Overview: In the way that Story Corps brings people together to conduct meaningful oral histories, this Gallery Night event brings visitors and objects together to conduct a meaningful interview. This is a method of live interpretation, in which we the "objects" respond to visitor questions in a participatory form of education.

Details: Each class member chooses an object or work of art in the American collection that is on display. We research our object (time period, workmanship, owners, value, etc) to the point where we have a solid knowledge of it. On gallery night, we morph into a first-person representation of the object, ready to answer visitor questions. As visitors arrive, they are told of the protocol by greeters, and handed a sheet of possible questions to ask (in case they are uncomfortable coming up with questions on their own). These can include questions like:
-where do you come from?
-what was your proudest moment?
-what's your greatest fear?
-what is your earliest memory?
-what is an important lesson you've learned in life?
-how would you like to be remembered?

As visitors circulate through the galleries, they conduct interviews with us, the objects, by asking questions--from serious to silly. We are challenged to answer creatively with our research as a guide, and highlight any interesting stories. We are positioned near/next to our objects, with clear identification as to what object we are representing. ("Hi, my name is 'Goddard Desk')

There would also be a contributory activity where visitors are asked to answer the question: "what is an object in your house that would tell a good story?" Responses could be written or drawn, and would be posted for all to see.

PROS: Creative, educational; activates poorly interpreted objects, requires visitor participation for success CONS: Requires research in a short time frame; requires being comfortable with "acting" as an object and engaging with visitors; requires visitor participation for success