The Exhibit Commons is a concept that allows people outside normal
museum and science center staffs an opportunity to present new information
and divergent points of view through mutable exhibitions. Content
of existing exhibitions may be amended or altered using physical
objects, digital files, videography, photography, spoken word or
other material.
Exhibit Commons exhibits will create a wholly new kind of institution
where some of the exhibits reflect the institution’s perspective
while others offer differing points of view, created through the
communal creativity unleashed by digital technology, including computing
and networking. Over time the Exhibit Commons will grow into a wide-ranging
body of mutable exhibitions from institutions around the world,
allowing anyone anywhere a chance to represent their point of view
in museum and science center settings.
The first set of Exhibit Commons experiences is being planned for
the expanded Liberty Science Center, located in Jersey City, NJ
just across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan, re-opening in
July 2007. The first opportunity to add content to exhibits is offered
at the Science Center’s offsite facility during construction,
Liberty Science Center: Riverside.
> Onomy Labs
begins creation of T2ST - largest initial Exhibit Commons piece
To fully convey the drama and significance of breaking
news in the fields of science and technology, the multi-element artwork,
T2ST: The Times Square of Science and Technology, will replicate the sizzling
excitement of Manhattan's Times Square, but with a breathtaking originality.
It will be the cornerstone of a groundbreaking exhibition, known as Breakthroughs,
which will be on view at Liberty Science Center in Liberty State Park,
Jersey City, NJ when it re–opens in July, 2007 following a $104
million expansion and renovation.
The philosophy, inspiration and initial concept of
the Exhibit Commons is described in a white paper "The Exhibit Commons
— Liberty Science Center's Open Source Exhibit Initiative and Community"
by Wayne LaBar.