This 1960s section of the Gallery of California History at the Oakland Museum of California deserves special focus because of its co-creation and co-design practices. Early conceptual planning for the section began with curatorial ideas of focusing on “iconic objects,” with an emphasis on the Black Panther Party. But after review with OMCA’s Latino, African American, Asian Pacific, and Teacher Advisory Councils, who felt this approach was too staid and disconnected from the actual experience of such tumultuous times, we made a significant shift in direction.
We identified 24 people from across California who conceived and designed their own personal experiences of the 1960s, and working with staff installed their own objects in small display boxes. The resulting installation, which includes a light show, music, and a top 100 list of major events of that decade, creates a gestalt that more adequately represents collective memory and cultural history. After opening, a number of visitors cited the “1960s history boxes” as their peak gallery experience.
Date: 2010
Client: Oakland Museum of California
Role: Creative Director
Footprint: 500 square feet
Museum Collaborators: Louise Pubols, Dirk Dieter, Adam Nilsen, Dorothea Crosby-Taylor, Dave Gottwald