At my previous org (American Civil War Museum in Richmond, VA), our new long-term exhibit used the typical white forms default wrapped in black fabric, since it went with the aesthetic of the exhibit -- primarily black with pops of color, the mannequins faded into the background and let the artifacts pop.
We deviated from this on two pieces: 1) We used a white form on a white dress, since the fabric was so sheer and fragile that we the black fabric showed through too much; and 2) we had a 1920s Klan robe on display in the last gallery that we did NOT want to have with a black form, since it unintentionally would have implied Black members of the Klan.
There wasn't a set policy, just case-by-case basis with an eye towards how form color would be perceived as it related to racialized threads of the narrative and related misconceptions, etc.
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Stephanie Arduini
Executive Director
The Children's Museum
Seattle WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-09-2022 12:25 PM
From: Amber Glen
Subject: Mannequin Color?
Hi Rachel,
The Alaska State Museum uses a neutral grey color for our mannequins. It provides a little more versatility without favoring one skin tone or the other. I don't know if we've encountered a mannequin color issue in the past and that is why we do what we do now or if it was a conscious choice when our new exhibits were designed and installed in 2016.
I can send you some images if you would like.
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Amber Glen
Administrative Assistant
State of Alaska Division of Libraries, Archives, & Museums
Juneau, Alaska
amber.glen@alaska.gov
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