Getting Down to the Wire

I think I have finally completed my introductory overview and display case labels. It was hard to find a balance between eliminating certain information while keeping other information. Hopefully Bethany will not think it is still too long. This week was a busy week for her so I did not have the chance to show her my edits. I told her that my semester is almost over and that my time is just about up at the museum. I am going to try to work hard to get the small exhibit installed next week. It would be a shame to end the internship without seeing the final result of my project.

Thanks for reading,
Erik

Shopping for Display Cases Again

I took a look at the display cases again. I cannot decide if I want to use one or two. There is one case that all four pieces will fit, but I am worried about the overall look. I did not want the case to appear crammed. I want there to be enough space within the case for people to view the pottery from different angles. As I stated earlier, I would like to display the pieces by artistic style. The two bichromes can easily fit into one case, but the large white painted amphora would look amazing in a case alone. What would I do with the other white painted pottery? I am not going to have three cases. I think there is a large enough case that can accommodate both white painted pieces and that the large amphora would look great in. I also looked for a spot in the gallery where the cases could go. There are a couple spaces that would work but I need to speak with Bethany to get her opinion.

Thanks for reading,
Erik

Slow and Steady...

The following week was a slow week. I attempted to find a way to shorten the introductory overview without making it too light. Bethany wanted me to mention the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 since it continues to be a controversial issue. The trick was to avoid sounding bias yet remain truthful. I needed to connect how the invasion affected Cypriot archaeology. When Turkey invaded in 1974 all archaeology activity on the island ceased. Excavation sites, museums, monuments and churches were neglected and vandalized. Many artifacts were illegally imported from the island. Since then, the Department of Antiquities in Cyprus currently keeps an eye the international trade of Cypriot objects. The department repatriates, or attempts to repatriate, stolen lost artifacts. Unfortunately, this is a common problem in the antiquities trade. Since many objects were taken out of their countries of origin illicitly decades ago, museums who bought the artifacts do not have proper provenance. Hopefully next week I will finish my editing.

Thanks for reading,
Erik

Expanding and Editing

This past week I submitted my ideas on the display label cases to Bethany. She liked my progress and requested that I expand my work. For instance, the introduction to the Cyprus pottery includes a general historical overview of Cyprus and the island’s cultural diversity. Cyprus was a crossroads of ancient civilizations; the material culture produced on the island reflects a variety and amalgamation of local and foreign techniques. The overview also includes a brief introduction to Cypriot pottery, in particular Iron Age pottery. Bethany would also like me to create a type of timeline mapping out the stages of Cypriot pottery- a mini typology of Cypriot pottery. She thinks it would be a good idea if people had an educational visual reference to the vessels that will be on display. True, not everyone knows what an amphora, krater, oinochoe and kylix looks like. Below is an example of the type of diagram I might use. The main difficulty I have experience in incorporating Bethany’s suggestions is information overload. Visitors do not always want to spend a lot of time reading masses amount of information on artifacts and exhibitions. The goal is to quickly attract visitors and gain their interests. Pertinent information ought to be included but a cultural and historical overview needs to be limited. So far I have edited my original work but the length is the same since Bethany’s assessment. I will see if I can cut it down further without completely rewriting the introduction.

Thanks for reading,

Erik