The bane of every Explainer’s existence this summer has become the “Ask Me” signs on the front of our hands-on carts in the galleries. Sure, they seem like a good idea. Ask me about the glass on my cart. Ask me for directions. Ask me about the gallery you’re standing in. Please ask me anything you wish about the museum. But don’t ask me, “Why does my life have to be this way?!”
“Henry, leave her alone!” said the wife of the man who asked me that question a few weeks ago. What are you supposed to say to that? I need questions I can answer! How do you get to the Hot Glass Show? Well, follow the black carpet to the end of the hall, until you see a red room. What is the natural color of glass? Green. What do you have on your cart? Hands-on objects that I can explain to you. What’s the score of the game? Um….???
Although many Explainers wear them this summer, I have never adorned my uniform with the “Ask Me” buttons available to us. I wore my “Ask a Gallery Wizard” button all last summer to complement the Alchemy exhibition, and was subjected to questions like, “Can you do a trick for me?” and “Where’s your wand?” I never knew how to respond. I’d just smile, let out a little laugh, and say, “Well, I left it at home this morning.”
So, this year, I’ve decided to ask the questions. Button-free, I approach visitors looking down desperately at their map and then back at the landscape. “Can I help you with something?” “Do you have any questions?” That way, I never have to worry about being side-swiped by questions like, “I’m 63 now. How old will I be when we get out of here if my wife continues to read every single label?”
I recently asked my fellow Explainers to tell me the most interesting question they’ve ever gotten on a cart. We all recognize the most common question to be, “So, what am I supposed to ask you?” Some carts just come with automatic questions. The casting cart, for example, apparently warrants the question, “What’s the ducky’s name?” when we discuss sand-and-ladle casting using our example made from the impression of a rubber toy. Then there are those people who like to amuse with a rousing rendition of “Rubber Ducky, You’re the One!” But that’s an entirely different story.
Museum visitors have asked Explainers strange questions in regard to directions this summer. “Can you tell me where the big cheese is?” someone asked new Explainer, Katie McCann, referring presumably to the 200-inch disc that most associate with a honey comb. “Where’s Ben?” another visitor asked long-time Explainer, Katie Kremer. Their child? A face in a piece of glass? Who can tell??? “Can you tell me how to get to the flame throwing demo?” Lauren Davis was asked a few weeks ago. Flame throwing? Perhaps at the Renaissance Festival? Here, we have flame working. Much less dangerous! And finally, a hungry guest asked new Explainer Emily Sporn where to find the best Philly cheese steak. Yes, Explainers give all kinds of directions.
And sometimes, we’re misconstrued as someone famous. “Are you this guy?” a visitor asked first-year Explainer Adam Stickler, showing him a picture of a football player on his camera. Then there are other times when we’re just not quite what the visitor is looking for. “Do you have anyone here like you, but Jewish?” a group of girls asked third-year Explainer Rafael Gollier.
Then there are Explainers who look like they might have a good sense of humor. I always walk around to check on those standing on carts, and a few days ago, I walked to up my new friend Sven Thomas, who greeted me with, “A guy just told me a joke and I didn’t get it until he was gone!” You just have to ask after that! “You don’t have any 17th Century glass here,” the man said. “It’s all Baroque.” To which Sven apparently responded, “Yes we do. It’s right over there.” The man smiled, thanked Sven, and walked away. “And then I got it!” Sven told me moments later. Katie McCann told me the joke she was asked a few days later. “What do you call a deer with 20/20 vision? A good eye-deer!” Clearly, the man must have been reminded of the joke when viewing the glass he saw in the Voices exhibition with an engraving of deer in a forest. Or perhaps he just wanted to tickle an Explainer’s funny bone.
Other questions Explainers have gotten include: “Are teeth made out of glass?” “Do they use food coloring to make colors in glass?” “Where are all the hot chicks?” “Are the people who founded the Rockwell Museum related to the Rockwells?” and “So why did Corning happen?”
A final popular one for the summer is, “Can I take this with me?” referring to a piece the visitor picked up on a cart. Hey at least they asked! A few years ago, a visitor approached an Explainer and (jokingly, of course) said, “See that piece over there? I want you to meet me in the parking lot with it at 5 o’clock. Got that?”
Even that was better than what happened to me the first year I worked at the museum. Asian tours tend to rush through the museum at more than a rapid pace—the leaders raise an umbrella for all on the tour to see so they don’t get lost—then they take off! A woman didn’t have time to stop, and apparently thought my cut and pressed glass on the American cart was for sale. As she flew by, she dropped a $50 on my cart, grabbed the most beautiful piece of cut glass I had and sprinted off after her tour guide. Needless to say, I followed suit and explained to her the piece was not for sale…
No questions asked.
Kim on the caneworking cart in the Voices of Glass exhibition. Ask me!
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