Behind the Scenes (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1990 August 3 - 1991 April 30

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened August 3, 1990 and closed April 30, 1991. Located in Section 1A, Floor 1 in Gallery 77 at the American Museum of Natural History. Behind the Scenes allowed visitors to see how exhibits in the Museum are created, preview new halls, and view demonstrations by staff and volunteers.

Summary

Behind the Scenes allowed visitors to see how exhibits in the Museum are created, preview new halls, and view demonstrations by the Museum's Department of Exhibition and Graphics staff and volunteers. The exhibition featured sketches, drawings, scale models, and mock-ups. (1, p. 1; 2).

Exhibition sections were entitled (2):

*Graphics

*Fossil Replicas

*Specimen Preparation

*Fossil Vertebrates

*Human Biology and Evolution

*Audiovisual

Exhibits and demonstrations included (1; 2; 3):

*Demonstration making artificial leaves and plants from paper and plastic, and rocks from wire cloth or mesh with plaster of Paris in Specimen Preparation

*Demonstration on techniques such as silk-screening in Graphics

*Demonstration of some of the steps of creating an exact copy of a mammoth skull

*Akeley Method panel with models showing the construction of a taxidermy wolf

*Plans of the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution, which was then under construction

*Proposed plans for the fourth floor fossil hall renovations

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

(1) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "'Behind the Scenes' -- An Exhibition About Exhibition." July 9, 1990. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library. 

(2) American Museum of Natural History. Behind the Scenes. (New York: American Museum of Natural History [1990]) [brochure].

(3) American Museum of Natural History. Photographic Prints. American Museum of Natural History Special Collections, image: 600441.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Exhibition.
Related department (1; 2)

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 77.
Location of Exhibition 1990 August 3 – 1991 April 30 (1; 2)

American Museum of Natural History. Hall of Human Biology.
Plans of hall’s reconstruction featured in exhibition (2)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1990-1991: 46, 63-64, 66.

American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
"'Behind the Scenes' -- An Exhibition About Exhibition." July 9, 1990; "Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity." July 26, 1990; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, August 1990." July 6, 1990; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, September 1990." August 1, 1990; "Museum Programs & Exhibitions, October 1990." [1990].

American Museum of Natural History Special Collections photographic drawers
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Black and white contact sheet of exhibition on view, labeled Akeley Method]

American Museum of Natural History Special Collections vertical files
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Exhibition brochures, photocopy of page of July/August 1990 issue of Grapevine, draft of invite to employee reception celebrating exhibition]

Grapevine.
"'Behind the Scenes': An Exhibition About How Exhibitions are Created."(July/August 1990)

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