Our visit to the Academy of Natural Sciences really got me thinking about the often underestimated role that art plays in science museums. I was particularly fascinated by the museum’s dioramas, the majority of which were created between the 1930s and 50s. Building these was a major collaborative task, involving both scientists and artists. First, the animals were killed and skinned on site. Then, their bones were carefully reconstructed in the desired pose and covered with wire, plaster, and lastly their original skin. Everything else in dioramas was created entirely by hand; it took a whole team of artisans to paint the backdrop and make every single leaf and rock, with meticulous attention paid to detail and accuracy. For many museum-goers who saw these in the 1930s, this was the closest thing they could do to actually experiencing such exotic animals in their natural habitats. Yes, there were zoos at the time, but the animals were kept in metal cages, completely out of context. I admired the dioramas not only because they are incredible scientific and artistic achievements, especially considering the technological limitations of the time period in which they were made, but also because they provide visitors with a perspective on how our society’s idea of a “multi-media” museum exhibit have changed over time.
Since the rise of movies and television, the dioramas have lost their magical quality for many people. To simply glance at them, without any knowledge of their historical significance or the incredible amount of work that went into them, could certainly leave some 21st imaginations unimpressed. We had the great opportunity to meet some of the people who work at the museum, and learn how they are dealing with this problem. We got to go behind-the-scenes and see some of the plans for upcoming exhibits, all of which seek to explain the history and debunk the myths and assumptions behind the dioramas, while increasing understanding and appreciation for them. One of them explains the taxidermic process, and will include items for visitors to touch. Another details the process of painting the backdrops, using objects, some actually from the 30s and some new, to demonstrate all of the steps. The big one that they are working on is an exhibit built around a film about a particular expedition (I’ve forgotten which one) and will also include plants, rocks, and trees made by artists. We learned about companies that rent out exhibits to museums, and others that make accurate plant replicas, both of which I didn’t even know existed before this trip. I personally found it to be one of our more informative visits.
I genuinely admire the people who work in this museum. I think that they are all very intelligent, creative, and dedicated individuals, and that together they will definitely succeed in keeping the Academy of Natural Sciences relevant in the years to come. This was the perfect place to visit last in the semester because it directed our thoughts toward the future of museums.
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