[BCMA] Artificial food for display

Tue Apr 23 15:23:58 PDT 2013

Thank you all for the fabulous suggestions on where to source artificial
food for display. I appreciate your expertise and the time you've taken to
respond.

Cheers and thanks!

Melissa Sawatsky

Curator/Administrator

Bulkley Valley Museum

Ph 250.847.5322

Fax 250.847.5363

Email: info at bvmuseum.com 

www.bvmuseum.com

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vvv.com [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vvv.com] On
Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 5:35 PM
To: bcma at lists.vvv.com
Subject: Re: [BCMA] Artificial food for display

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>
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. <mailto:bcma at lists.vvv.com>  

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

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