The Art of Mennonite Clocks
This stunning exhibit showcased more than thirty-three handmade Mennonite clocks and their stories. Services provided included project management; exhibit conception, design and installation; interpretive sign planning, design, and print management. Collateral design material included posters, gift cards, bookmarks and an interactive gallery kiosk for exhibition visitors. Due to poplular demand, the exhibit was eventually re-designed as a travelling exhibit and displayed at the Manitoba Museum and Gallery in the Park.
This exhibit was based on the publication Kroeger Clocks by Arthur Kroeger, which was also the basis for the website Virtual Museum of Mennonite Clocks and was a collaboration between the Kroeger Clocks Heritage Foundation and Mennonite Heritage Village. Learn more. 2018. [Grajewski Fotograph Inc.]
“I want each of you to know that you have done very good work for MHV in designing and unveiling the exhibit, ‘The Art of Mennonite Clocks’. The exhibit itself is stunning, to say the least.”
“The clock site is just fantastic, as is the exhibition. Your work is brilliant!”
The exhibit opening included clock owners who generously loaned their clocks for display in the exhibit.
One of the fascinating interpretive panels relates the history of two clock owners, ‘A Love Story’ (below). Another, tells the story of a clock’s harrowing journey from a war-torn European country to its arrival in Canada, ‘A Refugee Story’.
Instead of using gallery labels to describe each clock, interpretive panels were positioned in-between the clocks featuring in-depth facts. Close-up photographs of clock interiors, including the gears, and details such as the date, place or maker’s mark were highlighted. This offers the museum visitor a chance to see inside these historic artefacts.
Detail from a clock panel.
Large panels (7.5' high x 4' wide) visually divided the gallery into five themes.