Today’s subject isn’t just one particular object. It is a case of objects that reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite movies. Captain Renault is speculating the reasons why Rick can’t go back to America. Renault is a man of few scruples and is most content believing Rick killed a man. The case I have chosen is a selection of objects that, like Rick, have a mysterious origin.
The case is labeled “Canto” which, in Latin, means chorus. It is a tall rectangular case containing four small objects. The first is a carved slate dodecahedron. The maker is unknown but it was found in Ohio sometime before 1792. The second is a wooden cube with no known provenance or maker. The third is a coiled piece of wire dated January 27, 1893 from Elihu Thomson. The reason Thomson saved this piece of wire is unknown. The final object in this case is a broken barium crown glass lens from Parra Mantois, Paris. Once again, the reason this object has been saved is unclear. They are set before a long inkjet print from artist who created the exhibition, Antonia Contro, entitled et cetera. This seems to imply that the objects in this case are miscellaneous items that have been leftover and, in a few cases, forgotten.
This case is very important to the exhibition as a whole. The exhibition is entitled Tempus Fugit, which is Latin for Time Flies. This case shows that time flies and little things that may have, at one time, been important, are often set aside and forgotten. This case is also important to any visitor approaching the exhibition that would like to use their own imagination to interpret the meaning of objects. Since most of these objects have no background that has been remembered, visitors are able to create their own story for how or why they were saved or may have been important. I, personally, was drawn to the wire. It is coiled and has found with a date. It is thought that it was likely part of an invention or experiment with electricity since Thomson was known to be an inventor and even started one of the largest electric companies. Its coiled shape is what caught my eye. It almost looks like a bracelet. I like to think this wire was a bracelet he gave to someone and later kept as a reminder of his time with that person. It’s the Romantic in me.
This case, as mentioned before, is entitled Canto. A chorus is often thought of as a group of individuals singing together. The objects in this case work together, like a chorus, to convey the message of time passing and certain objects being preserved but their identities forgotten.
All of the objects in this case are from the American Philosophical Society’s archives, with the exception of the print that Canto created to complement the pieces. Only the broken glass lens is on small pedestal. The others are just on the floor of the case with her print serving as the backdrop. There is no descriptive text near the case. This allows visitors to fully create their own meaning and history for the objects in the case.
To the right of this case is a large projection of the sky. An image of a cloud is featured near the center of the image which slowly changes. This is a visual representation of time passing. While one stares at the clouds, it is not easily apparent that the cloud is moving. It is when one looks away and then back at the clouds that the change in formation is noticeable. This shows very well that, without noticing, time continues to pass. These objects had gone unnoticed as time continued to pass and, eventually, they were forgotten. To the left of this case is another case entitled Nocturne. This case contains many images of the moon and poetry written by Canto. This case shows other ways time has been documented as passing. There is a description of the moon’s effect on the tides, a time lapse photo, and even a documentation of the Transit of Venus from 1875. This case, like the cloud image, show how time continues to pass.
Knowledge of what the objects in this case are may make this case more interesting to visitors as well as knowledge of Elihu Thomson and his inventions. This case would likely not be interesting to viewers who are not interested in speculation. Those wanting only to see objects of important historical significance would find these forgotten pieces to be unimportant and maybe even boring.
An alternative approach to the objects in this case could be that they are only junk that has been saved unnecessarily, like that of a hoarder. They are pieces, without significance, that have been kept without reason. Basically, they are just trash.
Signage next to this case would definitely add to the visitor experience. Without reading the pamphlets provided by the museum, one would not know about the mysterious origins of these objects. Providing panels and signs would give the visitors the information needed to understand what they are viewing. Visitors could also be more engaged with the objects by asking them to participate in an interactive display made of stories and ideas other visitors have regarding the objects on display. This could be as simple as post it notes on an adjacent wall. Visitors could be asked to write or draw what they think is the origin for the objects in the case. This type of activity would allow visitors to take time to create their own story about the object and form a connection with the case and the objects within it.
And, in case you're interested, here's the clip from one of the best and most quotable scenes in the movie...
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