Minnetrista and Indiana Historical Society Create “Communities Can!”
On March 4, several Minnetrista staff attended the grand opening of the latest in the series of “You Are There” exhibits at the Indiana Historical Society (IHS). In the “You Are There” exhibits, historic photographs are brought to life three-dimensionally with actors playing the people in the photos. The “Communities Can!” is special for us, because it features a photograph and artifacts from the Minnetrista Heritage Collection. The exhibit was funded by Ball Brothers Foundation.
Several years ago, President and CEO John Herbst and several staff members visited Minnetrista seeking information on the community canning kitchens developed by Ball Brothers Company. Not only does Minnetrista have information about the canning centers, we have some great photos. The IHS crew liked one so much that they decided to base the exhibit on it. This photo features a group of women sitting around a table peeling apples and chatting.
IHS exhibit staff did their research on-site at Minnetrista and by regular contact with archivist Susan Smith. What they developed is an excellent recreation of the photograph down to the correct vintage not only of Ball jars but of the metal stools and print aprons! About two weeks before the exhibit opened, the director of the museum theater brought a group of his actors to Minnetrista. They spent several hours poring over photographs, documents, yearbooks and more to give them an idea of what Muncie was like in the 1940s. After seeing the exhibit, I think that they nailed it.
In addition to the recreation of the photograph, the exhibit includes information on Ball from its beginnings making wood-jacketed kerosene cans to the creation of a fruit jar empire to its present involvement in the aerospace industry. Minnetrista was pleased to loan several artifacts, including the wood-jacketed can, a fruit jar made in Buffalo, and a Retention Latch Actuator for the exhibit. “Communities Can!” will be on display until August 12, 2017, giving you plenty of time to see a Minnetrista Heritage Collection photograph come to life.
