MINING THE MUSEUM
A documentary film on Fred Wilson’s Exhibit “Mining the Museum”
ABOUT
The founder of The Contemporary Museum, George Ciscle, Lisa Corrin, and Charles Lyle pursue a revolutionary idea for the survival of curatorial practices. With the cooperation of The Maryland Historical Society, artist Fred Wilson created the exhibition “Mining the Museum” which was on display from April 1992 to February 1993. The exhibition addressed exclusions that museums have of African American and Native American artifacts, and their historical contributions. Wilson rearranged and juxtaposed artifacts that would change the visitor’s historical point of view. The results were a contemporary perspective of expansionism, bondage and revocation, which had often been ignored. The film looks at how museums now recognize the need to adapt to cultural transformation in order to survive and remain relevant to their audiences.
The film takes an in-depth look at the exhibition and how it unfolded from those that were directly involved in it’s creation. An examination from it’s conception to it’s execution are emphasized. A comprehensive look back in time by the creators and the general public is presented through memory and archived material. The impact on the community and the study of curatorial practices are explored.
YEAR 2017
RUN TIME 17:01 Min
EMAIL ralphsporay@yahoo.com Website:
CAST & CREW CREDITS
DIRECTED BY Ralph Sporay
CONCEPT BY Kirsten Hollander
PRODUCED BY Ralph Sporay | George Ciscle
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel Spurgin
PARTICIPANTS
George Ciscle | Fred Wilson | Lisa G. Corrin | Charles T. Lyle
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
As we approach the twenty-fifth anniversary of the exhibit, Mining the Museum, a question on how successful the exhibition has been, comes to mind. For those who were fortunate enough to experience the exhibit, the memories are now faded and for those who never experienced it, they have lost out on a splendid opportunity.
This documentary film will provide detailed analysis of the subject with an emphasis on the origin of the exhibition as it unfolded from a historical perspective. A look at the exhibit as it came about, the significance on the community, ontological relationships between artifacts, and the exhibit’s effect on the future of museum progression.
The documentary film audience will experience the exhibit in a way the creators intended it to be seen. Additionally, it will also serve to educate the public by giving them a temporal accessible experience.
DIRECTOR BIO
Ralph Sporay was born in Germany and raised in Newark, Delaware. He holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in Video and Motion Graphics – Digital Filmmaking, a minor in Media Design and Photography, and a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Is an active member of the Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society/Delta Lambda Chapter, an international honor society for professionals in technology. He has been employed in diverse fields for the public and private sector and is passionate about history, photography, documentary film, and traveling to remote areas throughout the world.
AWARDS
FULL FILM
FILM AND PRODUCTION STILLS
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Ralph Sporay was born in Germany and raised in Newark, Delaware. He holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in Video and Motion Graphics – Digital Filmmaking, a minor in Media Design and Photography, and a Master of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Is an active member of the Epsilon Pi Tau Honor Society/Delta Lambda Chapter, an international honor society for professionals in technology. He has been employed in diverse fields for the public and private sector and is passionate about history, photography, documentary film, and traveling to remote areas throughout the world.
(Update provided in May 2017)