Exhibitsmith

Exhibitsmith the Podcast is back! Or at least it will be soon. I'm working behind the scenes to bring new voices to the podcast, to have engaging discussions about the roles museums, archives, and libraries play in our world. We talk about how and why these institutions matter, and how everyone can do their part to both support them and benefit from them. Please subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so you don't miss an exciting new episode.

Today I am relaunching the first episode, which is a personal story that I feature in my Downsizing Heirlooms and Collectibles program. I hope you enjoy it.

[This episode originally aired on March 1, 2024.]

Today I’m digging deep into my personal memories to share a story about how an otherwise ordinary object at my grandmother's house became surprisingly important to me at a very young age.  I’m curious whether you’ll be able to relate. I hope you enjoy today’s episode and I invite you to share your stories, too.

As we look ahead to the new year, which will, no doubt, be filled to the brim with tabloid images and talking heads, this episode encourages you take a moment to think about life before photos changed the world, and how (for better and worse) it has changed our lives. Photography has meant very different things to us collectively since its debut in 1839. This episode explores the different ways photography has shaped our society over the past (almost) two centuries and encourages you to reflect on those immense changes and how your daily lives.

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Fall is in full force and kids are busy making masterpieces at school and home. So what do you do with it all? 🍁

Here’s the scenario: you’ve been invited to donate a garment that represents you to your local museum. You’ve been given carte blanche to select something that is personal and important to you, and that reflects your daily life.

What would you choose?

You might be surprised by what I’d pick. 

This month’s episode challenges you to think about the different ways in which an item can become “museum-worthy”. (And it may have you rethinking loungewear, too!) 

History is in the eye of the beholder. What might feel old to one person, seems like yesterday to another. This episode encourages us to think about this, as I share a real-life story of how museum staff and volunteers spanning three generations approached a collection of "old papers" - and how I managed it all.

Sometimes the objects that are important to you aren't the prettiest. Sometimes they're best left in a box, but that doesn't mean they're unimportant or forgotten. In this episode, hear the heartwarming story about an unfortunate-looking bank and its sweet history, and learn three important questions to ask yourself about the past, present, and future of your possessions, as you decide what to keep and why.

Much ado about scrapbooks. Am I right? Anyone who has an old or aging scrapbook in their life knows what I'm talking about. The tape is brittle, the glue has stained everything. The pages are yellowed, made from acidic paper. If you try to peel off a photo, you’re left with a torn page, and the back of the photos is a mess. Things like newsprint - are a lost cause. They have become one with the album. There is no easy way out. Could it get any worse?!

Or, perhaps we’re just thinking about scrapbooks all wrong. Maybe we need to stop looking at the negative and start seeking out the positive. Despite the fact that they may be crumbling before our eyes, maybe we should be thankful for these old scrapbooks and albums. I’m always excited to see these stacks of old, deteriorating papers. And I’m here to tell you why.

Wow! It’s May already? That means wedding season is almost upon us. Yay! Or… yikes! To each their own I suppose. 

Anyhow, no matter how you feel about it, wedding dresses often hold a lot of power. They're special symbols of a special day - and are often expensive. But what happens to a wedding dress after the wedding? Well, that's up to you. In this episode I talk about wedding dresses and the many options you have as you decide what to do with your dress whether your dress is new, old, or a family heirloom in your care.

Let’s talk about the power of authenticity. Authenticity is real. True. And when it comes to objects, it might just be what turns something ordinary into something extraordinary. On today’s episode, I’ll be sharing a very creative example of how one museum decided to interpret one of their most special artifacts, to great success.

Today, I'm sharing a story about a day that changed my perspective on museum behind the scenes tours forever. All it took were some hard-to-please kids, a few old typewriters, and a little unexpected museum magic.