The Changing Face of What is Normal: Integrating artifacts and interactive experiences to explore conceptions of mental illness in a hands-on museum

Abstract

In April 2013, after more than 40 years in San Francisco’s Marina District, the Exploratorium—the “museum of science, art, and human perception”—opened the doors of its new home on the city’s downtown waterfront. In preparation for the move, museum staff painstakingly refurbished the museum’s entire existing exhibit collection and created numerous new experiences. Perhaps the most notable new addition was The Changing Face of What is Normal: Mental Health. This 1300-square foot exhibition included artifacts and interactive media pieces and was on view from opening day through fall 2014. It was housed in the museum’s new Osher West Gallery, a large space dedicated to exhibits and activities that allow visitors to explore “human phenomena”—how we think, remember, and communicate; how we perceive and interact with each other; and how we make sense of ideas at the intersection of science, society, and culture.