Postcards for Paige: Fall 2018

Welcome to the third edition of our quarterly feature, “Postcards for Paige,” giving us a chance to answer commonly asked questions about how to make the most out of your visit to the Jewish Museum of Maryland.

(All the answers are real, the postcards are dubious… but these days, who knows?)


Calling all shutterbugs!

Heya Paige,

My relatives are coming to visit from California and I have been researching things to do around Baltimore with them. I saw an advertisement for Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini in a magazine and think it’s a perfect fit for the whole family. My nieces are always on their phones and taking photos to share with their friends. So, my big question is … can we take photos in the exhibit?

~Hopeful Host

Hi Hopeful,

I encourage you and your family to take photos while you explore Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini! Just one small rule, please make sure your camera/phone has the flash turned off. However, like most rules, this rule comes with one exception. Nearing the end of the exhibit, in Houdini’s Final Act, you have the opportunity to take a Spirit Photo. Before you stand on the feet and get in selfie-taking position, you will need to make sure your flash is on. Remember once you have seen the spirit appear, turn the flash off again to keep snapping those photos.

Don’t forget to share photos with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #MagicAtJMM or #Inescapable. I can’t wait to see what you discover in the exhibit. Make sure to visit before the exhibit disappears on January 21, 2019.  

~Paige


Listen to your mother: put on a sweater!

Paige,

I consider myself to be a museum frequent-flyer. I love my Lombard Street Club membership at the JMM because it provides reciprocal entry to several other Jewish and local Baltimore museums. I dropped by the JMM recently and was glad that I wore my cardigan because it was cool inside the exhibits. I’ve noticed this at other museums as well.  Can you help me solve the mystery of why museums are often so frigid?

~Frosty Fayvel 

Hi Fayvel,

I am happy to shed some light on this mystery for you. The collections at the JMM are incredibly diverse. These objects are composed of many different materials, including: leather, metal, wood, stone, and paper. In fact, most objects are composed of multiple materials. These materials age and deteriorate at different rates. The JMM works to prevent the deterioration of the objects in our care. One way of doing this is through the control of the environment in which our objects are stored and exhibited. There are a variety of environmental factors that play a role in causing deterioration, such as light, temperature, pollutants, pests, and humidity. Fluctuations in temperature (and its partner-in-crime humidity) can have damaging effects on materials and speed up their deterioration. While high temperatures promote chemical and physical reactions causing deterioration, cooler temperatures allow materials to stay in a stable state and decreases deterioration.

Therefore, we purposefully keep any spaces with objects at a consistent, cooler temperature to best care for our collection for generations to come.

As far as clothing choices go, layers are your best friend at museums.

~Paige


You Already Belong – Make it Official!

Hi Paige,

I’ve been to a few of the Museum’s programs and I think that I am hooked. I have been repeatedly impressed with how informative and entertaining the speakers on Sundays are. Is it true if I decide to become a member after the program finishes, that I can apply my previously purchased tickets towards the cost of a new membership?

~Hooked

Dear Hooked,

It sounds to me that you already belong to the Jewish Museum of Maryland community, so let’s make it official! By choosing to join, you help make all we do possible – from our changing exhibits to our fascinating programming.

It is true! If you have purchased tickets for a program, you are able to apply the cost of those tickets to your membership if your membership is purchased on the same day. Following the program, just drop by the Front Desk or Esther’s Place and a team member would be happy to help. Then, you can immediately begin to take advantage of your membership benefits! Like receiving a 10% discount on the book that you just heard the author talk about.

So why don’t you join us?

~Paige


Have your own question for Paige? Send her a message at pwoodhouse@jewishmuseummd.org.

To read more posts from Paige, click here!

 

 

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jewish museum of maryland JMM Blog

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