7 Museums as Contact Zones 1m ely 1989 found mye sting aro abe the basemen of ce Powland Afseum of Az, Pore, Oregon AB teeny people Med (itered co dscuss th museums Nortwent Cons Indian cols. The [Soup coded museum sl. veal wellknown antbcopolopes and fxpers on Norhest Coas ar. and 2 group of Tingt eae, accom toed bya couple of younger Ting raat. was present as 3 “com flan” par ofa grat supporng he proceedings, ‘The museums Rasmunen Collesion wes amased {9 the 1020s tn southern Alisa an slong the court of Canada. Long dpa in i Somewhat “lnogaphe™ manse,# war overdve fr rensalston, Te uct ofthe Porand AR instu‘, Dan Monroe, who Bad worked with ‘ative bes Als, 0K the unsal tep af neting a eprecetnve [pep of Tingt stones, prominent elders fom pont tan, 19 ‘perscqatc i penning docu {the museum basement. objec fm the colicin were brought ‘one by one, ahd ptesented to the elders for comment raven mie, Sone headdress, a caved vale. What eanepied wa eect ‘of complied, norng peforeances, by tums sous and Hgnheae. ‘he cuter sa seems to have expected the dais to acts on the objec ofthe calecon I, at any me, alpted tha the odes ‘vould emmment on them ns detnled wy eling for example the ‘Show the mask was used, was made by n-ne power Museums as Contact Zones 18 terms of the an, our tions, and so fom. fat, te objets were othe suber of much dec commentary by the elders, who ad the fem agenda or he meeting. Tey rele fo the eal wale appreciation fd espe, but they memes ly to uae them a aldermen, ccs Son for he teling of tors and the snging of songs. “The ange were sung and stones ld accordance with clear protocols governing the auhonty of praca individuals and clans, rules ex {Ening pevonance rights An ler reprseng one clan wold peslorm ior her songs an store then an ee rom sno lan oul oer thanks and recproate The whole event ada ceremonial dimension, [inctted by iene emotion, slenes and nite The objec in he Ramune Coleen, focus forthe conoulation, were Teor $0 1 secred to met the agin For lng pereds no one pid any aertion {othem. Stones and songs took center sage ‘Assy Mann a of the prayers se sings that they “alance™ he, “as sn's Bo 9 thatthe can tell sess, She bens talingly seeing fo scotch ot pont ims amar ana, paces “ower Ure” Shes Se "Glace Bay sony” shout &vilge covered wih le sna of great Jews. She singe + tetova song Whereis ny ln” Tom Dot png “0 fy vilge agin” She tees to the prose day. when ‘vale rum wae rove out—a cram the can dno now fad been Sree A very henry momen, she nye. my George an eer nary finety years ld, ba ofr the Jlenwtale sory. whch belongs to NS Gana sory he once tld a Sn Diego Sea Wen, She tans fim. "Toe Glaser Say mation concems her present homeland arovnd oonah,Alsia, This becomes ext when Amy Marvin connects the dee fel ln inthe story wth earent Foret Sere poles regu Jang ther use, ‘A enddres representing = ocopts & bought ut. So she wells an ‘cto sory abot an enarmous morta backs the whole Dy | {senses nd keeps te salmon fom coming in. Al he toes a tld in Ting with carton and explanation bythe younger prcpans— ‘abonte performances, sonetimes tempted by Salogee) Tae ngs ‘ero hs tot and ll he oropa ole the amon come no the Dk fiton which are the Uvetnood of the group. The ero opens the bay 5 ‘he soup can live. And by the endo he try the cetopus as sao hosed in nate and fede apenies cestly rnin the "gh of ‘Fung to take simon according to mito.10 ‘contacts, ‘As pecormed in he museum semen, “radon!” soles snd myths suggested by the ald ean ccs end up especie sores wth pled ‘menngs in corent politcal srogges. ‘One ofthe younger Thngt sys There wil bea day when were back fishing thee And an older mn, Aun Hammond, rpesking forthe [Raven House in Haines, Alaska, supports Amy Marin yng he could fee her emotions as she spoke. He is weeping, The Clair By sory eninds im, he ss, of how be used to Ssh and wap thee. Now the Same monster i coming undemeath our capes agin. The lands being ‘aken fom w, and thas why Tr eng ts Wee sharpening our kes, foo apes Worse are that sone, Ke y= ‘She than im fr hie wore ors ned tobe caught, he sys. Then sumin Hammond tl sbout the gtopus baie ade Or i later (ot inthe museum cllecson), bouts power Were teling you Tee ts, besays tothe whte people assemlad. We ope youl back s us. ‘ele George, 2 cay eountwoman, fils n deals abou cunt tnd ‘came She ese ha erent lane and plats come together nese "Sessler she swegeeeneraisaone soe he “Tina” ‘Ronin Hammond tele long Haven sary tg ahers lane! spread in front of hi, Be ges ito great deal about didbent Kincs of ak te spec unes of tes ny eta he by and rer He ls hw the Raves lrermined these things—ell the species of salmon, the rules of thet ‘behaving and of eur Sshing, Why am 1 tlng Za? he aks Fur people ‘Bem Washington, DC. cate to our convention. They old us we were ‘aking up our simon, Ito them the story—~how te Raven worked (on the smn for everyone hereon our an. "A beaded facet i lad onthe table Aun Hammond sale 2 “Bible story" Raven inl remisscent of Jonah andthe Whale. We have 0 ‘wing he sys, so we mate copes our Jacke, Makes. He ls ‘moter elder or permission tote the siory Inthe Raven Des down {he whales Blowholes up stove and cooks he salon he whale falows, But he eat ge oot The humorous tale ts tigi. To cor ‘ate brehers here, Harrond sys, our prayers ar ike the Ravens. Who ‘cut open the wine a0 we can come ou? Weve in need ofall oot Eocest,cu ands being taken Our culen Who wl lol ser ‘hen? Maybe you cr els us, Help ext open Ue whale, Tats how fe. ‘Sil, he tl of beng alone In is lan howe. He svokes his grand fuer and ancestors, then sings 2 Song composed by HS une Je Museums as Comat Zones 18 ‘ight, weaving «portion of it nis ugent speech, Were Taing ove ‘pounce, he sty £0 {hold ono he song ‘Mote speech, tones, and expeasonsfow-—formal responses 10 the pens. Aer leh the mood is ihe lve songs are surg spiced tii feces humor snd nuendo, Anyone ean sng slong with hee A Sounges Ting elaine dito memore and pare there sc 2 ea yovtedeling with les, the ancestors, name govmg—and a lighr se ‘tor and expression of love for one nother. ‘A the process contr oer thre days, objets fom the Rasmussen Ccllecson ie onthe museum bles ori storage bows Reciprocies| “The experience of consent the Porland Ar Museum sta wth Bffca lemmas (tae ere that form the ede! wewpotn the col Jesed objects were noe pean at" Thy were efened to as reorts ‘tte and Yaw" aeparable bom myths and anes expressing ong ‘ng moral lesions with covvent pall fre. The mses was ces [horned the he eden woes should be presnted to the public when the obec wre dled, Tis demand prensppoed seal depe tron, sce many ofthe stone and rons were propery. Speci per (Susions wore needed Inded, 2 por agement siplzed Sut any ‘Elomi reveled at ‘he conslisuon would be Jory conrad by the tiseum and the eden On mote thn one occasion during the Doctedngs, te meurn ws ety scmonihed: Wee taking te le Sreonfiingiporan ings to you ie mporan tht shes be veered for poten Wnt wil you do wth what me give you? Well be Fyn, ‘Sull at the Portland Musume were genuinely concerned shat their evar ofthe Ramineen Collectio indude elprocl communi tion with the communes whose ar, clue, abd history wee at sake But could they recone the Hands of meuhngs evoke by the Tig es wth thve posed in ihe conte ofa mse oar"? How meh ul they deeewer the physi objects in fv of rareatv, Moy and foie? Are there ates that cam capay a as ae smulaneotly& Frm coaposiion, an objet wth specie waditonal funcions ia (Chuva le and a someting ht evs an ongng history of rk (GE Which remrings hou be hig? And wien commniy bs12 Cowzacrs the power to determine what emphass the museum wil choose? Should {he museum sow sare oot inne with can scot onecad to bther sal jenn he elleeson—Kovagiln, Haig, Tstban? Could ff exablgh reasons of rus wth al the evans gross and nd? “To what exert as the whole process dependent on specie person! contacts) How could tbe water deal wan conie within Eonar. ory tal communities? (The Tlingit elders who ame to Porand dd ‘ot repress al te clans conned othe ebjets) How mich dscusson ‘hd nepeston ir enough? And how many gas covld«sgle muse ‘xpent to rene im asppor of such ace? | cannot gp into she Detonation, and funding consngecier hat have deayed rie Exlcon ofthe Racmasen Coles, Safir i tas that te choces posed by the elders remain unsesaved, ther lt and calege) sn ‘the mesingprogreed, she basement ofthe Fordand An Museu tbe somang more tn 2 place sf conrlsion or reece came 9 uta sone | borow te tema Some Mary Lovie Pas In et book Bejeel Eyes Pave! ond Danson (6-7), she deinen “coin ne" o5 he space of clei encounters, the spce in which peoples “Geographical ana Temorealy erpee come tno cotact wih cs siber and caublsh ongoing tlasons veualy involing condone of foesisn, tales! mequsty ana muscle cqfict” Unive the ters “fone whch b grounded wihin« Earopen expansion peepee (the fonder Souler ely with respect to Emel the expresso “conc one (sn suempt wo ove the sal and tampon cxprnnce of shee Speco pe by ogee Rona dunn, e & By sing the ters setae’ Da Toepound tie gure iprovinonl dimension of elon erates 10 easly ore or supped by dfs account [saquast and dro. A “cone” perpen phates om > ss consisted im and hy te eons each ober [k ees ipresne,neraction, neriecking undesadings and racic, cet \ GE ndially sgrometial late of powee ‘When museums ae seen conte sates, thir ogaisng scr acclecn becomes en aging steal alc maralatoshp—t —Soveectarged st evehengs fs an pl Tr orgnisg se Museums as Contact Zones 1" sy fhe muna feos Me Pt one A sei ide perp sumed te St ie Maotal dice rhe eal seduce Saas ‘Wh anid ithe Poland Meum’ basement was not reduce tos procs of calling advice or information. And someting in excess ‘sf conslation was gong on, Amesage was deliver, seth ‘suangsing cong stony Av evoked nthe museum Saeement, Ting Iter ait not prima mina or conteusize the objec of te Rasmusen Collection athe the objacs proved ale fat, brought to vole) ongoing ties of stage From the postion of the callectng ‘museum snd the consuling cro, Ths was 2 disruptive hstery which ld nt be confined 1o rowing pas ba coment for the abet. The ‘seus wae elles fo «see of rexponsiy te ewan of he Clap objezs. (Repateon wae rot, = hs me, am sect ise) The fou wae asked fo be aecounable fa ay that went Beyond mee Dprserton fro srped tose on beh of Ting comeunines, ne Eemply to roresen the sory of etal cbs comply ov acutely And of eeprocty as de, bo agenda ht cou ea te Seal meeng of minds cn Logs at sales dace loses ol cone sl lore we cxpoe this wneven repro 2 pratt reize the lis of he conta perspective Lam developing here. For eae, some if what went on i Pavland was ceaaly not primary comact zone sro Some of the songs, speeches sores, and conversions were Pet mmances among Ting tdci the maseum and iscameras bt {muslin work what had to be done ithe objects were to be addesed fall (Tis dimension ws lag obec tome ny arial tion) Moreover, although ane cannc spurte «hater af los, dpacement, fn reconnection from the meanings hese masks duRs and pment fol for clan eer, would be wrong to veduce the obec atonal range, the deep fengs they sll evoke, o “contac esponses. 13 “t-gundlther ar an old sony hie mut iclade lings of issn sengge put mos. ala lode secs a ‘and “psy tat (gen 4 destrctie coll expenenceY ‘naigenoornemones must be alate by conics hones not to Sy fGarich nites deiermine or elas hem. The “bal present1 cowzacrs (shi ome of whoue sands acend before (ad fer) he encounter wih ‘white socieues an encounter Hat may appear ends but ataly “scons and in some respects teinabie* Theol obits ‘her hstoes memes, hopes, ol adons, ch raeni 1a ata. But nthe comact zoe of the Porland Museums base= tren the meanings adesed nwt lates were primary rel ‘Sonal “This wis the objec nape ust ay respons to our shared or ep engaing spony nd croc ne fey ‘While rect ia ruc sake, it wll ot be understood in he same sway by peple fom diferent cles in symmetnel power relation hips, Reciprocity the Thing demande for lp wae not a na (commer wanscio, the al of being pid up, au. athe the tent ‘waste chllenge snd rework elasonstip. The abject ofthe asmusen Calecion, however lily or ely Bought nd sold, could never be ‘Sutelyposeeed bythe museum They wee ses fg his nese Son occasions for a onguing enact Jn Cape 6 cased another muro pce and pace comic Pespuve Thee, Mts of Manno Landon was howe Be Ecmaed in pel compen ert dans wa rus ‘nde fighand New Gone The ust, hogh not nee Spt enopapecernon Mich! Olon. wnt fo Be st hugo ote Wig nee cut nd Neon ween opi tale But pes ofthe Wap side of ie amc, or et ie Spenco of coma inciidon, gpen time ongog. ley conte atasons Ts, he teh ier coon i eatagy, he isctons of powe fom which iss, na awap be epee Thee ferences of locaton and meaning wee at sue Othe Portland sree seme ‘contact zones, Pra telus, goerapicl and istorilly spate a ongoing wiaions Tec rok lations of equally een ugh proses of ral expatatin and sppropaion xy beat ‘Wonk? Ar we hve sen fundamental snunpons shew recone {oenotons of excng. jue, ecpectymay be ples of ese Museums as Contact Zones 195 snd ngovtion. Mozeower, const zones are consivied through rsp ‘tu of ober, messages, comedies, 2, ‘Soney Higaland New Gunes ie dita fom London jer tbe Wahg who nope with Onion to smase»collacon of acenal exe for {he aseam of Mankind fee connened indeed ened to ws. Ther ‘rpecaon ws that a London tur would be avenged, smart one ‘Scrat yeas belo bya group of thee neighbors, « Mount Hagen dance ‘oupe, Cerin Wag, a let, were ey to "work this Landon High Iunde contact sane for heir ow purpores Onion had to expats tht ‘ns mandate om the meum did not include funds for der travel ‘iltrenes of power, conrl, and design of budges determined who ‘pould beth collectors and who the ale ‘Sanford Univerty in Calorie al fa fom Highland New Guinea Icha rcely ben the ste fa rather diferent sex of coat relations. [A down oro salts fom the Highlands receyteaeed to Palo Ao {boca ond wal ¢ scare geen on the untesaye campus. The Projet wat onpnized on a shoeing by Jn Mason, a student ahr ology wih sll wane snd comtnottons. Once et Stamford, se sel {Dr cccupied a wonssd corer ofthe cea campor and set work ‘RRoughos the wamer af 1008 they transformed te tums roug fom New Gutes and soft sone fom Neves into human gues «= fined wit animal, fase designs, Their orglace as open 12 rerjone passing by and on Friday evenings sre no spar wth ‘bees face patting, mming and dancing. The New Gunes sts ‘hugh tei dass fo teeeted Plo Atoms, Growing number tured {every week to Beng out, make ar, and exebate "Wen [iste nthe sutra of 1994, the ras had venue othe Highlands and the ‘New Guinea Segre Geren" consisted of several dozen caved sruke ad sonesrestered among the wees. The former shore secure by cables (one bad reer ben ttn) and prtected fromm {he van by sets of tanpare plate People wandered inane pulled thot he Haweshrouding socodles and longbecked birds A ale Informed vistors tha he projec tll needed trae $40,000 for st ‘satalauon and landscaping Suggested contibtions ranged from $10,000 for travel ors New Gunes, 0 $250 for fer, to 8100 for a Spotlight, to $25 for ara’ spending money As of Ss wating 2 yest fe, the gene is aking shape Wolters have set he poles x cement fs insted the stone cvange. Mounds of ea and plats follow Newx contacts Moseums ee Corset Zones wr eines andaaping ayes. The tlle: ples for « “ete hows and tthe big pated, o abonely caved. ising Wooden pie and Sie gongs re emund ought be pve ‘the New Gunes ce Carn itratv proces waa ipo santa heproduston and colkeson o'r or clan Anoop eee [Fong triton of brnging exe pple © Waser usc Son fd wot las the sculptor st Salon wer nos ofered as specinens on dpi: They were presented ar practiong cei” not as raven” Feope coud of come, view them exotics, be he went eg the it ofthe poet, wich invited peopl o parca, frame mad ssonaiy ithe mang ofthe gre. Te toveng us pm fm adverts cobentng presi, nfomacon, and fh whe aying tr touch wih the Highlands by phone They made ads fron the ‘rious commutes ound Sunford. They wer taken Disneyland and The Elen nse, emeaned by cl Seger end the WOSE A cin Conmuniy Church im OnKand. Hundreds of people wer = the Epon is me tem of Ron sents Soh discon, ave bon Dlnned. A regular vitro te campus grove “is Ike # mince roping here om cuter space, vey Hye pperclas comm Sige A carer “Al he peple whe come at geod. People te Peto run and hey ng ve fd Hoe. 1954 25) “ve cn fer for ow the impr ue of how the gaten wi simtely be owned ended, 8 concer how the ate ee fs making opens up diferent eng of aon om hoe normaly Paced in cons of ealecng sed py Reka Kons 98%) scribes similar phenomena during two exhioionserformancs held fn the Mal in Washingron, Cape of the 1988 Fete na ‘Taecnent were tiled “Aa A Clan of il and" A oan Fat" The loner boop run indancafepeople tnd peoomess nto he rational Museum of Natural History the ras «compose lt ‘resenting etal ef, pelrmance,oodways, and comme tad ‘ons fot rey find eons" (O19) Rain dec many way he sams and sree pevores shaped and stetced thet “exhibion” Setings He ao expres te event rent pla inate ne ‘Sriheonan ination the Indian government and ne te pores fom india The listed ied te recog aforéed by fhe ipo ‘Washmgon 1 ase thet ipoveried sate t home, c ndace Po ‘sto conser har egy lve apogee ad ie cases 1 sue eto ld. Karn complex account of he happenings fn the Mal sugens 8 vopin spice of tention and perme Stprovanton, teed eran by cae and cn plc faa an by the commotion of ole wndons and "elure tthe geopltes! ‘Stcecpcr of atonal sds Reco Indien snipes fo the ‘SECs who tana and assed the pour event fod ‘Bente densng nn lg se peformans ey woul ve Shunned in india Cae and case eres were eee at ast or 4 time es performer were vied home for ens Respect forthe dvesty ind sian wow mill And be sponsoring oes ae lige! to modily ta cjectlyng modes of play Yo ncommodie vs Aisa eight of te ocason jos moter a, hs tie on he al tn Washngon, D.C. As eget ever, Kain was ugh betwen the neds of he peonnanee and thse of steal order His day tchonatins to the monkey-nen of Mek 10 get out of ees ‘See of pease amet by perk poles, were taken nether er of stings oor ae sageietone bot slat nero be noopo'ed the perfomance ouine forte enjoyment of he sien” 306) Explotations| tude ixpoman to keep the polities for ssberion and recorocty (or seitiely benign mutual expoumtion) in tensor withthe long sry of “ot” dlepay inthe We Thi sory prods a conten of enduring power imbslane within and agit wh the contact Work of wave, Exhibition, and nerpeetaion cia, An ongoing deol marx go {the undemtending of pm” peopl in elzed’ places. AS Coco ‘ineo and Gullerma Gomez Pena dicoveed when they pefommed = Thoad site in which “undiscovered” Amenndians were aoaned i= olen cas, more tan # fer astor ook ther ually Fusco (1994) Ercems another bison of totes performance, which rns fem (Combes hilnapped Araceae Montages “canbels 0 populated ‘ile and “ster at wold eons, to lk at che Universi of Calera antopeogsl Maseum, Soe apalites the story to Gude all more or less coured performances of dey: he spectactat- fon of nates ip dacsmentary fins othe elezion of "authentic ‘Third World ar and svat) fr exbasons such as “Les Magers de ‘Tern Fars A rowing body of weitng has begun 0 prow deals of198 Conzacrs this quate euenve and continuous stay of exhtionary contac (By el, 1984, Badlrd and Blume, 1992; Coin, 1993; Fusco, 1985). fe ‘evel the racism, or at best the pteralis condescension, of specials Wich efbred up mute, exuded specimens for conus and ule’ ‘crowds. The degradaion was ply aswell ab moral not infequey {essing inthe tovlernemely deh, ‘shore gemma ade thee own connection” "Avy appropriate emphasis on eoeron,exploation, and miscom- prehension dos hot however, exas the completes of travel and neounter* Monge, for example, denved something more chan an thnoentefrson from his meeting with Topinamba in Roven, Even counters tnt are ehnocenre—hich they alse #0 8 degree roc efletion and clrlevague. The eneal relessons an agency lta enti "rmle ae meet dill to dacover, gen eted meds sods tendenay im what records ext to sccod such aveers Bawor ther than independent pasion Since they were generally Weted use specimens (or icum) thelr Views seldom entered the hstorcl om The “capuvty maratves remain tobe escovered or pieced togetensnemeds fom histone. shrda’ Some of howe celayed fn EEvmpern cours, msm, and anos were Hecnanpe, the al tying bat voluntary In many ces, amr of free HU che west swore People len themoeles to the projec of erplones snd enepre ews (ort sange of reso, tnclding fear, economle eed, coal 4 eae for adventure, «quest or power “One of my cobeagues” writes Raymond Corby, "who grew up in poss Bern ol me of his atonehmen when, boy. be exe ares fm Aifcan man whom he Rad seen only hours before i native aie Catan Panopulem, now Exopenn cites ona emer ok # igre" (Corby, 1995-344) Anonstinen, ined pehape with serae beryl, was a appropriate sponse for someone acusomed 3 ‘aehly staged primi But wha was the AfeanS aie to the ‘ovement between Tecate spectacle and common svete!” Was ‘ing the “Aienn” an ones” Asati! A source of pe sab? Al ‘of thee? And more An adestate mawer depends om inowrng bot ‘nda iorer and specie power relations In mon cares the eal tne urvalable. Bat docttentaton docs ext or «revealing pence [which nave culture was made sto» spewacle—an opeence wich, though far fom tpi, can help arly the social weltioships and ‘en ineerment se ake seus as Contact Zones 19 1p 1914 Edward Cur, dhe elgte photographer of North American tndian, made a etreingih moto cal ee Land of ie Hester. ‘Yorkin on nottern Vancouver lind, Coe ved snp eontinget of oaksll indians io ac na tale of precomet Norwest Coase, Coplte wth boy-mete gt romance, cl srerer, al, War canoes, fed severed heade With the lp of loa! sorely George Hin, Franz oat principal ssssani—a serous aempt was rade to teste auhense codon sesings, arts, dances and cewmonice, Poe: Metuhan inher ln The Shaw Cather (1973), records the ese ‘scones of thie elder people who parcipated in Carts eceation “Tay real that wast of fon, desing up and ding ring he old sins Evetybody had a good time Bil Holm conversations th cher ‘uring panlpents a screenings of the vextored fm in 1967 contin She pont Colm and Quimby 1980). in mn inmorant snes. the Keil were exploited by Cur, made to actus sects ol themes fr white connemption The sensational (he Tearing “headhunter is indlonive of what Fusco anges is he escapee iolence of ich projets And one wonders: Had the fm ‘ena sovimercl soe, how mach ofthe pret would have ound ts Stuy beck to norher Vancomer land? In ote topomant senses, bow Sietweinions were sor expletive, The pecans in Headfarters arsed good snney and ejayed themes They wlingy donned wg, ‘Saved hes touches, sn ended the tee of sbalone now-ngs. They iw the Cur potayl of tetrracons, we sensor was ‘espe Spectacle wafer al very much» par of Koel clare, hd Curis tapped rch tain of acing, Moveover, George Hunt played a cru rle fn the proms, swerpretng eadtion,rerating eto, and prhenng cotumes and props Suring spapsow ofthe Flming show Cor behind the carer, wth Hoe beside hm, Belding « tmsgipbone and decng he scion (Hoi and Quimby, 1980 57-8. yin sandy, nthe Eaten of prior ade nd etinogrape cons, Carts de fan th the communis he mobilized. He intrest ¢ ‘Sgrsthing” cate seme to hve ovedapped productive) wath her sr imucrest tha wy of Me which some knew though thelr parents end {Gandyatente tnd woth which they fl astong conti through chang games “Phe staging of ear pets can hus be a complex comic process th diferent scripts negousted by impress, intermedi, and a= {os Of eoune Cura fm made on nave grounds wit Se asstence20 contacts Museums at Contact Zones 20 of Joa autores, was que diferent fom the miling shows and {bilo whieh tended to be more domineering and expe, oe ‘eos famats of al the purveyors of sereotoe, Soi Bis Wid West Show, was generally susained by respecfl penonal relcions wh [Nate Amenian patipuns But the eandions af evel were had, 2 few syed for moe than a seson fw, Sete Jlsed the show oe = ‘sages & fered ow bt thee was no say eo ake money on the new ‘esenvtions); eer wanted to exape the maeuon impose by “pice ‘on’ occasionally "waublemahan” ‘were srt by the goverment ae ah Slterative co mpisonment oles wanted to tae ad to obser te ‘wold of whites lacstone, 1986: 85-88). lack le 3 Ola Soo, Joined Buia Bl for the lascmenionadveson, end his memerir of {Chicago New York, London, and Pris powde'e precious glimp of tee and clr! cream fom a pave wewpeine lack Elk 1979 Deviate, 1934 soe also Standing Ber, 1926) isc o reco {hat the culture pesormances uch seniaces wee serge snd the scons feaeny explo. But sai inportent co veogrze nse Gtexpenences and nt 20 cose of cimensons of agency and roxy) thes parcipacon, The crac isueof power afen appar dlrenty = (Azan lvls of sera, ane enmce sony be tad oes seed gecpal srcalaed to {eter ospetie mays, Who calle wach shots? Whew? Do socal nd Interpersonal power felon enone or compli ech ther? Ho att Aiflenng ageniassccommedited inthe seme Drje=? ‘On he contemporary sent, te performance of ture and raison — ‘what Rober Cantwell (1993) cls emomaimest"—may ncude empow {ment and paripaon ma wider publ sphere at wala omdicn- fon Ban iesingly hegemonic game of senny Why would tea people be eager to dance i New Yok or Landon? Why come to Sanford? ‘Why pla the game fs represenaion” Such vistors, their hot, impreaos arent fee of ell egies of exon and nencoloin processes of commodifnion. Nor ste they entiely confined oy thee ‘presi structure is mporant oso his ome. Fr wat ‘nceds the appa of coercion and meretype tn contac itn ay Derhap be feciied fr eumentpracier im movement to expand eid ‘emoemze what can happen it useurne snd elated ‘ies of eo ‘pomimis The historical poses of contac watone—negatie ond Dose need tobe conte te ets whee C2titon Snot ie, when non Wester aris care sides and cosors eter Wesern seams on thet ow Egon) terns ihe colection ts of an tad anihropslogy cam no longer be ‘ondertond prema i icrns of Pemetean discovery ane dering ‘Shion, Tey becooe pce of crowing expliet ane emacoledgea. cso for diflsent covered seeesone Some iuminaing 2 ‘Bat camples refund im Face Wes Acar Arta he Vice r= tal, ners conducted by Thomas Metviey (1993). Tamess Disa Senegale, born a Mai xed in very Cet, and educated in rance— Cxpreses an Aan contact perspective” Aer nding his admiration or Deters, Ceanne, and especialy Piss, Din ads “ony perepion, what uppeing 2 Europe and Amer belongs 0 ‘be Ger day someone seed ne wat I chougn about Peso and oe ‘Enon piers ane Ida Franc, Iocke wat blogs to me ‘eo cae an ods hngs fom my ome me to race a ol, thing ht oe ine” For me tbe Exopen asison was € Wa of ‘Soleswancng you ceinanon rise. beame Burpee oe ‘En Wh Wir wns having a cnr of magnon. «es of tl ‘Dosim a aac sre, actu sense And hry tured to Alsen ‘Ei anusand tater ued my entage to devez he cnn so why ‘SivYuletiens shseteretatnatip iets ome ions jel MeEviley responds "When you sty that you went 19 France snd wal ‘vie longs you, you dent mesh tat yor were ing back pind ‘ements of Alcan core that ou mer ang ements of Eurepe= | “te which belonged fo you exchange for them." Da clarifies "am ‘ot insted to African eature—tat would be absurd: it woul be ri Tus fr any Aint to ape of Ant or Negrtade, What you fish eveything bi your spin. Asan Atom you em never lve (Shel ite «Europeans ee the people n my generation” (MEE 1993"). “As and Europe have been thrown toetber by destructive ad cea- uve Metres of empire, commerce, and wave. each uses the others ‘trdsone fo mae se own Prt (1992: 6), folowing Fernnde Ons ln Angel Rasa al such procesesranssurations” Un cen {ihe Wess sranaclrnon ae been wndemtond eecly ways thar sauaise power imbalance andthe claim of ene group to define [nstry and sheng For exmmple, Atcas ustag Eotopes heiageaa covracts Museums os Contact Zones 20 ‘we sen 0 be ining, sng het dns nx rane of Titan Sucpeantisy Mien clued torre pene Show pepaae acaatetis esac ae Sr Dasges mw snp acy sors nny nat gy kel to ar nie apo ee inp ten San gs msn to fd capo ‘Sty Rison on Gop 30 eins me feos tay mus Cone fr Aan fete aes a ED Eis tnt cong let cleo ee eect esl process tng frm ttn tet ets ‘Sits gc’ cnn tn etc ete Theor et ees Sessa bmpenised cessful mses Oe eer 4 lynn fom enable pens of cere ivtng nd lig et ica a eee wees Pecan meer fs wee Seine oe ‘Soe he ee eas cee as ners Sie wan cath os tee See eee SSSA Se ae asserts el etic, Wenckng ee and fone eee tegen tw Caer: nck snd es Maen ee fs nd conve oe df ceemees cad ae ee \ Atnean consnen. Us context, the mstums contac work aes 08 ot esa! beh ne ee Sapa ed stare aa reese als Srp sxpily wh be tego eng eb epee he SEE cops nlp tnd Saigon ee Exiswot bane and ne sas ncn peng hangs, on the on, ‘Aa 95 fers 2 more extensive example of «contact approach. The fezmordinry ensemble of a exis, mse and dane perf (Simeone worshons madenoey anf aio hows and \hlieieumts wis provoked bys poroed iuos 3 London Royal Ace of At“ The Area Canine The Rapley e+ mao ‘omprhesesclton on cond soto os {at nla ingle open carton guns wht he one Snes and mont wpe rk, whe eigen "ne ‘odnced ble 1900, The ops of Afi 8 nef fle a oject nto « move heurogensous end fturenented vision, Whiboot Foecing ie Honalaesnee agen, ty suounded and decemered It instead of egg arom Ati, Arca 95 rough aes. ee ‘Revd th Aan ats ad long beta im contac with Europe and wes ‘Corey woreng oth wlan end beyond the Alcan continent mn Sand autotibe Wee” “The fit ajnca 95 event, “englAricustions" was an arsed work: shop in Senegal wa llowed By an ternational sulere worshop" She Yorke Scuprre Pak, whee for dvce months ass from 3 onen Aan counts oined wth atts om he Une Sates and the ‘United Kingdom to crete on te works More than vey exbiions of ‘cutemporary Asean art and shoxogaphy took place thoughout the ‘Shot of 1995 tm London and eter ih cies. These were coon ted with coloqua and exensive fs) ‘snd Ineapre Dogan. Thess was a consent poly of velving Arcane as aor Eesabe cunon Atthe Whitechapel Ar Galery. «courerpent te Royal Academy show sap tiled “Seven Sones aboot Mocer Ait fn ‘dca Five of te sven coors were leading Aan ares and ar fSsonans, and ther penonsl wens of modem Alvan sm electly orpleatd asumpson fa unlfedcontinena! nestle “Clemenine Dew sree eto of Aes 85 atesed tha the project owas conceived not merely a # ste of exons, bu aso of meses sing rns, an ecaston for developing ongoing consacts (Deis, 1995 STi te cons sons of ce 39 we tpl eerie ‘fe scsi sgaled by prominent adverasomens fr tansnational co orate sponsors notably Sank, she progam broehoe ane by rearing ‘oman hat he event ss Being el in Brin rater than in Ac {Bidng 1995) Europe al ejoyed the power toca and exist Arica tits own terme tad tern Howere, for many of the ast ad fmscans Europe and Ameria were sendy ates af work, ed he eve ‘Tas m eppovtniy to expend ther audiences and sates of inspiration “Ae 38, working in and ot of museums and galleres, had someting in eomaon with the coment pate of rational esas (essa of Indi Spb init plows way seat neg ‘Bacay mins ieee des Moa ome ‘pono sch Cue nd he coo pony mee oh ml “Aa ase, Afar 38d a Soy mpaoe Cowzacrs Muses as Cota Zones os rear comme intrest or naonl polity 2nd te verse cession nd Darctpnts, ts exes om casa] exchanges were not ey chsn- Feed Te of course, help produce ¢ malar, nybad “Aine a = ‘attable comm’ frincernatonsl ar markets But ths product wan, Sutil dhe conta mos of Ane wo tay pf fom Aca 25 used, and was wed oy anentonal cate i t9 coll td ‘eocoonial elatons—maling spaces for contact that enced thee Contesaions| “he notin fe conact zone, ate by Prat in conten of European fexpesion and wansculurtion, can be extended to cde altar fon tin the seme sae, ein, or yin the centers ster thane Frente of mons and eripes The disance lus hee ane more soc than geoppbic. For mon ishaamts of # oor seighborond Toasted perp ust blacks ora shor borne from t Snes nse ‘he miceum righ es wel be on emetberconinesn Cont perspectives ‘Reoguze at "tua socal dstnces and sereatons ae Minorca 0 Sel prodots apartheid wise reasons Tn many etn, morte, coma sons cent fom g efernt Kine of tunel heal of sew Scumigrst popuitions As the coleia) examples evoked by Pot negotrions of bord and antes re itonealy screed fn den faoee, Toth xt a : _ 05 Such border ater then sly ching or fijing «pubes ey tego opera esos md ‘ime sleentealbosn emacs Mees “ie eve san some of he way that meri prses fcbesting and apy Took. diferent in a contact peepeive. Centers become orders ‘crossed by objets and makers. Sul eingr re never “end indeed Se routinely Blocked by badges and carton con, by resco efor of ar and culture, y eosmasty hey and mintompreben- son. The emmples Ihave chosen ofa slggst ways ese Borders can ‘emote democracy negotiated,» che reecing he reform tenor of my analysis I ould Rave begun, bomever, not with border eosin bur vith border was. To recent dptes ave sere shock waves hough ‘he masezm word in Gnaca and to ener dere the United Snes: the Lthicon ies boycott ofthe “Spit Sag exhion im Cage andthe widely pull confit over “nto she Hear of Aft” at che aye Sorat Massom, Junta. dering 1969 and 1990, fm bo ees cam ‘Runtis whee cultures and Rares were a stake in prominent exhibits ‘mobiized to seis trovble the museum. “arsic Testone of Canada Fist Peoples wae vpn by the Genbow Museum in Calgayto coed ws the 1968 ‘Winter Olpmpies, k Srowehe together ange umber of sales Geom colestons in Canaca and abroad withthe pal of peering deuled nd dives pis of Native Canaan cult ste tie fey contact ‘th Europeans The eubloon forher explored the estncrve world ‘ew shared hy thee cures and ther relience i the fae of ute tlluene and domination (Hartson, 1988), For many. incuding some Native Canaian group, the exe was success, ough i was ca (Sued for grates lack of stenton to conterporymanienmtone of {is puting hemes, Bathe eon of The Spine ings we ot pray, (Bist paved widely sapporedboyeott The Ublcon Lake Cee of Nowhere Abera, o dsc tet peotnglne-ln, called Boye tthe Winter Oymmpies thighs poll! sage Th acon forse tn the Glenbow Mineo berate he eons chi! sponsor, Shell 0 (which provesd St lion af the exibition tol bodes of S265 tlon) wan ailing on land claimed by the Lubicon.To'= gowng unr of iison supporters, tative and nonnative was ypoensen| {Er vThe Spine Sing to exebate the Dey and comin af ears whose cament survival was threntened hy the exh own corporate {oneor Sopponers ofthe cet potted cut tha no musenm of ny oe can serie without corporate oe goverment sponsor, whose hands fhe never pene clan. The mein wa being enbity sagen (raged without warming ino the Lubicons sage ‘Whnever the diferent pereepsons of fsmess and emotion, the Med guesons of broad importance. Should museums be ae scene ext of indian sacs Gnluding lens Hom other insti fons) witout permission Gm slevent te commits? What ‘nvoted in contol over “eur propery? Wht lind of cosultion td tvalvesent in plaming ie poper (Glenbow had consoled et ‘SEebytnbes burn wth the Labioon, who di not respond to «Bene ‘Eviaton. Carona consol of he show as, i an eset, united ) ‘Must some anton to curetsues snd sagas be pat of ay exh Sion on naive ar else. or Meson? Can ensenme cam pole* 208 contacts Museums as Contact Zones 2 esti? How accountable are hey forthe aces of thie pie ‘rte sponsors In sponse o these questions, he Canadien Mises Revell andthe Anerby of Fin eons commaoned a Task Foc Gn Maseums and Fn Nations, whose report gained wide seceptance td ‘which esabished guidelines Tor collborauon between native pre Sentaves and museum sa (all and Nes, 1984 Serius calaboraton| {Snow the om in Canadian exons of Fit Nations at and cote, “Int the Hear of Aen atthe Royal Ono Museum, was inspired in prt by seme teal wring om the Noy of allcing and mas Slop. Sting the museum a an arti, reading colton a al {ual te and dsovering Me tres of ebertaicsoustto“unde. ‘Stand something of the comlextis of cross-cultural encounter? (Can ‘20, 198992). The exbiuons approach was ween, lying suongly (on jcapostion and ony Snes by misdonaie and pel Suthorties were presented wtbout comment beside Afpemn alte. The {Ses cay di not condone the somesmer aie mage end ore spayed, nor did # mamta» conse peeve, Ose dass were ain lft ape for themseles” But the am te ‘complete cron daca eckied. Clonal respective wee all too clear in the nineteethcennny quoutins and mages. Atte fesponses remained ight. People absorbed que difeen: messages [Eom the presantason, Wile sme wor fne the exe proves {Cromenhatconfng ins resentation, oer ere lentes by wt thay took oe a stpensin of eases thm bordered on indireee ‘Many-—shough nr all~Alvcan Canadians who ised the mupeu™ were shocked by Wortied colollst images and condescending semen bout Alrcans prominently and apparently uncrtealy dipliyed. They ‘were not seduced by an onc wesment of the olen: desuction and sppropraion of Afean cites The mseom and its gues otto, ‘thvplogin Jane Canin, ha rigged the eh ee “A bier convey enaved in the medi. These were cakes betwen plcketer a the Roy Onto Mise andthe pola ofthe mass {hater scheduled tos the exit during te avelng phe cance. ‘hss ot he place (pram wel paced) to survey the conoversy eb stjudente the Soremes of mua! sepcion and rlscombeension ht need. (See mong chem, Osenberg, 1991; Csnnsan 191: Heh (on, 1984, and Mackey 1995) nto she Hear of After” wae denoaneed| srt colonisation by other mean, part af an engtng suppsession of ‘Ain achievements and Asean Canadian experiences The eve ‘res weredamiued apna ideologues and censors, unable fo gasp {fony ova complex hoi acoune The comoversy hae since rpples through sme conte nd ae En Sera, 2 sme ct, (onfesce “it made many of us workng inthe eld of ednogesic ‘xhbitons, pers Aemn eabtione semble wha sens of There ‘hut forthe pace of God go I” How could an exibton ave gone so ‘wrong? How coud ave oflende so many people fom deen ies tf he poliseal secu” chidiuat 199: 16) ‘The museum became an inescapable conta: (Conf) zone. Distt sdiences brought fereny ated hstoreal experiences to “nto the Fea of Alsen” M. Nourbee Pp makes this pont wenchandly, cas ting the museum for misnng am opporuniy th the comroveny 19 fenton: ts pobliey mated gels to undewsand whe “museum a3 frulac and te “complesits of cose-calual encounters" The ei. ton mas emp not senstive to Alscan Canadians eae nthe history of Sire Cenadlane andthe Aleem clonal eterprie a story was unde ‘Hood to be consrinous with ongoing ‘act srctre in fics "mle euiun” Canadian Me Asan nso cold not be distanced tm te dspace. The meeum arpa, the hard way abou tbe ns (and Pip {Esa the opporaniis) of wring i rion to an Asean caspora wn a sured Goradin publishes. Te exit wns “ere” (Gators iesdings determined by he diferent He hates and ex ‘Ope reading sw theee arian a being ocen i= Une and Tating 1 airy abou white Canadian exploron of Altea; the ore Sheed he teader—he Aen Canadian eadesacsvely tt the 1x who then read those arcs asthe pln dns of sige explosion {ef aremped genocide af the own peop” (Philp, 1997 109) ‘Weuld fer “consulaon” wath the eevant "commutes" inca the white Canadian whose fray histones were tbe) hve prevented polation? ould mote expict nation of an Asean “aide” tothe ‘ony inte exit hve elped, as Scblleast rpues? Surly But Pip ‘Sere do some mise profesonaledunlng the wake of "The ‘Spas Sng and "to the Hear of Alsea"—chat structures of Powe ae Knamemtaly at sake (Ames, 1991: 12-14. Unc museums do more than cone (often afer the eaeatoal isto sry mace one hey8 Conzacrs Museums a Contact Zones x8 brings wider range of histones expences and pla! agendas int the scat planing of exhbis and the contol af museum exlectons, hey ‘wilbepercnives se merely pateralisss by pope whose contac ry ‘wth museums har been oe of excason and condescension, I Teed be uopian to angie niscimaw plc spe of eolabratin, ‘Sued oneal, complet ttslaon, nd honest daapeemen Ended, he ‘current poifzton of museums nay reflect he ft that, as Rony ‘raved nich nstions fend eo elt unified community von ate ‘han overlapping, direpan Mois, Bot fw communies, even the ‘mom loca are homogeneous, tn prac diferent groups may come {opetbrscund specie nue er antoriam (a many Asean Canaan Aids response tothe Rojal Ouaro Museum), yet dvi on other. The ‘bal response io "The Spat Sings" was not uniform. And on eerain| ‘sss Back Canadians whose amis have been tn Canada for wo centuries ay fer ffom people wih close connection o ples he (Genbbexn or fom Alsen avo hae ree aritea. On the gens ‘Su af Aca tnd colonial Ison they may hares common Saag Bur when pctal prolems of erpmiion and expan isren ‘epuutason ad comers, ae vaued, the uramenty can dsaive ‘Who aftr als bes quai by "epeience™ (wat kinds) by deat sand bread of knowlece (what fnowedae), o cone and smerpet Aran collection! Afean Canaans wo have never been to Ales nd wg may hold sn dense? wisn of eitures? Wine siroplo- nd unto who lave spent contdemble tine onthe comtnen ane Une studied st try tn depth, but have never weal mown race ‘or colon? Contempory Altea? Prom which ely nation, ‘et regon! Linn in fis? In Canada?) Somesines as the ese of he ‘Tinga the Pond Museum of Ar. the connection of current coma iy mabe to old ebjects ser direct nother cases, what sat sue {2 ouhural propeny” or = move disant “Rison” velatonsip Since Communities and cleo are seldom unied, museums my have | ‘dares sharply discepent publics ‘lst there eno easy slon to these poems, no formula based ‘semble principle Nether community experience’ or eat “othory” ha an automate rg fo the coneminaton of caletons cr tothe naraton of conta Hntores Therion i neiaby cmtn- (get and pola ¢ mater of mabized power, of negostion, of pre Seaton consti by specie andiencs, To evade ta elena tng “outside” pressures inthe mame of aesthee guy o scene tality snsng the specter of eneosip—is eltaerng ts wel a tery infomnes Commanisy premures ewe aways Sees pt al lnsttionl, pbc ME: Meow routinely adapt to the tases of a sssumed aulience—in major metopalitan istruons, legely ex edu (Sted bourgeois, white aaciene, Notional snes ae respecte, the ‘expos and connosseurship of dominane groups celsbrted, Doners and truss ener very rea "owergh” (me ple ord than “cnaor Ship) on whit nde of hts » museum can mount. One bas 0 ‘Scalyimaginng she dying up of ga, donations and bequests at ‘would elon should a tar tuscan dopa consent ext ance Toward the an mares ora aew of American or Canadian story that gre ‘prominent, permanent place to he perspectives of economical, rac colony oppress people ® Mosmime donot keto ofend the publics, expel the sourens of ther material mapper tm nomad, “natpoiscunt” mes, Ts account ‘bkip to perc ineets and tse le amply boss areal ee {mip when curtarl perspecve on soi oeson ave calnend by # [Suen tere pub ar debsos abou the 2987 “Henne Aa [Spit at he Hounon Maseum of ine Are, fr tame) oF when 2x ‘stubsh message ofende poweral constiuenies (Ube Seasoning r= (cosa ew of the Areva frontier, the Prodan / Enola Gey ‘Seply), or when communiies ae pubcy dvaded over a propos! wheter or not to lade a save market mt colonsl Wilmore ht things ate perceive spot!" Sit work debater na negosons ae [neren in he conse work of maseums, More than ever belo curators reecon sith the et that the objects and erretons they dslay “pelo” to oer well aso he museum. (Ones and contol of caectons have never been abst: ine ‘al donors routinely aac conitns ie thee gs, But now comms Dies thar ae soil distant fom the seam word can eae ‘onszin the ply a interpreaion of objec cepesenting vel cue tures In contemporary Canada andthe Ute Ses, atlas there ae rong, overly pli liso how Native America, Latino of Alea iAnesian a con be diplged end interpreted. Emerpng aotons of ‘Situ property” umpinge on sbuact sumptions about Geedom of wreabin. OF course, major maseoms have never owed thal wars igi the same way thet an india doer Ther colleins are heldne cowracts Museums as Contac Zones 2 se wt for & wider community—deined asa cig. cls, caste or ele, nut, of projected gob communty ef high culture. The objects ina tum aoe rested ar a patnmony someones ctrl property Sut ‘those! Which commansies (dened by dur, mations ace) Ve 3 fake in the? Carl Duncan veeateh on the history ofthe awe, 2 ‘rsuttion tat has served as 2 mode! for major museums throughout the world, shows how is wanslon fom palace o museum ws inked to the ‘Seon of a “publ” in poteveationay France, the development of ‘Scsln,naonsl communtiy (Done, 1991, 1993) The homogenaty sich peble ix curently a arse sn rapes over mulicaluriar sd Bankes taese tbe damian aol oc gual of presentation, 2 eng Sod interpreng patrons alors) ations and hatoner Teil seus ane misery ell centers collect ed echt emily pros ‘Soeona in nys at hots aera wth and diverge fom the pos af ‘move conenionl museums (ee Canadian Maseums Assocition, 1890: Karp Kremer and Lavine, 1982; and Chater 5, above). Community ‘nstums/ etl centers (he eiinion may be Bune orien) tre eiferentycemered, expressing prt fisones and loa infeced Sethe, cla contre. Theat he an sar orl mai cen ean {Pte ciferet thing in ferent loetone maker inecapale te "ee ‘Sion apd dplay of muhipie conte for work af art or clr. Inno ‘ave museum profadonas ve long been interested in ways to FA ‘objec in a fe gh to make them new Expl contac elon now lice dis Kind of etch na ferent conjuncture, imposing new alba Jaton and aliances. Thus, the mulplstion of comers becomes les ‘hou discovery and more about negation less. a mater of eresive utr ving od ideas, doing sere, consul indigenous expen fod more a miter of wsponding to set presures spd eal for pe Sentaton in» etry complex cl ose" ‘Contact work na museum thus goes beyond consultation and sen coi dhough hese ae very import becomes aie colabortin and 4 sharing of auton. This development is clay caced in Fach Davis Ruffin exceller srey of forms of extra memory the black muses roverent, andthe parslenry of Aen Americ profesona ino sorely white museums inthe United States (1992). Pom the sand Dom’ of museum profesional, 5 ane thing to call ones aaave {Bforasnt” and que another to work witha c-cuatot™” fn maters of ‘inoiy or ial, coabortion ens complex proceser that Car lie Townsend Gels ha describe in tem of ctrl and poialy mie ransation rock and the ase negation of boundaries Tow end-Gni, 1995, we alto ving snd Harper, 1988; Ames, 1981; Gon- ile and Tene, 1992). (One of te moat dificult ares of negdaon round bal objets and calonisl stones concems reparation. In ¢ conc pespecve, the ‘movement of ebjcte out of tribal plies into mevepoitan museums ‘would be an expec outcome of colonial dominance. Such movements trol noe be cones sth progress or with preservation @ Med of Stumoblleyimmonaliy) ns cultrl “ener” in contact zones, clu sppmprisions ave always pala! nd contest, cosecut by oer ‘ppropration, sal poten. Museame sd the mart manage che ‘aie fart abjecs been cere: places. Objes of salve ces fom {sil word toa mowime world se 4 rl of pote, emo, ene {sterelon!relion hat ae not permanent For example, = powerl triton of eolecing nthe salvage ode far long been suse hy Se ‘en tnt authense tin prodsctons te doomed thet fare can only be ether lost denanion ar prsernon i the hands f Hing co [estor conserve, and scinits, But shader now oss the sang of eolasions a linea elelogy of tis sot (Chffor, 1987). By posting {he dmpearance of tbl world, slvage collecting presimed ond t923 ‘ic crated he ray of athens a Some tbl commenter {Ea indeeelsippear, oenvslene Other ang on, apaatterble rescues, Sometime thi mesmt puting on camouliape, coming out of ding when the station was las repressive bers changed, fading ew way be ferent night of these ere histo, the noon that fndigenoos arworka somehow bling is major (sae or e-a%) rusums no longer selbeiden Objects in museums can sil go Cewhere “Repation of tba wore eno he only proper reponse o cantar ‘stores reltions which eannot avaye he edacrdt cso open {nd appropration Det fe = pombe, appropeste vou Andalou the ses of objec maybe #fonunaie homecoming 1 act always fbr where home for elleted objec, The station can be comem Conzacrs Museums as Contact Zones 23 pliered and ambiguus." Indeed ome native groups donot want phys {al pomension of wadonal eects they imply want engng connection ‘Sed control in practice, the notion of elt. prope ext ean Ua = ‘metopltan or ene misesm folds eolecion i rat for specie om tonlsesIndees, some maneums may comet erie a poston and Tending Wary cela art and eultue beyond ther allows ay {ng eoncna—to local muses or commun centers and een forsee ‘current nitualLe (Blundel and Grint, 1989, This greatly cay 10 ggine etooen national and tbl or ese museums Bu an a seam alow aan atic rae nan ot of he wel of seus” Gam emerging network consdealyiarger han whats usual alld the ‘Shoseunt wer? Movement of collectors io aid out ofthe world of seams i all que difete for curators and boards of dros 19 ‘step, given the tadional ecnory and rision ofthe Western m+ ‘Shum lnwosld rece bresking wit strong asison of eonaerstons For example, shucdes sere trey ft by many museum posions’| (over the recent vepattions of Zur wargad Sigur, Aka, whic are dow ring om ere cemopeed waclienal Heese [iis stony ofrotingsxleanee—e sony of desraction for oe exe sod of veneval for anether—is one possbe mavel ory for repainted ‘bjs, Thee ae oers. Ae we swim Capea 5,25 sportns pits olecon seen retored to Kapa clas on Vancouver Sand ended ‘op into tal museums At 2 eonditon fr reimquishing te objects, the (Corseration-ninded sera world sucrsily exer al into the feel wosd. Bus atthe sane time, the tbl world spproprited nd ‘anscaturated te museum, along wth the very notion feelin” {End the king of coltna/aehetplea! meting could emboy m this ne apd contest the mmm becomes clturl center anda te fof eoreling, of indigenous story, and of ongoing tal polls. es Slso caught op wth Foun Word tl crc, wih “clit wurst Fppraes and whaesand with commercial wourism st ein, natonl, ad international lewis. “uses” increasingly work he borderands beween diferent wor, sores snd commologes Ir the Keagilth Umista Catral Cente noeeum Yes and no, Anat acum? Yes and no. isthe San Franco Galea de ln tacas suse? Yea and no." Concacssones—plaee cf ‘yhid peti ple] negocio. sie cLentuson and tie bw wold tne and why would mate? co wet he Meopel {Gn Moses of Av in Mandan ga coniat sone rather thn center? (the taume? Zo give manga, “bermeen places 8 tactic cetray x ‘Suaiely o undermine the very noson of cener,A sts of alco 5 enconer tnd pase, Seen Wah ‘GUN in ike saat suseams a Govlss, Ges —some SH "iaporic woth poweral sl ery mesial ues eewere Moreover ihe jor miseuneincteaengyonpnise themes according to Te ‘betes of ours. national and iteration, Ts rehinking of cole tious and displays ae unished Mito! proces of ve, of crosing tne recrosing, changes one conerplon of pane sd publi, What ‘woul be diferene i major regional or naional muses loosened tet ‘veo consly and sw hemerives spe paces of ant, ter ‘Sltsal bode, coments of sg and ommmunirton Between dr ‘Sepantcmmmuties? What dave msn fo work wth shee entangle ‘bent the han ering to manecend hem Such questions evoke won of the config demands came by mostuns fn uloatucl sod wiiiacal socetie, By tink of ther isnow as contact wovke—decetered end tvered By cultra and po- Teal negotons tht are out of any imagined comin conol— ‘seams may bg 1 gngie wih the a Sa of oe, ] Slane, inequality and wansation Inthe Word of Museums My account of muses scot zones oth despa prscp- {he The ang tha ie madoqate to pormsy maneoms a caliectons unica eoitre, epostones of uncontsed value tes of POSS, ‘Eacoveny andthe scoumelaon of human, seni, of rational penDo. bie A contact perspec ews all clure-colcting Szatees os 1 pons to particle istves of dominance, rare. esance, abe ‘Bobllzasons Andi helps ue se how ams o both sniweraliem and to ‘ect se rete to concrete sol lotions. Ar Raymond Wiliams Roeed is Cltwe ond Soon (1980), nineteentvcemury bougess tilatons of # bighmiveral “oakse” were responses testa ‘Sangeané sal tive Convene “muna” and “tbl arielatons Sra costs cule and hoy sespond io hitones of encluon an