MUSEUMS

American Writers Museum: My America Online Exhibit

Museums everywhere are dealing with COVID-19 challenges and are inviting visitors to view their exhibitions online until the current shutdown allows them to reopen. 

That’s what the American Writers Museum (AWM) has done with the online exhibition, My America, which features selections from AWM’s current exhibition, My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today.

When AWM reopens, visitors are in for a treat with the My America exhibition, which occupies a 300 sq. ft. gallery and, according to the museum, “explores the influence of modern immigrant and refugee writing in America on our culture, history, and daily lives.”

The current exhibit is the latest example of AWM’s commitment to appeal to visitors with fresh, timely exhibitions at least twice a year in the museum’s temporary exhibition space.

My America is designed to provide a dialogue on various issues and to “delve into questions about writing influences … multilingual, community, family, and what it means to be American.” In addition, My America touches on various themes, including Why Writing, Influences, Language, Process, and provides educational materials.

Chicago Scenic’s partnership with AWM dates back more than three years to when we began working with Amaze Design on the design-build project that produced AWM’s 11,000 sq. ft. facility. Our work with the museum has continued since it opened, including various upgrades and extensive work on the museum’s temporary exhibitions. 

“Clients count on us for ongoing consultation because they know we’re responsible and reliable. We’re part of their challenges as much as we’re part of their successes,” said Jim Mallerdino, Senior Project Manager and Chicago Scenic’s chief liaison with AWM. “We know projects are never straightforward or easy. What attracts clients to us is our reputation for how we address their challenges,” Jim added.  

Boston-based Trivium Productions was also a big part of AWM’s success. Trivium’s team toured the country to capture the featured interviews as authors discussed their backgrounds, favorite books, and passages from those books. The live content is featured on monitors that Chicago Scenic installed in the exhibit gallery, providing a new and popular interactive experience for guests. Subtle graphics, installed throughout the gallery, provide a muted, restful backdrop to the exhibit content.

Visit My America to explore the different themes, get educational materials and to learn more about the exhibit. 

American Writers Museum: My America Online Exhibit