Inside the Exhibit Studio

To build some rapid momentum on developing the next exhibition I have been focusing my attention on a few simple prototypes for outdoor exhibits.  On the workbench today are some Ambient Sound Tubes.  These stainless steel tubes are cut in descending lengths (see photo below.)  The tubes take advantage of selective amplification-- which is to say that the different length pipes select specific ambient tones and amplify them. Visitors can experience the sound by placing their ear near the black ring shaped opening and listening, or taping on the opening with their hand to make the sound resonate.  Is this a new idea for an exhibit? No-- however there are some resourceful uses of everyday objects here that are worth a closer look. 

To make the stainless steel pipes you need not look any further than the bathroom fixture section of your local home improvement warehouse. Specifically these are stainless steel bathroom safety grab handles that have been cut to length with a hack saw.  A black plastic ring was fabricated to soften the edges of the mounting flange.  This is advisable since visitors will be placing their ears against the openings.

You can expect to see this prototype on exhibit within the next month here at Coyote Point Museum. I will post when it is installed so you can come give it a test spin!

Regards,

Eric
CPM's resident tinkerer

Exhibit Spotlight, Gears and Gadgets, Part 1

It is not often that you can see what is going on inside exhibits. Throughout my history as an exhibit builder, exhibit ideas generally came from designers. Fabricators merely built what the designers conceptualized. In most cases, these concepts dictated that mechanics had to be concealed.

At Coyote Point Museum we have a much more "form follows function" philosophy. In addition to this philosophy, great efforts are made not to obfuscate the mechanics of exhibits. By exposing pumps, gears, mechanics and other systems we provide visitors an "honest" experience where there is no trickery modeling or simulation.

Gears and Gadgets is an exhibit that is part of our Tinkering exhibition. It showcases the beauty of mechanical systems. It is also the first exhibit to be featured as a video Exhibit Spotlight. Enjoy.

A new way to explore?

Welcome to a new experiment from the Exhibits Department of Coyote Point Museum. This is my opportunity to share the discoveries we make on a daily basis while building new interactive exhibits. It takes a lot of experimentation to design and build exhibits. It is an immersive, organic, creative and fun process. As our exhibit collection has expanded in the years I have been at Coyote Point Museum, it has become apparent that our visitors would enjoy learning more about the exhibits and the process of how they come into being. Through this blog I will take our visitors into the exhibit design and fabrication studio to get a look what we are working on and how it is built. Additionally, through a feature called "Exhibits Spotlight", I will periodically highlight an exhibit from our current collection through photos or video. We will literally give you a rare inside view of some of the inner workings of our interactive exhibits. Thanks for visiting!

Best regards,

Eric Maschwitz
Director of Exhibits

Coyote Point Museum
San Mateo California