The Brand Spanking New American Writers Museum
by Nancy Faulkner Sackheim
For lovers of American literature there's a new museum on the block! A block that, by the way, is opposite Millennium Park with its numerous cultural landmarks, including the Art Institute of Chicago. On the second floor of this Michigan Avenue vintage art deco office is the brand new American Writers Museum, open since mid-May. But don't go expecting rooms full of books. There are few, with the exception of the rows of hardbacks affixed to steel beams above visitors' heads, a design feature of the entry area. The focus is on writers and writing, with the goal of inspiring a future generation to write.
AWM is an interactive museum celebrating that good writing comes in many forms from diverse voices. No signs of intellectual snobbery here...poetry, screenplays, detective novels, sports writing, songwriting, advertising, and stand-up comedy all share space. Visitors can explore the national history of the written word in exhibits that highlight the geographic, racial and gender diversity of our nation's writers. You'll see Herman Melville and Tupac Shakur (and just about every American writer you can think of in between, with women equally represented.) as you wander through the 13 permanent exhibits populating the u-shaped 11,000 square feet of space. Each exhibit is designed to engage the imagination and spark creativity, including the children's gallery, which features a mural of 34 squirrels in a tree, each reading a classic children's book.
In the Writers Hall one wall features 100 American authors and on the opposite wall 100 American works. Touch screens and display boards that flip and turn offer additional information, and occasionally an item to be touched, heard, or smelled. The aroma of fresh-baked cookies is released when one turns the board for Julia Child's "The Art of French Cooking." A comb and a pocket watch appear behind O 'Henry's "The Gift of the Magi." Refrains from American classic tunes are heard when other boards are turned.
The "Word Waterfall" exhibit is a mesmerizing wall of words which continuously highlights one quote after another on the essential meaning of America accompanied by the sound of rushing water. This powerful installation would be equally at home in any contemporary art museum.
Another room allows you to create your own story with pencil and paper or a manual typewriter, in addition to various laptops. You can post it along with others on the wall, take it home, or share it online with others who've contributed to the museum's "story of the day."
Not a research library for writers in the traditional context, AWM is intended as a source of inspiration and motivation. If you're in Chicago, join the anticipated 120,000 annual visitors and experience the first museum dedicated to celebrating American writers.
