The Vacaville Museum deals with the art of death ” – Times Herald Online

From considering mortality to our parents' vision and ourselves, it is often difficult to discuss death and dying. The upcoming exhibition of the Vacaville Museum deals with this discussion head in “The Art of Death”.

The exhibition opens on June 14 and will last longer than the average installation of the museum for six months. This is because “the art of death” will be more involved, with pieces of locations in the bay and in the Sacramento areas and programming to be borrowed to the inclusion of visitors.

“It is really just an opportunity for us as a museum to offer our community a space to talk about a topic that is taboo,” says Museum Director Clara Dawson. The idea for the installation came from conversations with the community partners of the museum, many of which work in the death industry.

Dawson and the museum team decided to combat the Stigma towards that in the business of death through discussions with experts who work in funeral companies, Coroner's office and the cremation.

“Everyone we talked to brings these hesitation with which they talk about what they do, and we really want this exhibition to be an opportunity to present and highlight some locals here that are part of our community,” she said.

The exhibition will have entry points for all age groups, says Dawson and should not be dark or creepy. It will appeal to death through four main pillars: history, art, science and culture.

For example, the museum will contain a Victorian mourning dress and accessories as well as the work of local artists who have been inspired by death and death. There will also be entomological aspects of the exhibition and much more.

“The Art of Death” is one of the most complex exhibitions that Dawson has adapted due to an extensive community partnership, she says. These partnerships and cooperation include Silveyville Cemetery District, Pettigrew and Sons Cocket Company, Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery District and Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, who sponsors the exhibition.

“It is definitely a lot more work if you have these amazing pieces and stories outside the museum,” says Dawson. Despite the hard work that records the pieces, this is for an interesting and elaborate exhibition, she says.

In addition to the objects presented in the exhibition, “The Art of Death” will be programmed, whereby the data still has to determine.

There will be a speaker series, answer questions in the community partner and discuss your job. The museum also organizes a monthly book club that alternates between fiction and non -fiction books, whereby each book appeals to death or our human reaction in any way.

With “The Art of Death” the museum hopes to attract a lot outside of Vacaville and even Solano County and to include the audience from the areas of Sacramento and Bay, says Dawson.

To learn more, visit Vacavillemuseum.org

If you go …

• What: “The Art of Death”
• When: June 14, November 14, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 30 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Where: Vacaville Museum, 213 Buck Ave., Vacaville.