Exhibit Fabricator
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 12:00 AM Updated: 12:47 PM
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By: Joan Tupponce, Joan Tupponce & Associates, Inc.
Frank Heller gets a kick out of telling people that as part of his job he built a stage for Gilligan (Bob Denver) from Gilligan’s Island and Beaver (Jerry Mathers) from Leave it to Beaver. Heller, staff artist at the Science Museum of Virginia, built the stages when the stars visited the museum for special museum events.
At the moment, he’s concentrating his efforts on a group of exhibits called Science Unplugged that focus on the principles of physics.
“The exhibit deals with basic force and motion principles,” he explains. “In this high-tech age it may be good to slow down and look at things that don’t have a lot of technology. I’m really excited about the exhibits.”
Heller is an exhibit fabricator for the museum. “We translate science concepts (physics, biology and chemistry) into hands-on, interactive science exhibits,” he explains. “We design and fabricate with different materials.”
Fabricators come from a variety of backgrounds that include art, sculpture and theatre.
“You need to have cabinetry making and woodworking skills,” Heller says.
Heller works with both in-house and traveling exhibits.
“When we have a traveling exhibit come in we have to set up their stage,” he says. “We create many exhibits for this museum, the Danville Science Center and the Virginia Aviation Museum.”
When he’s creating an exhibit, Heller works with different departments in the museum.
“With Science Unplugged, I am working with the graphic department to bring up the graphics panels that instruct visitors on how to use them,” he explains. “Sometimes we employ outside design firms and then we build the exhibit. Sometimes we design things and shop them out because it’s not something we are set up to do.”
Heller who was trained as an artist and taught at Virginia Commonwealth University sees the job as a good fit. “It’s really rewarding when you hear the cheers and squeals of the kids when they react to something you’ve built,” he says. Most exhibit fabricators have a bachelor’s or master’s degree or a trades education such as carpentry. Jobs can be found in museums, production houses for interior design, furniture manufacturers and cabinetry houses.
“You really need to have the skill level and be able to demonstrate that,” Heller says. “You have to be able to read shop drawings and interpret designs.”
Self-motivation is a must. “You’re always working with deadlines,” Heller says. “The museum field is like being in theatre. You have openings and things can happen.”
To work in the field you must also be creative and enjoy working with your hands. “You also need patience,” Heller says.
There are challenges to the job.
“We have to make things happen at a quick rate,” Heller says. “Things have to be entertaining and memorable as well as educational. Our challenge is to create as many of these kinds of exhibits for our visitors as we can.”
Frank Heller gets a kick out of telling people that as part of his job he built a stage for Gilligan (Bob Denver) from Gilligan’s Island and Beaver (Jerry Mathers) from Leave it to Beaver. Heller, staff artist at the Science Museum of Virginia, built the stages when the stars visited the museum for special museum events.
At the moment, he’s concentrating his efforts on a group of exhibits called Science Unplugged that focus on the principles of physics.
“The exhibit deals with basic force and motion principles,” he explains. “In this high-tech age it may be good to slow down and look at things that don’t have a lot of technology. I’m really excited about the exhibits.”
Heller is an exhibit fabricator for the museum. “We translate science concepts (physics, biology and chemistry) into hands-on, interactive science exhibits,” he explains. “We design and fabricate with different materials.”
Fabricators come from a variety of backgrounds that include art, sculpture and theatre.
“You need to have cabinetry making and woodworking skills,” Heller says.
Heller works with both in-house and traveling exhibits.
“When we have a traveling exhibit come in we have to set up their stage,” he says. “We create many exhibits for this museum, the Danville Science Center and the Virginia Aviation Museum.”
When he’s creating an exhibit, Heller works with different departments in the museum.
“With Science Unplugged, I am working with the graphic department to bring up the graphics panels that instruct visitors on how to use them,” he explains. “Sometimes we employ outside design firms and then we build the exhibit. Sometimes we design things and shop them out because it’s not something we are set up to do.”
Heller who was trained as an artist and taught at Virginia Commonwealth University sees the job as a good fit. “It’s really rewarding when you hear the cheers and squeals of the kids when they react to something you’ve built,” he says. Most exhibit fabricators have a bachelor’s or master’s degree or a trades education such as carpentry. Jobs can be found in museums, production houses for interior design, furniture manufacturers and cabinetry houses.
“You really need to have the skill level and be able to demonstrate that,” Heller says. “You have to be able to read shop drawings and interpret designs.”
Self-motivation is a must. “You’re always working with deadlines,” Heller says. “The museum field is like being in theatre. You have openings and things can happen.”
To work in the field you must also be creative and enjoy working with your hands. “You also need patience,” Heller says.
There are challenges to the job.
“We have to make things happen at a quick rate,” Heller says. “Things have to be entertaining and memorable as well as educational. Our challenge is to create as many of these kinds of exhibits for our visitors as we can.”
