Many curators–especially those of contemporary art–will argue the merits of using labels in exhibitions. Not many of them are opposed to identifying the art, but a lot of them wish to stop at that. They don’t like to use extensive text on labels.
On the other hand, the general public loves and needs the text. They love to read the background of the artist and artwork and they need the text to become better educated.
Here are some quick guidelines for your exhibit labels.
- Use good paper.
- Select a plain, readable font.
- Be consistent with your format for name, title, medium, date, and price.
- Make text at least 14 point if you want them to be readable by all.
- Place labels all at the same height around the room.
- Make labels the exact same color as the wall color if possible. You want your work–not the labels–to stand out when people are scanning the room for the first time.
- If your labels will be up for a while, use a spray glue to mount them to mat board. If the paper is a different color, use a reverse bevel cut with your cutter to cut them out. The reverse cut eliminates distracting white lines around the outside of the finished label.
- Add extra text–stories that illuminate your work and help you connect with viewers.
Read more about what goes into an exhibition design in this week’s Art Marketing Action newsletter.
Join us! The fun starts July 28
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Alyson, I’m SO glad you’ve endorsed the idea of adding extra text to exhibition labels. As a fabric collage artist, I find that most viewers have never seen anything similar to my process. Therefore, they NEED information. They WANT to learn about it and I WANT to educate them!
I’m both an artist and a curator at a small contemporary art museum so I understand both sides of this issue. Finding the right balance between a clean exhibition design and educating the public, which is almost always part of a museum’s mission, is tricky. My two cents: Sans seriff fonts give labels a more “contemporary” feel. Vinyl labels are also an option, especially if the labels are short and sweet. They are more economical than you might think. Foam core (cut very cleanly) which is very lightweight is a nice alternative to matte board. It can be mounted with masking tape which won’t peel paint off the walls when it is removed. After you cut it you can tidy up the edges by lightly sanding them with fine sandpaper. People don’t read long narratives on galleries walls unless they are very, very compelling. I suggest keeping labels and artist’s statements short and succint. You can always have an exhibition binder with extended text about your process, concepts, etc. nearby.
Ellen: Yes, while labels may be the bane of the curator, they’re underused from artists. It’s an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. Shan: Yes to the short copy! Not sure about the vinyl. Likewise, I’ve seen labels printed on clear mailing labels, which I have never seen look good on the wall. The wall seeps through the label unevenly and gives the label a multi-colored texture.
One of the things that some of the national art societies have started doing in the UK is doing a larger label which is about the artist if they hang the work grouped by artist. Mini CVs or a couple of paragraphs about the artist. When I saw it for the first time it was very effective. The Pastel Society did it just for their members which of course then made it something you wanted to aim to have. It’s a neat way of creating a distinction for an open show.
I like the idea of a bit more copy too. I want to know the media, especially if it is mixed-media or includes found objects.
A bit off the subject, but I’m looking for gallery lettering (signage) that I would use for the name of the show and dates. Something lightweight, letters about 7″ to 8″ high and about 1″ thick. Does anyone have a good resource to pass on?
Susan: Not sure about that, but most galleries and museums use vinyl lettering. You can get it at almost any sign store–national or local. Easy to rub on and to remove and it looks really classy.
Thank you for answering Alyson. We rent the building and some walls are textured (stucco like) and others have a grass cloth wall covering. It looks better than it sounds, but the vinyl looks lumpy and it won’t stick to the wall covering. Looking for something solid and reuseable.