"The Great American Hall of Wonders"

Charles Willson Peale, The Artist in His Museum, 1822, oil on canvas, 

Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. 

Gift of Mrs. Sarah Harrison (The Joseph Harrison, Jr. Collection)

Last week, our Museum Foundations class went to SAAM to meet with the director, Betsy Broun. While meeting with Dr. Broun, we had the opportunity to visit the current exhibit, "The Great American Hall of Wonders".

The exhibit theme seemed much too complex for the average visitor, though. The exhibition examined the 19th Century American belief that we are at our core an innovative people. I think that this mentality is still present today. We think that as Americans that we are naturally more creative, more self-reliant, harder workers, etc. But where did this idea come from?

SAAM examines this inventive energy in the 1800s through the exhibition of over 160 objects. Featuring objects ranging from paintings to patent models, the exhibit focused on six themes. To me, six themes is far too complex when considering that most visitors spend about 45 minutes in an exhibit and usually only take away three themes.

Also, I think that some of the themes were only evident after having Dr. Broun point them out. Although some -- such as the role of guns, which had its own room -- were easy to identify, a few were not quite as obvious. It was definitely an ambitious exhibit, and I am not so sure if all of its goals were achieved.

One of my classmates questioned Dr. Broun about the title of the exhibition. The title to me does not necessarily indicate what the exhibit is really about. I would have thought that the title would be something along the lines of "The American Spirit of Invention."

It definitely makes me wonder if visitors judge an exhibit by its title. Should the title entice? Should it provide a preview of the exhibit? Should it explain the theme? In this case, I think that the exhibition title did not accurately portray the exhibit, and if anything was detrimental to the theme of the exhibition.