use and Heeseop Yoon. The common material: tape. While each piece is amazing, from a future inspiration standpoint I’d focus on the Numen/For Use installation Tape Des Moines. This spiderweb-like structure was constructed entirely from packing tape and you can climb inside it! To get the best understanding of the experience take a look at this video with the artists.

Partial view of Drawing in Space at the Des Moines Art Center, IA. Image courtesy Grace Carroll Now I didn’t come away thinking “how I could make exhibits out of tape?”, although it did prompt inspiration to search for non-traditional materials in the future. The real inspiration comes from the way the experience taps into almost all your senses. It is visually captivating from the outside, but if you choose to crawl inside it’s a new visual experience, combined with a tactile, olfactory and auditory experience. The smooth texture of the tape, the sound of structure shifting, and the smell of the materials along with the visual is almost otherworldly. It left me thinking how can we create experiences that utilize all your senses? How can stimulating the right senses take an experience to a new level? How can exhibits incorporate some of the boundary-breaking that contemporary art seems so comfortable with? While the exhibition has closed, if you ever have the chance to see work by any of the artists, especially Numen/For Use, go!

These are just a few of the many exhibitions that I found great inspiration and questions to ponder in future designs. What were some of the exhibits you found most memorable in 2017, where did you find the most inspiration?

Learn more about the Des Moines Art Center: www.desmoinesartcenter.org

Learn more about the Museum of the American Revolution: http://www.amrevmuseum.org/