EXHIBIT DESIGN & PROJECT COLLABORATIONS
THE ARTISTS FORUM occasionally partners with institutions, organizations, and curators to provide strategic curation, exhibit design, and production management for select multimedia exhibitions. These collaborations reflect our commitment to expanding artistic engagement beyond our core programming platforms. One example is The Historical Child Welfare Timeline: A Transformational Experience, created for the City of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services:
The Historical Child Welfare Timeline: A Transformational Experience spotlights disproportionality and disparity within the child welfare system from the 1800s to the present day. Upon opening in April 2017, hundreds of visitors toured the exhibit each month at its Wall Street–area location. Originally planned as a three-month installation, the exhibit remained on view for approximately four years and traveled to multiple professional conferences and academic venues, such as Hunter College and the Child Welfare League of America 2018 National Conference in Washington, DC. Primarily viewed by professionals and graduate students in social services and related fields, the exhibit generated sustained interest and positive feedback.
Exhibit highlights included: The Lost Toys Exhibit, presented in a tall, modern, multi-level curio cabinet, highlighted items left behind by children in foster care as they were transferred from one home to another and included a poem titled Crissy, created by an adoptee and inspired by a real Crissy doll from the mid-1970s, reflecting the comfort and sense of welcome it provided to a child in a new home. Two interactive totems, designed by The Artists Forum, consisted of a large base and four stacked cubes. The base and top cube remained stationary, while the three middle cubes rotated like children’s toys to reveal information. One totem focused on key moments in child welfare history, and the other on legislative history. The design was a nod to Native American totem poles, which are traditionally read from bottom to top, whereas these totems were read from top to bottom to tell the exhibit’s story. Interactive iPad displays provided videos contextualizing the exhibit, while large-scale panels and banners presented a historical timeline of the child welfare system. A Reflection Board gave visitors a tangible outlet to respond to the exhibit or share their personal experiences.
The exhibition was later taken down during the COVID-19 pandemic following a facilities-related incident and has since been safely preserved. The exhibit remains available for future presentation upon request.
To discuss exhibit projects or collaboration opportunities, contact The Artists Forum.
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