Edmonds Historical Museum: The Art Revamp Porject

Abstract

Edmonds Historical Museum: The Art Revamp Project is a renewal project examining outdated displays and designing an exhibit highlighting the stories of current local Edmonds artists. Over the past decade or more, the lower floor of the museum has remained largely untouched. Most displays remain from the 1990s and interpretation has been severely lacking. As a result, the lower floor saw less visitation and interest from the public. This project is part of a larger plan to renovate the museum, wherein the curatorial team aims to create a viable strategy to reconstruct a community-forward narrative and increase traffic and relevance to the community. This project is divided into two parts: updating interpretative panels for the in-house jail cell and creating a new exhibit showcasing local art development, with a rotating structure in which each season would feature different art media and related topics. The first rotation on display features fiber arts by local artists, organizations, and home crafters. All interpretative texts and arts are written in consultation with local historians and artists, emphasizing local public connection and creating a truly community-engaged environment. Evaluation for the first theme rotation will provide a design basis for future rotations, assisting the museum in truly reflecting community voices, wishes, and pride through exhibits.