On the Water
National Museum of American History, Washington, DC
MDA is working closely with the Smithsonian’s NMAH staff to design a permanent exhibition illustrating the influence of maritime commerce on the nation’s development. Spanning 1650 to the present, the Smithsonian’s collection is being woven into an interpretation that focuses on the lives of individual people and the effects of maritime activity on our communities and culture. For example, an abstract ship’s hold provides the context for oral histories of slaves during Middle Passage; a 30-foot whaleboat with angled harpoons placed above recreated whale flukes place visitors in the shoes of a whaleman; a cross-section model of the steamship Frisia, is combined with fiber optic lighting to illustrate the travel choices of individual immigrants and others. The final exhibit section combines dynamic video presentations of present-day shipping, fishing, and other maritime activities with artifacts and models to demonstrate the significant role maritime commerce still plays in our everyday lives.
MDA is the subcontractor to Design & Production, Inc. as part of a Design-Build contract with the Smithsonian. Having recently completed the Design Development phase, MDA has been responsible for working with the Museum project team to define the exhibit program, defining the architectural program for HSMM Architects, overseeing the lighting design by Available Light, Inc. and creating all 3-D and graphic exhibit design drawings, specifications, and models for presentation.
Photos: www.jayrosenblatt.com
> Download PDF about this project.