Case Studies
Every project presents its own set of challenges and opportunities.
TEA helps organizations of all sizes maximize the impact of their work, while helping them stay within their budget. Every exhibition is treated with the same professionalism and attentiveness.
We understand your passion for art, history and science, and we work to help you to share it with the world.
Here are a few examples of TEA projects.
Ancient Art Galleries, Memorial Art Gallery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Opened: December 2009
This project posed design challenges including: creating a new interpretive space for the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, and Near Eastern collections; improving the presentation and preservation aspects of the exhibition, including upgrading lighting and incorporating silica-gel compartments in new cases; and re-using a large glass case for the display of Egyptian coffins. The design team worked closely with MAG curatorial and education staff for over 2 years in the development and implementation of this project, which sets a new standard for exhibition presentation for the permanent collection. TEA designed and produced exhibition graphics, all cases, platforms, and many mounts, and A/V components and cabinets displaying interpretive programs in two permanent exhibition galleries.
Click here to view the photos.
Underground Railroad Heritage Trail project, Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Cohoes, N.Y.
Signage installed Spring 2010, other exhibition projects ongoing
The Exhibition Alliance has worked with the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, and 26 individual sites in the development of exterior signage and interpretive exhibitions for Underground Railroad sites throughout New York State. Each of the 26 sites received a sign with vibrant graphics describing the significance of the historic church, home, or other structure to freedom seekers. Eleven sites received kiosks, panels, and cases detailing Underground Railroad activities in those places, some with the ability to share original artifacts and documents from their collections. Four more substantial interpretive exhibitions were developed for the Gerrit Smith Estate and Smithfield Community Center in Peterboro (open May 2010), The Seward House in Auburn (open August 2010), and the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn (opening pending). Together, these exterior signs, interpretive exhibitions establish a base for tourists to explore this important aspect of New York and U.S. History. TEA worked successfully with a substantial group of professionals and volunteers with New York State and the individual sites, ensuring that the stories told were accurate , vivid, and inspiring. TEA provided research, writing, design, production (including cases, walls, graphics, low-tech interactive components, and audio-visual experiences).
Click here to view the photos.
Robert M. Linsley Geology Museum, Colgate University, Hamilton, N.Y
Opened April 2009
Colgate University challenged TEA to work with its existing conceptual design to refine and implement this project, keeping its major features but adjusting the final design to bring the exhibition back into the budget parameters. TEA worked with Colgate’s geology department to prioritize the elements in the exhibition, reworking the approach to cases, platforms, and other viewing areas to save funds but to retain accessibility to the collection for scholars, students, and community members. The new design incorporates cases that use the existing glass wall of the museum as the back of exhibition cases, adds viewing platforms and low-tech interactives such as a fossil ID station and a revolving geologic timeline, and developing an audio-visual program that incorporates an original dinosaur egg with video illustrations of the dinosaur on the nest and the animal that would have hatched from the egg. In addition to the design, TEA produced the large artifact mounts, all graphics, the cases, interactives, and specified two different lighting systems.
