Installation: From Concept to Reality

Installation day for my exhibit was an exciting day. It is time to take “World War I: Home and Away” from conception to execution. I believe that we have selected some great artifacts to fill the two spaces allotted to this project. The artifacts range from some of Ida McFaddin’s personal belonging associated with her service in the Red Cross, to an actual World War I-era field kit.

This phase of the project has been an eye-opening experience for me. I am reminded of a quote that has been attributed to one of Germany’s most famous commanders, Field Marshal Helmuth Von Moltke, the Elder , who was instrumental in training the German officer corps that were responsible for leading troops during the First World War. He reportedly said, “A plan never survives first contact with the enemy.” 

Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke, the Elder was one of the most influential military thinkers of the late-nineteenth century, and is credited with developing some of the strategy used by the German army in the Great War.

Although I have spent a great deal of time planning the exhibit down to the last detail, I have encountered several setbacks, mostly relating to the size of the carriage house space. These problems involve mostly lighting and other environmental aspects that are unique to the space. If I have learned one thing throughout this experience, it has been that an exhibit designer must be flexible and able to make compromises between their grand vision and capabilities as well as limitations of the assigned space. This quality is necessary for any modern museum professional.

In regard to lighting, the carriage house has lattice work around the outside of the building which blocks most outdoor light, making the space wall dark. To help make the photos and posters more visible, I placed them on the right and left walls where they receive the most natural light, and placed small artifacts near the back of the space. The bright colors of the posters work well with the low light and their placement will allow visitors to enjoy the many recruiting posters and family photographs better, which are major components of this exhibit.

Learning to organize an exhibit display was such a great experience. I learned to place the photos in a balanced grouping rather than a straight line, making the display more pleasing to the eye.

I am pleased with the final exhibit and its configuration and feel that my goals have been met, which was to build an exhibit that accurately depicted the activities of Beaumont and the McFaddins during the Great War, both at home and abroad. We have also accomplished this while remaining within the parameters that the administration set for us. If I have learned one thing through this experience, it has been that an exhibit designer must be flexible and able to make compromises between their vision and the limitations of the space. These qualities are necessary in a modern museum professional. Teamwork is also a vital component of any museum activity. “World War I: Home and Away” would have never been completed without the assistance of every staff member from the Curator of Education and Public Relations Coordinator to the museum technicians. Their help and knowledge have been of the utmost importance, while completing this project.