NICOLE DASKAS BLOG #4: MUSEUM OF JURASSIC TECHNOLOGY

Blog #4: The Museum of Jurassic Technology
Nicole Daskas
The Museum of Jurassic Technology is unlike any other museum in that its goal seems not to educate, but to confuse Exhibitions are dark and winding throughout maze-like hallways and corridors. Upon first look, it seems as though audio guides and plaques will provide answers. However, I found this was not the case. The first object I encountered was a tiny, green and shiny beetle behind a glass case. A phone was mounted to the wall next to it. I picked up the phone and pushed the small button, expecting to hear a bit about what this insect was and where it came from. Instead, I was met with the buzzing sound of a bug. The museum exhibits did not follow any noticeable pattern. There was no linear sequence or grouping based on theme. Different rooms held holograms of religious iconography, tiny works of art that could only be viewed through a telescope, moving dioramas of architecture and waves, and a room full of superstitions. One glass case held a tiny empty bed labeled “a woman after childbirth is the most dangerous thing on earth”. 
The museum seems so small from the outside, almost disguised as a shop. This is misleading and adds to the mystery of it all, as the inside seems endless. There is something else to be seen in every corner, and the exhibits stretch in all directions including downward and upwards. I also viewed one exhibit in which a screen wrapped around a bench. Another button which seemed as though it should offer explanation was below the monitor. After pushing the button, images began moving across the screen, but the audio came from a showerhead-like radio about five feet behind the monitor. Nothing could be heard or understood from this.
After exploring, there was a meeting with founder David Wilson. This took place on the rooftop, which featured a fountain and concrete arches with vines spilling down the architecture. Doves were perched in baskets and shelves as David played music. He then showed us the storage rooms, filled to the brim with books, wood scraps, and interesting objects. He also led us to a giant instrument he had recently obtained. It was massive, filling the whole room. It was made up of rows of pipes, a piano, and metal keys. It played music from a long sheet with different cuts in specific columns. 
The Museum of Jurassic Technology is a unique experience. It is all about exploration and questioning, rather than offering direct explanations to viewers. The space itself seems never ending, and dim lighting paired with odd, otherworldly objects feels almost ominous at times. The museum is the perfect combination of humorous and strange. It feels as though one could return time and time again, discovering a new, hidden room each time and never feel bored or that they truly understand what they are viewing.  
The museum from street view, misleading as it appears tiny
Exhibition photos

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