loving art, science and creative kids

  The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

acrylic painting, 27” by 23” / $ 450

Going Viral

   ( a story from my upcoming book: Life as a Museum Junkie)

In 1972,  in my Lansing, Michigan basement, a friend and I started a museum called Impression 5.  It’s beginning was frustrating  because I  was very naive and clueless about how to turn an idea into a public institution. It was also exciting for university friends and I would brainstorm ideas for exhibits and then go to our work rooms to make devices that explained science.  In order to increase public awareness, we took the results of our creative endeavors on the road to schools and shopping centers.  Our goal was to create a hands-on place for children and adults to go to for experimental play with science and the arts.

Our  efforts received  little notice until eight months had gone by and a newspaper reporter decided to write a small article about the fledgling museum.  Once in print our project was legitimatized and we became swept into a maelstrom of activity and purpose.  The first job was forming a board.   A few people did come forth but they were not very effective fund raisers.  I did not have money to build a museum and did not know how or who to approach.  Though inexperienced, we were  very determined.

My friend Dee and I went around town talking to community leaders about our project, and people listened politely.  One city official advised us that we would have to wait in line as long as five years for such a project to be considered. The man at the time in charge of the YMCA was the most discouraging.  He told us that our project would not get off the ground because “there were only two things that were important, one was sports and the other was sex.”  He wished us luck and sent us on our way.  Shortly afterwards Dee left to take a job as a paralegal so I was on my own.

One frustrating day, I was at my desk when I read that Playboy Bunnies were willing to play sporting events with local celebrities to raise money for charity.  “ Amazing.” I thought.  “Sports and Sex!”  I had my ticket to success. 

 I called the Detroit club and sure enough they were willing to play basketball against our community leaders, all of whom were men. The school superintendent, the Mayor, the head of Oldsmobile, the University president, real estate moguls, and other community businessmen of note and money were invited to join the game. Not one person turned me down.  I acquired Jenison Field House, Michigan State’s basketball court,  to hold the game and plans were under way. 

The publicity we got in the beginning was fantastic. It appeared that the community was  behind our fundraising idea until a small article appeared in the editorial section of the Lansing State Journal claiming that a group of women objected to the game.  Women in the area had just been introduced to books by feminist authors such as Betty Friedan and Gloria Stienem. The women’s liberation movement was gaining momentum and sensitivities were starting to mount.  University and high school students threatened to picket the Bunny event and some of our basketball players felt uncomfortable participating, fearing a sit in by their offices.  Going viral in those days was through newspapers, and could be just as effective as today’s web based browsers. Anti Bunny-basketball sentiments spread.

In hope of showing that I was not supporting male chauvinism, I called Michigan State’s Women’s Basketball team and asked them to help as a practice team. They agreed and when the time came our men were suited up to compete. Six fit women played throughout the practice game though our volunteer men  had to be rotated every few minutes. I was afraid that someone was going to have a heart attach. The women were unbeatable even though many of the men played basketball for exercise during the week. 

The more I tried to soften the women’s issue the more strident the newspaper articles became.  The paper loved our concept for the museum but enjoyed fanning the controversy even more. It sold papers. The board members and I didn’t know what to do,  cancel the game or proceed by walking through pickets?  As it was, we were not selling many tickets.

Mother Nature helped make the decision.  The night before the game it started to rain, and rain, and rain.  Rivers flooded the floor of  Jenison field house burying the court under two feet of water. The day of the game every able bodied person in East Lansing  was out sandbagging riverbanks. 

We never did have the charity game but the museum got under way anyway.  I learned then, that both good publicity and bad publicity get people’s attention. The museum concept had gone viral. People love a controversy and will follow the arguments in detail.  By the time we were ready for the next event the entire town knew that a group of people were trying to start an interactive science and art museum, an idea they wanted to support.

From that moment Impression 5’s growth became history.  Exhibits, programs and classes increased attendance to the point where it was able to renovate an  86,000 sq. ft. building in center city. I am happy to report that the museum thrives today.  I moved on as a slightly less naive person to direct OMSI for ten years, and helped it move to it’s present location on the river. 

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