The Brain Does Want to Learn
Sari is a moderating a facebook discussion group as a follow-up to her ACM session,
How the Brain Wants to Learn: Cognitive Science Informing Interactive Exhibit Design. Join
our ongoing discussion
here, or search "Exhibit Design: How the Brain Wants to Learn" on facebook. You can also
download a pdf of our handout.
Neal Designs for Kids - In Book Form!
Neal has always designed for kids. And by always, we mean for over 20 years. Now you can have the benefit
of Neal's expertise in book form. He has co-authored the chapter "Shaping the Space: Designing for Kids"
in the new book Connecting Kids to History with Museum Exhibitions, edited by Lynn McRainey & John Russick
and published by Left Coast Press. You can read more about the book and purchase it
here,
or through
Amazon.
In Our Backyard
Wondercabinet has been working on several projects in our (sort of) backyard. We're designing the new
Chatham Marconi Maritime Center museum on Cape Cod, located at one of the original Marconi wireless stations.
The museum is an all-volunteer effort and our designs will be fabricated and installed by community residents.
Check out the political cartoon
anticipating the new museum.
We've also created an interpretive Master Plan for the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire and look forward to our continuing partnership
with the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society. Finally, a bit of a hop from our backyard, we're designing a new exhibit
on the Woodland Indian community that lived in what is now Long Island for the Garvies Point Museum & Preserve in New York.
An Innovative and Successful Park Site
The Boston Globe featured an
article on the National Park Second Century Commission touring five national parks as research for developing recommendations
for the future. One of the parks chosen was Lowell National Historical Park, one of two New England parks chosen "because they are innovative and successful
in different ways." Wondercabinet designed three sites at the Lowell Park:
the Visitor Center,
three galleries at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum,
and the new Suffolk (Wannalancit) Mill exhibits.
Salem Maritime: Derby Wharf
In collaboration with Mystic Scenic Studios fabrication firm, Wondercabinet is designing new
outdoor exhibits for Derby Wharf at the Salem Maritime National HIstoric Site. In the 19th
century Salem was the nation's key port for far east trade, and exotic luxury goods such as
silks and spices filled the warehouses of Derby Wharf.
Charlestown Navy Yard Opening
The Wondercabinet-designed exhibits at the new Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center, in Charlestown, MA,
is opening July 3rd. The Navy Yard is one of the nation's first six Navy Yards and is home to
the USS Constitution and the USS Cassin Young, as well as a stop on Boston's Freedom Trail.
The Boston Globe and the
Boston Herald featured articles on the new Visitor Center.
Former Girl Scout Makes Good
Wondercabinet Exhibit Developer (and former girl scout) Sari Boren is profiled in the newly redesigned
Girl Scout Leader magazine. Sari talks about her girl scout experience, suggests a new girl scout badge,
and describes ways girl scout leaders can make museum visits more rewarding for scout troops. Click
here
for the magazine's online version. Sari's interview is on page 64.
Excellence in Exhibition
As a subcontractor to Amaze Design, Wondercabinet's Neal Mayer designed the Sensing Chicago family gallery
at the Chicago History museum. This exhibit won an honorable mention in the Excellence in Exhibition
competition sponsored by the American Association of Museums. A photo of the exhibit's Chicago Hot Dog is featured
on the cover of the Fall 2007 issue of Exhibitionist, the journal of the National Association for Museum Exhibition.
Making the List
The Boston Globe featured the Bunker Hill Monument and Museum as one (OK, technically two) of the
10 Things Not To Miss in December.
