In 2018, a remarkable interactive exhibition opened featuring contemporary and historic portraits of Baltimoreans in their workplaces, from farms to funeral homes, and medical labs to machine shops. Using prompts, visitors responded to questions about issues related to work, creating a visual narrative about perceptions of contemporary labor.
The exhibition was the result of “Museum Lab,” a course taught at Johns Hopkins University by BMI’s Director of Interpretation Beth Maloney in the fall of 2017. The class asked students to examine museum methodology designed to encourage visitor participation and interaction. The focus of the work examined techniques museums use to engage visitors, determined themes and content that might be explored in an interactive space at the BMI, and collaboratively developed a design for the project specific to the BMI’s mission to engage and educate visitors in matters surrounding labor and industry.
The result was an exhibition titled WHY WE WORK. Hopkins students worked with student partners from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), led by design professor Jeremy Hoffman from Ashton Design. Ashton Design, the Baltimore-based design firm, was instrumental in developing the graphics and exhibition concepts that reflect the student’s ideas and visions for the space. It featured contemporary photography by Christopher Myers and historic portraits from the Library of Congress (FSA/OWI and National Child Labor Committee Collections), the Baltimore Museum of Industry BGE collection, and the photographs of A. Aubrey Bodine and others.
[slidable] [slide] [box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Vendor[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Mechanic[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Engineer[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Surgeon
BGE Man[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Firefighters[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Packer[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Doctor
Chef[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Welder[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Farmer[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Tire Company
Reporter[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Beth Steel Shipyard[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Tools[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Trolley Car Conductor
BGE Admin
[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Painter[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Berry Picker[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Bartender
Forestry Foreman
[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Mortician[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Attorney[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Teacher
Baker
[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Dept Store[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Artist[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
BGE Computer Room
Delegate
[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Nurse[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
CEO[box color=”color4″ align=”center”]
Riveters
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“This collaboration was fascinating, as students from two major institutions of higher learning worked together to share ideas, build consensus, and imagine future careers just as they are about to take the leap into their own worlds of work,” says Maloney. The exhibition was made possible through a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to the Johns Hopkins University in support of its Program in Museums & Society.
The exhibition closed in spring of 2019, but the featured portraits were relocated to the hallway outside of the museum’s transportation gallery for viewing by visitors.
You may also be interested in these additional resources
Museums in Strange Places podcast
WYPR On The Record interview by Sheilah Kast & Maureen Harvie
BMI Audio Guide: Portrait Wall
Visit the BMI’s Connection Factory to connect with stories that show how education, exhibitions, and partnerships strengthen our community.
