Columbia River Gorge at Goldendale, Washington
Located atop a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, the Maryhill Museum of Art has recently been expanded to include subterranean classrooms, galleries, café and a magnificent overlook that suspends visitors outward from the side of the gorge. Jan Coleman collaborated with Presentation Design Group to develop an Exhibits Master Plan for the renovated and expanded building. She began the process with an Interpretive Planning Workshop and a comprehensive look at the Museum’s collections.
The result is a plan that will move several of the Museum’s primary collections into areas better suited for their needs, and also calls for new cabinetry, lighting, graphics and an increased level of interpretation throughout the facility for the benefit of visitors. Outdoor signage will provide new visitors and afterhours visitors with a greater understanding of the Museum’s offerings, increasing the likelihood of more Museum visitation and longer stay time on site.
Interpretive planning workshops in 2008 resulted in an Exhibits Master Plan to complement an architectural redesign of the facility. Courtesy Red Caviar and Presentation Design Group.
A series of small wayside signage will guide the visitor into the parking lot while introducing the wide range of the Museum’s collection, serving as a menu for the visit. Courtesy Red Caviar and Presentation Design Group.
Each of the three existing museum floors will be modified and, in some cases, entire collections will be relocated.
In the new underground museum level, leading directly to a cliff-side overlook of the monumental Columbia River gorge, relocated exhibits will draw visitors through the public areas between new classrooms and café.
The existing Rodin and Loie Fuller exhibits will be re-envisioned around a Rodin Studio setting with expanded educational graphics and materials. Courtesy Red Caviar and Presentation Design Group.
An important feature of the exhibits program will be the relocation of the large Native American collection to the airy third floor, completely repackaging the artifacts in custom casework, lighting and graphics.
