Exhibitionist
A Journal of Reflective Practice
Volume 30, No. 2, Fall 2011
Exhibitionist features thought-provoking articles on exhibition theory and practice, exhibition critiques and commentary, book reviews, technical articles, and other essays of interest to the profession. The journal is published by NAME in the Spring and Fall of each year.
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Do you have ideas for a theme for an upcoming issue of Exhibitionist? The editorial board would love to hear them! Send us an email, with the words Exhibitionist theme ideas in the subject line.
View or Download Issues of Exhibitionist
Many past issues of Exhibitionist are available online. Scroll through our complete list, with tables of contents.
Fall 2011, "Museums, Memorials, and Sites of Conscience"
The current issue, published ten years after the events of September 11, 2001, examines museums and memorials in the United States and in a number of countries around the world. The array of sites includes memorials still in the making (Bhopal), recently opened (Heart Mountain, 9/11 Memorial) and decades old. What is the distinction between a museum and a memorial? Do memorials, by definition, seek only to document the darker side of humanity? How important is the role of survivors, family, and descendants in the establishment of memorials? Must memorials "reinvent" themselves to remain relevant with the passing of ages? The authors in this issue of Exhibitionist grapple with these questions, and many more.
We're offering two articles for preview. Download Exhibiting 9/11: Interpreting Archaeology and Memory at the World Trade Center Site by Ian Kerrigan and Taking Risks: A Common Theme for the Winners of the 23rd Annual Excellence in Exhibition Competition by Rita Mukherjee Hoffstadt.
Spring 2011, "Is It A Museum? Does It Matter?"
Perhaps fortunately, it is not a question that burns on the minds of the general public, but for those of us in the museum field, exactly what it is that makes an institution a museum is a critical question linked to mission and cultural identity and association. In this issue of Exhibitionist, Eugene Dillenberg writes, "I have seen the word attached to rock shops, roadside attractions and, in at least one instance, a restaurant. The word 'museum' covers such a bewildering variety of sins that it's difficult to suss out exactly what all these diverse organizations have in common. What is it that makes us who we are? What, if anything, is a museum?"
Download the article, What, If Anything, Is a Museum?, by Eugene Dillenberg (PDF 1.5mb)
Fall 1999, "Making Meaning in Exhibits"
The popular Fall 1999 issue of Exhibitionist, "Making Meaning in Exhibits," is now available in the online archives.
