I went to The Story of Idaho Exhibit at the Idaho Historical Museum which was sponsored by the state of Idaho. The display I looked at in particular was 3' x 2' and made out of wood, plastic, and stone. The context for the display is educational in purpose.
I saw a lot of different arrowheads made out of various stones. They were separated by what kind of arrowheads they were, how old they were, and where they were found. My first impression of the display was that it looked interesting. To be more exact about the display, 72 triangularly cut stones are displayed and separated into various sections. Red and black text label certain groups of these stones. The words I would use to characterize what I have seen in the display are old, sharp, dull, shiny, earthy, and elemental. The objects are artifacts and the viewer has the same point of view as the artist, which is just looking straight at it.
The overall meaning being conveyed is when and where these specific arrowheads came from. Some elements that are used are shape, size, color, and texture. Politics may have influenced the choices the curator made with this display. A question that is somewhat posed is what are the specific reasons for regional differences in arrowheads. The context does influence the meaning of the display. The intended audience are museum goers. I don't think the installation is effective. The labeling used is jumbled and confusing.
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