[BCMA] Artificial food for display

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

In BC, for ready-made display fruit, perhaps in paper mache form, I would try a Michaels craft store.   They have an on-line catalogue in case there is not a store close to you.

For really great fake foods, try posting the question about sources to the Children's Museums Listserve, CHILDMUS, childmus at mailman.rice.edu  or check the Childmus Archive on-line.   The question has been well discussed there.

This is a good commercial supplier. http://www.barnardltd.com/default.jsp

For a small museum exhibit with a limited budget, how about using the display as an opportunity for community co-creation, using play-dough or FIMO clay and inviting people to make contributions.   You could post a menu list of needs and use it for sign-ups like an organized pot-luck dinner.   The doll-house making craft people will love it.   Or, it could be a youth crafting project, with the expectation of accepting the quality of display and creativity that emerges.

The very best food display I ever saw was at The Centre for Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio where they have a gallery dedicated to "Life".   Half of the space is about birth and the other half is about death.   Toward the exit area is a simple display case, a 2' cube plexi vitrine on top of a simple plinth, sealed all around.   Inside is a typical dinner on a table mat with real meat and potatoes, veggies, bread, milk in a glass and a piece of apple pie, etc.   When I was there, it was a spectacular display of moulds in many colours.   The vigour of the growth was evident as was the beauty.   The question posed without a label or text was "Is this life or death?" and obviously it was both at the same time.   However, there was a little paper label taped to the outside of the case stating the date that the display had been made and sealed.   The staff said they had to add it because so many visitors came to the front desk to report the mould.   The display was memorable and inexpensive, but required the right interpretive environment.

Happy hunting,
Cuyler Page
Heritage Interpretation Services
Vernon, BC

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. 
  To: BCMA at lists.vvv.com 
  Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 11:29 AM
  Subject: [BCMA] Artificial food for display


  Hello! We're planning an agricultural exhibit for the summer season at the Bulkley Valley Museum and are looking to recreate two tables of food (one set for dinner that would have been typical fare in the early 1900s in this area, and the other with food that is locally available in the present day).

   

  Any advice about where I might find relatively inexpensive artificial fruit, vegetables, grains, etc. to create these mock dinner tables would be greatly appreciated.

   

  Cheers, 

   

  Melissa Sawatsky

  Curator/Administrator

  Bulkley Valley Museum

  Ph 250.847.5322

  Fax 250.847.5363

  Email: info at bvmuseum.com 

  www.bvmuseum.com

   



------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  BCMA mailing list
  BCMA at lists.vvv.com
  http://lists.vvv.com/mailman/listinfo/bcma
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20130418/4f63f1d9/attachment-0001.htm