Field Museum looks to CSSI for expert work in several new exhibit areas

Following Chicago Scenic’s recent work on the Chicago Field Museum’s expansive “Ancient Americas” exhibit, the Field Museum asked CSSI to work on several other exhibitions.

The first project involved building a surround for a case in the exhibit, “Maps: Finding Our Way in the World.” As part of the exhibit, visitors learn how early maps were made, see how technology has changed over centuries, and discover the latest advances in digital map-making. Chicago Scenic built the case with an octagonal header that supported four video flat screens, and there were four edge-lit acrylic panels with blue LED lighting that supported the octagonal header. Curved panels mounted on the acrylic panels house interactive hand-held GPS devices.

In a separate project, CSSI built several elements for an extensive exhibition on the life of famed scientist George Washington Carver. These elements include artifact bases and interactives consisting of three cylinders that visitors can rotate to find the correct answer to questions about Carver.

Another recent exhibit CSSI worked on is “Re-presenting the Migration: Reproductions of Paintings by Jacob Lawrence.” This exhibit is a fascinating show of what many call the artist’s greatest work: a 60-panel piece of art entitled “The Migration of the Negro.” The art depicts the northern movement of African-Americans from the South after World War I.

Project Manager Ken Zommer said, “To hold true to the art’s look and feel, the Field Museum wanted a ‘guerilla installation,’ meaning that they wanted the exhibit to be as rustic and gritty as the art itself.”

In order to accomplish this, CSSI created frames for the art from raw wood reminiscent of the train tracks that carried so many African-Americans northward to what they dreamed would be a better life.

The Carver and Lawrence exhibits remain at the Field Museum until July 6, 2008.