The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
acrylic painting, 27” by 23” / $ 450
Going Viral
( a story from my upcoming book: Life of a Museum Junkie)
In 1972 a friend and I started a museum in my Lansing, Michigan basement called Impression 5. It was a frustrating beginning because I very naive and clueless about how to turn an idea into a public institution. It was also an exciting time because university friends and I would brainstorm ideas for exhibits, go into our work rooms and make devices that explained science. To gain public awareness we took the results of our creative endeavors on the road to schools and shopping centers. Our goal was to create a hands-on place for children and adults to go to play experimentally with science and the arts.
Our efforts received little notice until eight months had gone by and a newspaper reporter decided to write a small article about the fledgling museum. Once in print our project was legitimatized and we became swept into a maelstrom of activity and purpose. The first job was forming a board. A few people did come forth but they were not very effective fund raisers. I did not have money to build a museum and did not know how or who to approach. Though inexperienced, however, I was very determined.
My friend Dee and I would go around town talking to community leaders about our project and people listened politely. One city official advised me I would have to wait in line for such a project to be considered, and that it might take five years. The man who was in charge of the YMCA was the most discouraging. He told me that our project would not get off the ground because “there were only two things that were important, one was sports and the other was sex.” He wished us luck and sent us on our way. At that point in time, Dee left to take a job so I was on my own.
One frustrating day,I was at my desk when I read that Playboy Bunnies were willing to play sporting events with local celebrities to raise money for charity. “ Amazing.” I thought. “Sports and Sex!” I had my ticket to success.
I called up the Detroit club and sure enough they were willing to play basketball against our community leaders, all of whom were men. The school superintendent, the Mayor, the president of Oldsmobile, the University president, real estate moguls, and other community businessmen of note and money were invited to join the game. Not one person turned me down. I acquired the Michigan State’s basketball court to hold the game and plans were under way.
The publicity we got in the beginning was fantastic. The community seemed behind the fundraising idea until a small article appeared in the editorial section of the newspaper claiming that a group of women objected to the game. Women had started reading books by Betty Friedan and Gloria Stienem. The women’s liberation movement was gaining momentum and sensitivities were starting to mount. University and high school students threatened to picket the event and some of our basketball players felt uncomfortable about participating because they feared a sit in. Going viral in those days was through newspapers, and could be just as effective as today’s web based browsers.
In hope of showing that I was not supporting male chauvinism, I called Michigan State’s Women’s Basketball team and asked them to help as a practice team. They agreed and when the time came our men were suited up to compete. Six fit women played in the practice game causing our volunteer men to be rotated every few minutes. I was afraid that someone was going to have a heart attach. The women were incredible even though many of the men played basketball for exercise during the week.
The more I tried to soften the women’s issue the more strident the newspaper articles became. The paper loved our concept for the museum but enjoyed fanning to controversy more. It sold papers. We didn’t know what to do, cancel the game or proceed by walking through pickets?
Mother Nature helped make the decision. The night before the game it started to rain, and rain, and rain. Rivers flooded the banks of Jenison field house, and the basketball court was buried under two feet of water. The day of the game every able bodied person was out sandbagging riverbanks.
We never did have the charity game but the museum got under way. I learned then, that both good publicity and bad publicity get people’s attention. The museum concept went viral. People love a controversy and will follow the arguments in detail. By the time we were ready for the event the entire town knew that a group of people were trying to start an interactive science and art museum and were ready to join the effort.
From there it’s growth is history. Exhibits, programs and classes increased attendance to the point where it was able to renovate an 86,000 sq. ft. building in center city. I am happy to report that Impression 5 thrives today. I went on as a slightly less naive person to direct OMSI for ten years and help it move to it’s present location on the river.
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The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
acrylic painting, 27” by 23” / $ 450
Going Viral
( a story from my upcoming book: Life of a Museum Junkie)
In 1972 a friend and I started a museum in my Lansing, Michigan basement called Impression 5. It was a frustrating beginning because I very naive and clueless about how to turn an idea into a public institution. It was also an exciting time because university friends and I would brainstorm ideas for exhibits, go into our work rooms and make devices that explained science. To gain public awareness we took the results of our creative endeavors on the road to schools and shopping centers. Our goal was to create a hands-on place for children and adults to go to play experimentally with science and the arts.
Our efforts received little notice until eight months had gone by and a newspaper reporter decided to write a small article about the fledgling museum. Once in print our project was legitimatized and we became swept into a maelstrom of activity and purpose. The first job was forming a board. A few people did come forth but they were not very effective fund raisers. I did not have money to build a museum and did not know how or who to approach. Though inexperienced, however, I was very determined.
My friend Dee and I would go around town talking to community leaders about our project and people listened politely. One city official advised me I would have to wait in line for such a project to be considered, and that it might take five years. The man who was in charge of the YMCA was the most discouraging. He told me that our project would not get off the ground because “there were only two things that were important, one was sports and the other was sex.” He wished us luck and sent us on our way. At that point in time, Dee left to take a job so I was on my own.
One frustrating day,I was at my desk when I read that Playboy Bunnies were willing to play sporting events with local celebrities to raise money for charity. “ Amazing.” I thought. “Sports and Sex!” I had my ticket to success.
I called up the Detroit club and sure enough they were willing to play basketball against our community leaders, all of whom were men. The school superintendent, the Mayor, the president of Oldsmobile, the University president, real estate moguls, and other community businessmen of note and money were invited to join the game. Not one person turned me down. I acquired the Michigan State’s basketball court to hold the game and plans were under way.
The publicity we got in the beginning was fantastic. The community seemed behind the fundraising idea until a small article appeared in the editorial section of the newspaper claiming that a group of women objected to the game. Women had started reading books by Betty Friedan and Gloria Stienem. The women’s liberation movement was gaining momentum and sensitivities were starting to mount. University and high school students threatened to picket the event and some of our basketball players felt uncomfortable about participating because they feared a sit in. Going viral in those days was through newspapers, and could be just as effective as today’s web based browsers.
In hope of showing that I was not supporting male chauvinism, I called Michigan State’s Women’s Basketball team and asked them to help as a practice team. They agreed and when the time came our men were suited up to compete. Six fit women played in the practice game causing our volunteer men to be rotated every few minutes. I was afraid that someone was going to have a heart attach. The women were incredible even though many of the men played basketball for exercise during the week.
The more I tried to soften the women’s issue the more strident the newspaper articles became. The paper loved our concept for the museum but enjoyed fanning to controversy more. It sold papers. We didn’t know what to do, cancel the game or proceed by walking through pickets?
Mother Nature helped make the decision. The night before the game it started to rain, and rain, and rain. Rivers flooded the banks of Jenison field house, and the basketball court was buried under two feet of water. The day of the game every able bodied person was out sandbagging riverbanks.
We never did have the charity game but the museum got under way. I learned then, that both good publicity and bad publicity get people’s attention. The museum concept went viral. People love a controversy and will follow the arguments in detail. By the time we were ready for the event the entire town knew that a group of people were trying to start an interactive science and art museum and were ready to join the effort.
From there it’s growth is history. Exhibits, programs and classes increased attendance to the point where it was able to renovate an 86,000 sq. ft. building in center city. I am happy to report that Impression 5 thrives today. I went on as a slightly less naive person to direct OMSI for ten years and help it move to it’s present location on the river.
Table of Contents