University of Lethbridge Art Gallery curator Jane Edmundson has explored the concept of nineteenth century dime museums by building one in the gallery.
Her masters Thesis exhibit “Dr. Sloan’s Odditorium of Wonders opens Sept. 12 and runs until Oct. 24.
“It is inspired by nineteenth century dime store museums, which are museums opened by entrepreneurs who wanted to make money rather than appreciating the historical value of their displays,” Edmundson described.
So she borrowed a variety of items from a variety of sources including the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, University of Lethbridge drama department, biologiy department and Galt Museum.
“ I did a lot of research into dime store museums,” she said, nailing a piece of finishing onto the edge of one of her display cabinets.
“ These are the sorts of things you’d find in a dime store museum, fakes, forgeries, taxidermy and stories. But there are also four serious artists,” she said. New Works by Mary-Ann McTrowe, Chris Flanagan and Denton Fredrickson as well
She even created a poster in the style of such museums, promising “100,000 wonders.“
“There isn’t. They’d always exaggerate to bring people in,” she said.
She hopes people who see the exhibit will ask why exhibits get in and who decides which exhibits will get in.
“I hope they will ask why some things are important and why some things aren’t,” she said.
The opening reception is Thursday, Sept. 12 from 4-6 p.m.
The exhibit runs during University of Lethbridge Art Gallery hours until Oct. 24.
More information is available online at www.ulag.ca