Planning and Understanding Exhibits

Three cheers to the students in INF 386E, Planning and Understanding Exhibits, who successfully launched their class exhibit on paper dolls. Titled All Dolled Up: Playing with Identity in 1940s Paper Dolls, the exhibit explores issues of power and agency; identity and play; gender roles during wartime; and big-screen celebrity. Today’s opening reception featured 1940s-themed music, food, and dancing. The exhibit will be on display in the UTA building now through December 1, 2022. Many thanks to UT’s School of Human Ecology for the chance to work with this fascinating collection.

See our press coverage in Austin Monthly, CultureMap Austin, and Glasstire.

And be sure to also visit the exhibit online!

Exhibit window — *All Dolled Up* explores play and power in 1940s paper dolls.

Lindy Hop dance steps. — Visitors can learn the Lindy Hop with vinyl dance steps on the floor.

Activity table — Create your own paper doll bookmark, and test your skills finding a doll in the exhibit.

Rita Hayworth cutout — Pose as Rita Hayworth in *The Loves of Carmen*

Reception table with Jell-o salads — Reception table featuring Jellied Egg Salad and Orange Dream, two 1940s Jell-o molded salad recipes.

On Friday, April 15, students in my course INF 386E Planning and Understanding Exhibits celebrated the opening of their class exhibit. On My Desk Stat! Paper Copying in a Changing Workplace documents copying processes from the 19th – 21st centuries and considers their impact on human health and safety, on waste in the environment, and on gender in the workplace.

Promotional flyer for *On My Desk Stat!*

The opening event was a fun way to re-connect with colleagues as we took in the exhibit, enjoyed snacks, played a beat-the-typist game featuring a real typewriter, and tested our knowledge in copying trivia to win iSchool mugs, water bottles, and t-shirts. We were so pleased to host visitors from UT and beyond at this event.

Students, faculty, and visitors at our opening event. Photo: Abi Glasser.

Our students have worked hard on every part of this exhibit, from choosing items and crafting narrative to writing text, building web presence, promoting the event, building display elements, and much more. The exhibit is on display on the first floor of the UTA building through 4/28, and you can catch the exhibit online and see updates on Instagram. Congratulations, students!

Sarah Norris

Library and Archives Conservation

Tag Archives: Planning and Understanding Exhibits

All Dolled Up: Playing with Identity in 1940s Paper Dolls

On My Desk Stat! Paper Copying in a Changing Workplace