Museum Environments

06/22/2022

Museum Environments updated their address.

Museum Environments updated their address.

06/22/2022

On NPR
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/18/1105847319/a-new-exhibit-takes-visitors-closer-to-the-national-museum-of-the-american-latin

06/22/2022

The gallery is now open to the public.

https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/06/17/first-look-the-molina-family-latino-gallery-opens-this-weekend/

06/18/2022

We spent three years designing the Molina Family Latino Gallery. It is finally here.
https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/06/17/first-look-the-molina-family-latino-gallery-opens-this-weekend/

05/27/2022

The Molina Family Latino Gallery opens first exhibition June 18

Opens soon
https://www.inparkmagazine.com/american-latino-molina-gallery-exhibition/?fbclid=IwAR2q-kJIrFoRTIcvh1HmJ2ud6jJryfojBwnG2zBrSRz9S_e3uvkrThSUc-c

National Museum of the American Latino Director Jorge Zamanillo: “It will take 10 to 12 years to open a museum building, but the gallery gives the public a preview of the museum’s potential.”

05/16/2022

The Smithsonian's American Latino museum will open its first exhibit next month

Opens June 18; proud and happy to be the exhibit designer of this project.
https://www.cnn.com/style/article/smithsonian-american-latino-museum-gallery-cec/index.html

The National Museum of the American Latino will debut its inaugural gallery, "¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States," inside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on June 18.

04/26/2022

Today I will be giving a talk at St. John's University on the design process of the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the Smithsonian. It is the first Smithsonian gallery dedicated to Latinx history and culture. It starts at 2 PM in the Yeh Art Gallery on the Queen's campus.

03/14/2022

We are saddened by the news of Hiram Maristany passing. His work is part of the new Smithsonian Latino Gallery. He generously gave us permission to use "Kite Flying on Rooftop, 1964" The photo shown here is during installation.

02/14/2022

Molina Family Latino Gallery

More on our soon to open new project.

Nuestro mas reciente proyecto que habrirá pronto.
https://latino.si.edu/gallery

As the Smithsonian’s first gallery dedicated to Latino contributions to the United States, the Molina Family Latino Gallery serves as the preview of the National Museum of the American Latino.

07/02/2021

Así el Museo Nacional de Historia Americana rinde homenaje a peloteros latinos

Telemundo broadcasted a news clip about ¡Pleibol! Our most recent exhibit design project. Glad to see Latinx media giving museums exposure. It should help in attracting a larger Latinx audience to museums.
It was a pleasure to work for Margaret Salazar-Porzio and Robin Morey, the curators for the exhibit and with the wonderful team at NMAH Smithsonian.
https://www.telemundo.com/noticias/noticias-telemundo-mediodia/cultura/video/asi-el-museo-nacional-de-historia-americana-rinde-homenaje-peloteros-latinos-tmvo9881035

Este viernes inicia la exhibición denominada '¡Pleibol! En los Barrios y las Grandes Ligas’, que destaca el papel de los jugadores latinos en el béisbol estadounidense y su aporte en este popular juego. Aquí los detalles.

06/29/2021

¡Pleibol! exhibit

Super excited to see the exhibit we worked on over the pandemic finally open.
https://americanhistory.si.edu/latinos-and-baseball/pleibol-exhibit?fbclid=IwAR1dsJvyvRUwNIqhrJGZ5SXHQhGo1XHi-4eAvsM6r4ZyxAG-P_5UCzw18tI

¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas will take visitors on a journey into the heart and history of U.S. Latino baseball. The extraordinary stories of Latinas/os alongside the artifacts of their remarkable lives, demonstrates the historic role that baseba...

05/06/2021

New exhibit at El Pueblo History Museum showcases Latinos' impact on baseball in the U.S.

Along with the exhibit in the National Museum of American History we also design a traveling banner exhibit. This effort extends the audience reach of the exhibit. Museum Environments worked with SITES Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Services to produce this easy transport exhibit.
https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/new-exhibit-at-el-pueblo-history-museum-showcases-latinos-impact-on-baseball-in-the-u-s?_amp=true&fbclid=IwAR341mq_tupS-2TvCZdejp-edb6ldp_u_mphNuQNy7HtYk1kP0Cw1hXm0ow

The El Pueblo History Museum is hitting a home run with its new exhibit.

04/30/2021

Why the US has two different highway fonts

Always find these stories interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eky17clTEeQ

The typefaces on highway signs, deconstructed. Subscribe and turn on notifications (🔔 ) so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjOWhen you head out ...

04/06/2021

A Better Design for All: the Molina Family Latino Gallery - Inform Magazine

More press on our project. This article focuses on the inclusive design dimension of the gallery. Eduardo Diaz from the Smithsonian Latino Center led this effort. If this gallery is about celebrating diversity and inclusion, it is only right that we put the extra effort in providing access for everyone who visits the gallery.
https://inform-magazine.com/a-better-design-for-all-the-molina-family-latino-gallery/

The Smithsonian's new Molina Family Latino Gallery is designed to present content effectively to a broad audience.

03/24/2021

"Diversity in Design: Why We Need New Perspectives" - Kristin Elliott

You are invited to our webinar on design for a diverse audience.
Register now: https://bit.ly/3f2TsyJ
This Thursday at 12 P.M. EDT, Mariano Desmaras, Dean Watanabe, & Ana Hernandez share why it’s critical to explore different ideas & perspectives to create more welcoming experiences for your changing audiences. Register now: https://bit.ly/3f2TsyJ

https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D22AQG9hS2JNOuJxw/feedshare-shrink_800/0/1616419580946?e=1619654400&v=beta&t=X98jEe8V8WYN5db-sEFHGvEUo485N65ilhEcRSXyvA8

Community Conversations webinar

03/20/2021

This Summer, a New Smithsonian Exhibition Takes You Inside Béisbol

Coming soon to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, our latest exhibit project.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/inside-beisbol-180977165/?fbclid=IwAR16DLyJEop-d0HjTbrpTRxOTh_Jtto_3nsxoBTA1RMWVL77K4tHRwqJK9A

At the American History Museum, cover all the bases with Latino ballplayers

02/17/2021

Smithsonian Latino Center Announces Expansion of Latino Museum Studies Program

It is a great program with excellent participants.
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-latino-center-announces-expansion-latino-museum-studies-program?fbclid=IwAR2_fiQ9ApxFyDFzK19SljvtHpVEqin1px-c01B7b6OMSAWGusb-EoTMxm0

The Smithsonian Latino Center announced plans to expand its internship and fellowship programs, launch a postdoctoral fellowship and consolidate them under its Latino Museum Studies Program (LMSP) brand. A new $2.1 million grant, provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, will support the paid und...

02/02/2021

New traveling exhibition explores the history of Latinos and baseball

Along with designing the gallery exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, we also designed the traveling exhibition.
https://artdaily.cc/news/132608/New-traveling-exhibition-explores-the-history-of-Latinos-and-baseball#.YBmEfy2cZ-V

“¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas,” a new bilingual exhibition showcasing the history and c

12/28/2020

ME Logo

12/28/2020

Museum Environments's cover photo

12/01/2020

Excited to see progress, here is the sign (still in the shop) for our new exhibit at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian. ¡Pleibol In the Barrios and the Big Leagues/En los barrios y las grandes ligas” Coming this spring 2021!

11/17/2020

Designing the Smithsonian Latino Center's Molina Gallery

This is a recording of our presentation for the Smithsonian Molina Latino Galley. The focus is on design of the gallery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOow6De2FqA&feature=youtu.be

11/09/2020

Webinar- Designing the Smithsonian Latino Center’s Molina Gallery | AIA|DC

We wish to invite you to our "Webinar- Designing the Smithsonian Latino Center’s Molina Gallery" at the National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution. It is sponsored by the Smithsonian Latino Center and La Idea, of the American Insitute of Architects DC. La Idea is group within the AIA of designers of Latin American heritage. The focus will be on the design of the gallery. You will need to register here:
https://www.aiadc.com/event/webinar-designing-smithsonian-latino-center’s-molina-gallery

Date Tuesday, November 10 2020 Time 6:00pm-8:00pm Location Webinar Our inaugural Virtual session of LA.IDEA Design Series will be focused on the design and vision of the Smithsonian Latino Center’s Molina Family Latino Gallery – the first national Latino gallery on the National Mall – at the N...

08/20/2020

https://hyperallergic.com/583256/nyc-museums-reopening-covid-19/?utm_campaign=Daily&utm_content=20200819&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Hyperallergic%20Newsletter&fbclid=IwAR2RXslLxCZZl_iPmPLFje5GE-x8iK5lHlZNhITfcQvUNrXpKPosQPSjsGw

07/27/2020

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1234754?fbclid=IwAR2YCX3EptCd6NuQcMGpRO23x0WQI2hvgKXWLQLvik-JbZ-LotXSeQIldig

01/14/2020

Alain de Botton on Art as Therapy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFnNgTSkHPM

LECTURE SCHOOL OF LIFE: The founder of The School of Life, Alain de Botton examines the purpose of art. We often hear that art is meant to be very impor...

01/01/2020

39 Things We Overheard at the New MoMA

From a few weeks ago. It reminds us to focus on the visitors.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/02/arts/overheard-at-moma.html

Listening in at the newly expanded Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.

12/19/2019

Visit museums or art galleries and you may live longer, new research suggests

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/art-longevity-wellness/index.html

A trip to the theater, museum or art gallery could help you live longer. And the more often you get that culture fix the better, a new study suggests.

11/07/2019

It’s Time to Take Down the Mona Lisa

I agree with this article. It would serve the museum better if it were placed in different building.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/06/arts/design/mona-lisa-louvre-overcrowding.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Leonardo’s painting is a security hazard, an educational obstacle and not even a satisfying bucket-list item. It’s time the Louvre moved it out of the way.

09/25/2019

The Construction wall graphic announcing the new Molina Family Latino Gallery. ME is responsible for its exhibit design.

09/19/2019

Looking for Museum Professional versed in BlockChain for an AAM session proposal
I'm putting together a session for the Time Portals sessions, organized by the Elizabeth Merrit from Center for the Future of Museums. I wish to present the future of museums through the concept of the BlockChain Museum. I believe BlockChain or similar technologies will change the nature of institutions. In the near future, interest groups will organize via BlockChain contracts and produce exhibits and programs in the manner of museums minus the institution, because it will be radically re-organized in the BlockChain.

This will allow for under-represented communities to network and de-colonize wealth in favor of their communities. I could imagine a scene in 2040 where a network of Latinx cultural stakeholders (or other minority groups) have learned to channel resources to empower themselves without the need of institutional brand because the BlockChain's smart contracts secure trust through the transparency guaranteed by smart-contracts that specifiy transactional requirements, benchmarks and goals.

I’m looking for additional partners, please email to [email protected]. Naturally, If you have any experience with BlockChain it would be especially useful.
Regards Mariano Desmaras

09/19/2019

Looking for Museum Professional versed in BlockChain for an AAM Session proposal: I'm putting together a session for the Time Portals sessions, organized by the Elizabeth Merrit from Center for the Future of Museums. I wish to present the future of museums through the concept of the BlockChain Museum. I believe BlockChain or similar technologies will change the nature of institutions. In the near future, interest groups will organize via BlockChain contracts and produce exhibits and programs in the manner of museums minus the institution, because it will be radically re-organized in the BlockChain.

This will allow for under-represented communities to network and de-colonize wealth in favor of their communities. I could imagine a scene in 2040 where a network of Latinx cultural stakeholders (or other minority groups) have learned to channel resources to empower themselves without the need of institutional brand because the BlockChain's smart contracts secure trust through the transparency guaranteed by smart-contracts that specifiy transactional requirements, benchmarks and goals.

I’m looking for additional partners, please email to [email protected]. Naturally, If you have any experience with BlockChain it would be especially useful.
Regards Mariano Desmaras

07/08/2019

12 sites in NYC that honor the immigrant experience

Worked for two of these institution.
https://ny.curbed.com/maps/nyc-museums-ellis-island-immigrant-sites

These museums and monuments honor the legacy and contributions of immigrants in New York City.

06/30/2019

Gay Pride in Battery Park

05/28/2019

Smithsonian Regents Name Lonnie Bunch 14th Smithsonian Secretary

This is not Latino museum news but it is an important development.
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-regents-name-lonnie-bunch-14th-smithsonian-secretary

The Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents announced today it elected Lonnie G. Bunch III, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, effective June 16. Bunch is the founding director of the National Museum...

05/28/2019

Smithsonian Regents Name Lonnie Bunch 14th Smithsonian Secretary

A big deal and awesome news
https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-regents-name-lonnie-bunch-14th-smithsonian-secretary

The Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents announced today it elected Lonnie G. Bunch III, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, effective June 16. Bunch is the founding director of the National Museum...

05/01/2019

All-White Neighborhoods Are Dwindling as America Grows More Diverse

America's neighborhoods are more diverse and consequently museums will need to adapt to their communities.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/01/upshot/all-white-neighborhoods-are-dwindling-as-america-grows-more-diverse.html

Segregated nonwhite neighborhoods persist, with consequential exceptions.

04/30/2019

Climate Activists Staged a Die-In at London’s Natural History Museum

https://hyperallergic.com/496942/climate-activists-staged-a-die-in-at-londons-natural-history-museum/?fbclid=IwAR3LaDRK2VznfKNkxZ8K8pTDGuyfxqoEvAkVQbOsvrLNEVCB839EY5mG_ho

Beginning on April 15, activist group Extinction Rebellion has staged protests and acts of civil disobedience in central London locations, leading to over 1,000 arrests.

04/18/2019

Second New York venue refuses to host homophobe Bolsonaro

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/04/17/cipriani-hall-refuse-host-homophobic-president-jair-bolsonaro/?fbclid=IwAR3SGQRpGP1ChwjEDCHBUIKAQuNheB_9FuizqC3wce2pGGq4AQjTCyVSBQ4

"He's a dangerous man."

04/16/2019

The ME booth at the Museum Association of New York conference in Cooperstown - connecting with the upstate museums.

04/10/2019

Roberto Clements cap at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

03/20/2019

The Lewis and Clark of the Digital Building Frontier

Happy to see two of my graduate school mates doing great stuff.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/15/arts/design/3d-printing-building-design.html?fbclid=IwAR0hKZlDA_3YYlwXmge5p6IQo8oGy_mpGO-wZIf3P4yws_5NwjAzZVs0dg4

These married architects are democratizing the 3-D printing process, using materials destined for the trash heap — like curry powder and coffee grounds — in place of drywall and foam.