Deborah SovineeJan Crocker LLC Senior Exhibit Designer

Quest for immortality: Treasures of Ancient EgyptThe largest collection of Egyptian artifacts ever to travel in the U.S. 2004

I took my paint fan deck to Washington, D.C. and matched colors to the objects and created the show around thesaturated colors that came directly from the ancient objects, and I worked with the National Gallery of Art to design thecasework to ensure that the objects would be wheelchair accessible.

I contacted a friend in Atlanta and borrowed a mummy that was used to create a story of medical and archaeological discovery. Thiswas a highlight of the exhibition.Drapery mounted near the ceiling helped create a sacred space for viewing the mummy and the video reconstructions for thethousands of school groups that visited the exhibition.

We recreated the story of the discovery and painstaking reconstruction by archaeologists of the tomb of QueenHetepheres, borrowing objects, reconstructions, and using pages from the original journals . We commissioned avirtual recreation of how the tomb would have rotted into dust over 5,000 years . Visitors could peek into a crevice in awall to view the movie.

Initial sketch of Hetepheres area

Investigate! is one of the four “Science is an Activity” series of Constructivist exhibits that defined a new direction forthe science museum field. Filled with loose parts, open-ended exhibits, running water, and entirely experimentallearning, it forced us to create new models for designing and maintaining exhibits.

The iconic, touchable sculpture at the entrancetells visitors that even you, too, can be ascientist as the little girl recreates Galileo’s balldrop from the Tower of Pisa.

1999

Vistors experiment with their own solar cars; theorize, based on evidence they uncover, sift through crushed apricotpits, and categorize in the midden; add their questions to the “Question Wall”; measure and theorize at a sink area onwhich cups retain heat best.

Playing by the Rules/Virtual FishtankGood design focuses on seeing what is possible, and creating something wonderful withinthose parameters. 2007

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Playing by the Rules/Virtual Fishtank, cont’d

SKETCHES ANDSCHEMATICS

2001

This was an old lecture hall, long and steep, closed in on all sides. The concrete steps started at the bottom and wentsteeply up to one side. I had someone drill a hole through so I could see inside and the steps were cinderblock andhollow! I made a model, reoriented the stage 90º to the way you see it now, drew up schematics and demolished theformer lecture hall to create a new, open, accessible space. In the process I saved natural history dioramas using themto create the back and side walls. I created a space that felt like a clearing in the forest: open, restful, surrounded byactivity.

Science Live! stage

In addition to creating a space that all the educators love to work in and visitors flock to, I removed an old lift, the onlyway to get up the three feet to the next level if you used a wheelchair. I integrated a new ramp into the stairs and stage- all done within a tight budget. This is one of my favorite projects: beautiful, practical, and accessible to all.

Other projects

CHILDREN’S EXHIBIT - GEOLOGIST FIELD STATION

MAPPING - VISITORS CANCONTROL HOW THE SUN HITS

MODEL OF EVEREST OVERCOURSE OF A DAY. INFANT AREA

ASTRONOMY -SHOWING SUN AND

PLANETS

Sketches and Paintings

UNDERSEAMURAL I

PAINTED FORINFANT AREA

Project List

•New office for President of Museum of Science

•Communication Café

•Pinhole Photography•Inua: Spirit of the Eskimo•King Herod’s Dream: Caesarea by the Sea•Indiana Jones and the Adventure ofArchaeology

•Science Live! Stage•Electronics•Hands-On Medical Discovery Space•Harvard/Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics•Hilton-Winn Farm

•Ramesses the Great•Quest for Immortality: Treasure of Ancient Egypt•Community Solar System•Welcome to the Universe

•Natural Mysteries•Investigate: A See-For-Yourself Exhibit•Mapping the World

•Playing By The Rules and Virtual Fishtank•Learning Not Waiting - Boston Medical Center•Pets and People - Providence Children’sMuseum

•Tropical Rainforest: A Disappearing Treasure