Is Your Digital Media Safe?

It seems as if every piece of technology I use today comes with a warning about protecting my data. From sophisticated viruses to spam and theft, I am bombarded with the importance of keeping my data safe. I have virus protection, spam protection, malware detectors, and firewalls to keep my documents, music, and pictures safe from threats so heinous that I'm afraid to mention them in polite company.

 What no one ever mentions is how I should store the actual digital media to keep it safe from physical corruption. How should I store my CD's, DVD's, external hard drives, and every other manner of digital storage device.

 Please take a look at the video on below. This was funded and presented by the Institute of Museum and Library services. Grant conservator Victoria Montana-Ryan gives us some tips on caring for the digital media that you may have in your collection. Stay tuned till the end for some slides with added resources and specs for storing digital media.


 

 ~ Joe

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Women In The Arts

Are you familiar with many female artists?  I must admit that I am not.  (That is just between us.)

Great Museums Television has produced an episode on The National Museum of Women in the Arts. This museum in Washington DC offers one of the most important collections of art by women in the world.

You can see this entire Great Museums episode below. This episode touches on how women in the arts have been overshadowed in history, as well as many others issues right up to the great artists of the 20th century.

~ Joe

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Salvage Techniques for Museum Collections

This is the last in the series of videos on disaster preparedness for museum collections.  I hope that this series has been helpful.  I've received many comments about the information provided and it has started a number of discussions on every facet of preparedness.  Please let me know what you think about the series.




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~ Joe


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Disaster Preparedness - Response and Recovery

A disaster has struck... NOW WHAT?

The next episode in the series of disaster preparedness for museum collections videos is about how to respond, and how to effect initial recovery in the best possible ways.  What do you do first, who is in charge, what do you need for an incident command center, etc.





I wanted to add a tribute to Steve Jobs in this post.  This video is by Jeffrey Gitomer.  Jeffrey is a sales consultant that I have followed for some time.  This video explains the way Steve Jobs touched us as well as any tribute I've seen since his death earlier this month.  It also touches on the way Steve delivered value to his audience and clients.





~ Joe

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Elements of your disaster plan.

Here is another episode in the video series showing you how to prepare for a collection disaster.  This episode shows the elements you should consider for your disaster plan.





Planning for a disaster is the key to survival.  This series of videos is helping us understand the entire process.  Please let me know if you feel they have been worthwhile.

~ Joe

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Before you can prepare a disaster plan for your collection, you must assess the risk.





~ Joe

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Mitigating Risks

Here is another video in the series on disaster preparedness.

Are you ready if disaster hits?





~ Joe

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Another video segment on implementing a disaster plan.

Instructional video on how to develop and implement an effective disaster plan. This segment looks at what is the end result of disaster planning:





~ Joe

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How to develop and implement an effective disaster plan

Here is the next video in the series that talks about how to be prepared, respond and recover from a disaster.




~ Joe

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Emergency Preparedness for Museums

Are you prepared for a disaster?  Imagine what you would do if you had warning of an impending tornado, flood or earthquake.  What would you do to protect your home and household furnishings? Would you be able to save your family's treasures?   Imagine the same events, but now you are responsible for the history of a nation or the art of a thousand years.  Should we put some plywood on the windows, stack some sandbags, and hope for the best?

For the last several years I have been part of many conversations regarding the preparedness of museums for disaster.  Usually we discuss how to prevent damage and what to do if the worst happens.  These questions are being asked in every museum around the world, and there are more questions then there are answers.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to post videos that address preparedness and recovery for museum collections.  Please let me know what you think about the series.  If you have any suggestions or advice I would be happy to post it here.



~ Joe

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Mysteries At The Museum Sneak Peek: The Dymaxion House

Museums are usually some of the first adapters of new technology. I am constantly amazed at the ways they find to use the latest technology.  Most of this technology becomes part of our everyday lives over time, but  what has me baffled is why we overlook some ideas that might change or lives for the better.  Take a look at the video I have included in this posting.  You will see a preview of a story about the Dymaxion House displayed at the Henry Ford Museum outside of Detroit.  This technology was actually developed in the 20's.  What kept this technology from hitting the market?  Was it timing, costs, poor marketing, no marketing, lack of funds to develop the idea? Why aren't we all using O-Volving shelves?




~ Joe

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Have you been to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum?

I spend a lot of time in museums.  I have my favorite art museum, and I love history museums, and I have always been fascinated at science museums.  I find myself being drawn to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum over and over because it continues to move me every time I visit.

Don't visit the Holocaust Museum to learn history, see art, or for a better understanding of our world.  The fact is that you may do all of these things when you visit, but you will be moved.  This museum will move you, and it may even change you a little.




~ Joe

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Have you ever had to move a Suit of Armor?

What are some of the most unusual things we have moved?

Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight at the DuSable Museum

The Smithsonian's traveling exhibition Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight opens at the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago on July 2nd.  It will be on display at the museum until September 25.

"The content of the exhibition is based on the newly published book of the same title by National Air and Space Museum curator, Von Hardesty. The show will cover significant figures, events, and themes associated with African Americans in aviation and aerospace history."


Black Wings


~ Joe


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Rebecca Clark ~ Bee Lines

My friend Rebecca Clark has her exhibition "Bee Lines" opening at the Hillyer Art Space in Washington, DC.  Becky is the  Senior Registrar, Art in Embassies Program for the US. Department of State.  Her exhibition opens June 3rd and runs through the 24th.


The Hillyer Art Space is located at: 9 Hillyer Court NW, Washington,DC  20008.


Rebecca Clark: Bee Lines


"I draw inspiration from the natural world of my backyard.  By observing the insects, animals, and plant life of this tiny ecosystem, I become engaged with the timeless rhythms and patterns of the earth and am reminded of my own place in the natural world.  The drawings I make pay respect to this intimate universe that we share."




Becky also has pieces on exhibition at the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mill, Maryland through July 30th.

~ Joe

The 22nd Annual MUSE Awards

The AAM Media and Technology Committee presents the 22nd Annual MUSE awards Sunday night in Houston.

These awards recognize outstanding achievement in museum media.  Presented to institutions or independent producers which use digital media to enhance the museum experience and engage new audiences, the MUSE awards celebrate scholarship, innovation, creativity and inclusively.

This event will be held at the Hilton Americas, Lanier Ballroom from 6:00 to 8:00 PM , and is open to all attendees.

To register for this event or to get more information go to AAM 2011

~ Joe

The Gallery M Squared welcomes you to Houston.

The  Gallery M Squared  welcomes the AAM to Houston.


The gallery features the unique works of artist John Knott with his exhibit "Unimportant Things".  The Gallery is located in the old Heights Theater on W. 19th St.  The artist's inspiration comes "from the tension created by the interaction of people and objects moving through the world" and he has created a very imaginative body of work.


See a preview of the exhibition in the video below. 


...and while you're at the conference please stop by to visit with me in the Atlas Van Lines' booth (#1037) at the MuseumExpo.


I will also be tweeting from the show.  Follow me on @joemover or at hashtag #atlas1037.

MuseumExpo at AAM 2011

Are you planning on attending the AAM annual conference in Houston this month?  If so, stop by the Atlas Van Lines' Booth at the MuseumExpo.  I will be in the booth most of the exhibition hours, and I would love for you to stop by and say hello.  The booth number is 1037.

Click on the link below for an online copy of the conference Advanced Program.

Advanced Program

Joe

The Museum of Broken Relationships

Have you ever had a broken heart?  Are you going to AAM 2011 in Houston next month?  There may be a connection for you.  The Blaffer Art Museum, in collaboration with the American Association of Museums is presenting an exhibition from the Museum of Broken Relationships.

It won't heal your broken heart, but it will make you smile.

The Museum of Broken Relationships



Joe

Bruce Gugliuzza exhibits at Harmony Hall Regional Center

The exhibit Incarnation and Transformation by Bruce Gugliuzza is at the Harmony Hall Regional Center through May 21, 2011.  Please stop by and visit when you are in the Fort Washington/Oxon Hill, Maryland area.

Using wood and metal as his medium, Bruce Gugliuzza produces highly finished sculptures that resemble magnified and stylized versions of microbes and plant seeds. Bruce has been a night instructor at Prince Georges Community College for over 15 years, teaching the lost wax method of bronze casting.

Harmony Hall Regional Center

10701 Livingston Road
Fort Washington, MD 20744
            301-203-6040 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            301-203-6040      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      ; TTY 301-203-6030

Hours of Operation

Mondays-Fridays: 6:30 am-10 pm
Saturdays: 8 am-4 pm
Sundays: 12 noon-4 pm


~Joe

New Series on Museum Secrets

There is a new series about Museum Secrets on History Television.  Check out this video to see a promo for for the series that has episodes on The Vatican, The Louvre, The Met, The Cairo Museum and more.



For more information go to Museum Secrets TV

Joe

Bare Bones by Ruth Trevarrow

My friend Ruth Trevarrow has a show opening today at the Athenaeum in Alexandria, Virginia.  The show  Bare Bones will be there until April 10th. The Athenaeum is open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

See the story in the Daily Campello Art News


Joe

Where Will Museums Fit Into the Society of the Future?

During the 2010 AAM Annual Meeting, The Pinky Show conducted some interviews.  The idea was to obtain an idea of how society might be improved, and where Museums would fit into this society of the future.  This video presents clips of the interviews, edited by the  Center for the Future of Museums.






Visit www.PinkyShow.org to read about the shows expedition to the future of museums.


~ Joe ~

Meet Holly and Graham

"Help us Obi Wan Kenobi, you're our only hope!"

You probably remember that quote from Princess Leia in the original Star Wars.  

She was projected as a hologram to Obi Wan Kenobi to deliver a very important message.  This message ultimately saves the rebellion from Darth Vader and the Empire's Death Star.  When I first saw this movie in the late 70s, this was truly science fiction.  Well, not anymore!

Take a look at this BBC News video introducing Holly and Graham.  They are the newest members of the security team at London's Luton Airport. They are holograms and they too deliver an important message.  Imagine how this technology will change the modern museum experience.

"LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER"...  I'm sorry, but it had to be said.

BBC News

~ Joe ~

Are There Any Nonprofit Jobs Out There?

Most of the people I know in the museum community work for non profits.  The problem is that in recent years too many of these people have been laid off from their jobs.  The economic crisis has hurt everyone, and my friends in the nonprofit, museum community have not been spared.  If anything, they have been hit worse than many industries.

So...is there any good news?


The Philanthropy News Digest believes there is reason to be optimistic.  Click the PND button below for an article discussing the Nonprofit Job Market.

Philanthropy News Digest


Joe