Close To Home

Levels of Connection

The idea of modernism stretched across the architecture, art, music and literature worlds shortly after World War II. The connection between the different genres of modernism and the new ideas developed is the building block of the ‘Close To Home’ exhibit. All throughout the exhibit are different levels of connection ranging from the obvious, the wood panels, to the not so obvious, the intellectual experience.
The use of materials throughout the space connects the information displayed to one another and to the visitor. The entire exhibit consists of one large gestural moment that extends both inside of the gallery and out into the lobby. The wooden panels along with the metal accents create a continuous path that extends throughout the space to allow movement through the exhibit. Walking through the space and weaving through the panels allows the visitor to fully engage the exhibit.

The wooden panel in the lobby follows the same diagonal as the panel inside the gallery. This diagonal continues throughout the space and connects all the panels to the central moment.

The layout of the panels throughout the room allows space for computers and areas where videos can be shown. The connection of technology to the space allows the visitor to experience the exhibit on another level. This level allows the visitor to experience more then what can just be read. The movie travels through a modern house showing its modern elements. The video is successful in demonstrating and showing what much of the text is explaining. The text includes information about modern designers, examples of modern work through Greensboro, and the development of the interior architecture program at UNC-Greensboro. The text connects the visitor to Greensboro and to the idea of modernism.

The panels are arranged in an exact manner that creates areas for the computers and video screens to be displayed. The videos and computer reveal information that is hard to understand through just text alone.

As I traveled through the exhibit I experienced these connections first hand. The lighting in the gallery is more subdued then the natural light in the lobby. Shadows are cast throughout the space playing off the wood panels and metal accidents. I found myself following the path scanning all the work and then reentering the space to study it more. The contrast of metal and wood along with the text and graphics really grabbed my attention and made me want to continue through the space. The layout of the panels is what really makes this exhibit a success. The connections found throughout, help the visitor to experience the exhibit and come away from it with an understanding of what modernism is.

The interaction of the panels creates the pathway through the exhibit. Information found on either side of the panel explains the different aspects of modernism.