Comments for Making Space -- An expansive part of revolvingmuseum.org http://revolvingmuseum.org/making-space Examining the current going's on at The Revolving Museum Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:09:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Comment on Welcome to the Revolving Blog by Brian http://revolvingmuseum.org/making-space/2009/11/15/welcome-to-the-revolving-museum-blog/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Brian Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:09:48 +0000 http://revolvingmuseum.org/revolvingblog/?p=71#comment-3 I'm having a bit of a time trying to convince myself "Museum" is even the right word at this point, except for the paradox of so-calling it a museum. From your dictionary definition, it is implied that a museum deals with objects that are already created, whereas a major part of what the Revolving Museum does is to gather people from the community to create objects, and perhaps events or even environments as well. I think even before this latest move to Western Avenues Studios, and especially looking back at its conception, the Revolving Museum has been more about involving and creating than procuring. Also, a large part of what is produced is presented out in the community anyway, in local public and commercial spaces, so not much is lost through the absence of a permanent exhibition space. Finally, the Loading Dock Gallery, the exhibition space for Western Avenue Studios, is available at times should the Revolving Museum find a need. What may be lost in the move, to some extent, is visibility, and to some extent, the idea of permanence that comes with being a "Museum". It will now be a bit harder for people to find or discover the Revolving Museum, and some people will wonder what has happened when they go to the old space, only to find it empty. A move like this always introduces a state of flux, and to some extent, a feeling of fragility, but it also introduces a chance for self-examination and to refocus. It is a chance to let go of some aspects of the past and move forward to even greater involvement and interaction with the community. The Revolving Museum hasn't really ever been much about gallery spaces or high art, but rather about giving the chance to anyone who might like to to create art and to make art an integral part of the community. I’m having a bit of a time trying to convince myself “Museum” is even the right word at this point, except for the paradox of so-calling it a museum. From your dictionary definition, it is implied that a museum deals with objects that are already created, whereas a major part of what the Revolving Museum does is to gather people from the community to create objects, and perhaps events or even environments as well.

I think even before this latest move to Western Avenues Studios, and especially looking back at its conception, the Revolving Museum has been more about involving and creating than procuring. Also, a large part of what is produced is presented out in the community anyway, in local public and commercial spaces, so not much is lost through the absence of a permanent exhibition space. Finally, the Loading Dock Gallery, the exhibition space for Western Avenue Studios, is available at times should the Revolving Museum find a need.

What may be lost in the move, to some extent, is visibility, and to some extent, the idea of permanence that comes with being a “Museum”. It will now be a bit harder for people to find or discover the Revolving Museum, and some people will wonder what has happened when they go to the old space, only to find it empty. A move like this always introduces a state of flux, and to some extent, a feeling of fragility, but it also introduces a chance for self-examination and to refocus. It is a chance to let go of some aspects of the past and move forward to even greater involvement and interaction with the community. The Revolving Museum hasn’t really ever been much about gallery spaces or high art, but rather about giving the chance to anyone who might like to to create art and to make art an integral part of the community.

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