Curated Context Reality is Perception It is our mission to challenge and expand the public s perspective by offering them the opportunity to view context, and how it influences their own decision making and perceptions of the past, present and future. Context is everything Different circumstances, perspectives and environments have the power to transform a disposable cup into a vase, a piece of garbage, or a lifelong memory. We would not perceive our existence without our surroundings. Many of the objects around us retain their meaning through the settings in which we have encountered or received them. Our day-to-day lives change our perceptions of the past, present and future. A ping-pong ball is not just a plastic ball used for games, a story is not just a series of events, and the future is fluid. Despite its influences on how we understand each other, the world and ourselves, context often goes unnoticed. This is precisely the problem. We live surrounded by context and by ignoring it we walk blindly through life. This museum explores the importance of context through the use of auditory and written stories along with images in which objects are placed in different circumstances to give them various meanings. The exhibits are not organized in a traditional museum setting. Instead we have chosen to create a casual reading nook in which our mostly story based exhibitions will live. We chose this setting in order to foster a sense of comfort, and an environment ideal for contemplation.
Do You Have The Time? Created by: Joe Rynasko Do You Have The Time? is historically inspired, and treads the line between fact and fiction. Spanning events occurring as early as 4000 BCE, through Ancient Rome, and all the way to the modern day this exhibit explores the mind of a 21 st Century Ancient Historian. Context is vitally important in each work, the historical circumstances during which each story takes place directly impacts the characters and their actions. However, contexts tend to change with the passage of time, and as historians we strive for the original, and often overlook the times between then and now. Do You Have The Time? is an attempt to meld the original contexts with the present while considering the passage of time. The audience is encouraged to share any and all things that they learn through this exhibit, because history can be described merely as the passage of knowledge from one generation to the next, and it is up to us to continue writing our history. Gold We humans have made many changes to our planet since our time here began. All of those changes started somewhere, by someone, happening for a first time, their effects forever rippling through the timeline. But, how often do we think about that first someone? What drove them to do what they did? This is the story of the first man to ever trade in gold. Gold has become one of Earth s most valuable minerals, but little is known about its earliest use. History has forgotten this man until now; this is his story, and you are encouraged to spread his tale. This story takes place on the Eastern Coast of present day Bulgaria, ~4000 years before the modern era
Ancient Aliens Bronze This tablet is thought to date back roughly three thousand years before the modern era, during the Early Bronze Age. Although a full translation of the text still does not exist, some Ancient Astronaut Theorists believe that this tablet is an acclaim to otherworldly beings. The text is complicated and diverse, especially for its time, contributing to its possible alien origins. The obvious mark at the top of the tablet is often referred to by Ancient Astronaut Theorists as the MotherShip. However, skeptics repeatedly have tried to undermine this theory by describing this image as a sun or an eye. Tri I & II @ Wiki Written by modern 21 st century ancient historian, this is the story of the First and Second Roman Triumvirates meeting an oracle, The Great Wiki. The advice of oracles was often sought in the ancient world; however, this source of information has fallen out of style. These days whenever we want answers we turn to our computers, and boot up our own personal oracles. However, the days of uncertainty are not over. We must remember heed our warnings, but do not trust everything you read. Life Stats How should we quantify our lives? What makes us who we are? What questions do we want the answers to? This story explores the possible differences between characters who lived long ago and those of us alive today. Viewers are encouraged to draw connections and disconnections between the characters, as well as to ask themselves the How Many question.
The Story of You Created by: John Melling Have you ever shared with your friends one of the many interesting stories from your life? Doesn t it feel great to regale your own experiences with others? The fact is that all of these stories in our lives are history and thus are what brought you to where you are today. You view your stories differently than others may view it, because your perspectives are very different. Take a moment of your time and read some of the stories that are collected in this work from the individual author s own perspectives and, if you are willing, share your own fascinating stories to be read and taken in by the masses from your perspective. This book is a collection of narratives told from the author's own perspectives. It does not have one sole narrator, but rather a large number of different authors narrating their own experiences and showing the importance of perspective when addressing all forms of history.
It s the Little Things Created By: Marja Ronnholm This exhibit is meant to give new meaning to the mundane objects we see and use every day. By putting these objects into different contexts and showing the different ways in which they can be used, they are given a new story, a new identity. We often see identity as fixed and only belonging to human beings. But objects have identities of their own, and these identities are as fluid as ours. By exploring the possible identities of these objects, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and creative outlets. If a cup can be more than a cup, and a paper bag isn t just a paper bag, suddenly the world is filled with the potential of the little things that surround us. So look a little closer, dig a little deeper, and if you re going to think inside the box, at least use it to build a fort first. Photo 1: A Vase Photo 2: A Motivator (Jet Fuel?) Photo 3: A Pencil Holder Photo 4: Or just a cup?
Photo 1: Sports equipment Photo 2: A Game amongst friends Photo 3: Trash Photo 4: Or just a ping-pong ball? Photo 1: An essay Photo 2: An elephant Photo 3: A love note Photo 4: Or just a piece of paper?
Perspectives Created by: James O Leary The Perspectives exhibit gives visitors a window into the day-to-day lives of several college students. Through this opportunity, they are able to reflect on their own lives and decision making, as well as learn about what others are doing, whether positive or negative. Each student also reflects on how much emphasis they place on now versus the future, giving visitors the opportunity to analyze the importance they place on current success. At the end, visitors are given the opportunity to complete their own reflection/interview, which will be added to the collection, creating a larger community of interviewees. Andrew Parr Originally from Metuchen, NJ, Andrew is a member of the class of 2016, and will receive his BM in Vocal Music Education in May. He discusses his academic career, as someone with limited opportunities to take courses outside of his major, how he became involved in a variety of extracurriculars, and the common error of students struggling with prioritizing activities. Anna Krainc A senior from Downers Grove, Illinois, Krainc studies English, Spanish, and Women s and Gender Studies. She discusses how she manages 3 majors, being co-president of an honor house, and the impact that a semester abroad had on her outlook on life.
Natalia Fernandez Calderon An exchange student from Costa Rica, Natalia is working with the Spanish department this year, with students of all levels from the beginning general education courses to the residents of the house. In this interview, she compares her experiences in Universidad de Costa Rica vs those in St. Olaf. Cosi Pori A sophomore from Albuquerque, NM, he created his own major: Gender, Identity and the Queer Experience. In his interview, he discusses his perceptions of the St. Olaf community--specifically whether there is a pressure to be an overworked Ole. He also discusses how students react to setbacks, and the concept of success.