Category Archives: historic house museum

adjusting foundations – a broad definition of preservation

  Thaden Jordan mid-century modern sideboard.  Molded birch plywood sideboard designed and produced by Thaden Jordan Furniture Corporation, USA, late 1940s – early 1950s.  After selling this piece of furniture on Craigslist,  I began to think about my relationship with the objects in my life & how that relationship has helped form a broad philosophy ofContinue reading “adjusting foundations – a broad definition of preservation”

Why do I need to “fix” things? Save me from myself.

Here I am with Grace Szuwala, the owner of TIME PIECES.  She understands my nutty behavior and is is going to help me by “fixing” my clock. My clock doesn’t work on its own.  I think there is hope – just listen! The tiny store is layered in stories (and clocks) Grace welcoming me backContinue reading “Why do I need to “fix” things? Save me from myself.”

Ashes in Alabama and the power of flaws 3.8.14

I traveled down to Montgomery, AL to visit the Dexter Ave. Parsonage. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his family resided in this home during a 1956 bombing attack.   It is now an historic house museum. (Image: Franklin D. Vagnone) The damaged porch of MLK’s Montgomery home. (Image: blogspot.com) One of the most amazing thingsContinue reading “Ashes in Alabama and the power of flaws 3.8.14”

Fix it or leave it? – 11.11.13

1. An amazing outbuilding. Private residence. Privy, Upstate New York. 2. Multiple layers of history expressed through paint, hardware, wallpaper & many repairs. Lott House, Brooklyn, New York 3. Which is dominant – historic artifact or time?  Upper East Side, New York NY 4. It is quite common for situations like this for the originalContinue reading “Fix it or leave it? – 11.11.13”

Joe & Hilda Minter’s House and Garden – 9.21.13

Folk artist Joe Minter stands beside his memorial to African-American soldiers. Joe and Hilda Minter’s house and garden in Birmingham, AL. The interior of the Minter House.  It is Joe’s wish for the house to become a house museum. Joe Minter states that the job of an artist is to “preserve life”.  The interior ofContinue reading “Joe & Hilda Minter’s House and Garden – 9.21.13”

Museum Anarchist tags

“museum anarchist” tags were begun as a way to engage a wider community in soliciting comments and ideas about the present state of museums and historic house museums.  Many people have taken this idea and tweeted pictures back to me showing their “anarchist” tags in situ ( @franklinvagnone ).   What do you find annoying aboutContinue reading “Museum Anarchist tags”

The Sagredo Bedroom – 9.15.13

“I am a museum anarchist and I think this is the most inviting bedroom ever – I would never leave. ” (but I will never know because there is a glass wall between me and the bed!)

The Paar Room – 8.25.13

Rumor has it that I snuck in to one of the Period Rooms at the MET – sat down with my typewriter and started to use the room as it was meant to be used – I was writing for my new blog – MUSEUM ANARCHIST. Shortly after this – I was arrested for mis-representingContinue reading “The Paar Room – 8.25.13”