Reddit reviews Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach (VIP; 43)
We found 4 Reddit comments about Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach (VIP; 43). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Used Book in Good Condition
There's a whole art to writing exhibit labels. In fact, there's a book about the subject. Link to book.
Personally, I'm text-phobic. My last exhibit that was done in-house has limited text: 150 words per panel, 100 words per label. People don't like to read more than that, generally. Not to mention, you don't need to fill the walls with text. Get the important and the interesting on the wall, make sure it's important and interesting to the public and not just you, and trust that the viewer will seek more information if they're curious.
In terms of how text is decided, I use a narrative approach: what will tell the best story. It's not much different from writing a screenplay or a stage play.
It took about 6 months to make our last temporary exhibit, and we're well into year two on our new permanent exhibit, which will be about French and Spanish colonization of Texas.
Exhibit Labels by Serrell is a great resource.
I also really like From Knowledge to Narrative by Roberts. Roberts walks through the process of creating an (actual) exhibit while balancing the various competing demands of the different groups that are working on the exhibit.
Congrats and good luck!
Ooh, great prompt!
The Smithsonian’s Accessibility Guidelines is super useful for anyone who has a hand in designing exhibitions. There are some great Universal Design recommendations online as well.
I also really enjoy reading other institutions’ guidelines for gallery text. I’ve definitely consulted the V&A’s guide and the Getty’s guide before.
This may be a little entry level, but Serrel’s Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach is another great resource for writing exhibition text.
Hi there... exhibit labels are super tough and require a bunch of revisions. Don't interpret continually revising as failure or that you're not doing a good job... it's the nature of the craft. Do some tests and ask visitors, if you can.
That said, I highly reccomend "Exhibit Labels" by Beverly Serrell: http://www.amazon.com/Exhibit-Labels-Interpretive-Approach-VIP/dp/0761991069/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404587205&sr=8-1&keywords=beverly+serrell
She gives a lot of concrete examples and methods for different groups. A necessity. You don't see a lot of museum books with 5 stars on Amazon... I'm sure it's saved many-a-curator as well. :)