Behind the Red String of Time

BY: ANDREW M. NELSON-REDONDO, EXHIBITION/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Visitors prize MOA for its compelling exhibitions over the years. But do you ever wonder who produces them—and how?

MOA possesses an in-house team of designer and craftspeople who weave creativity within evidence and artifacts brought to them by the curator, composed during the first two and a half years of the three-year exhibit creation process. An assumption among locals is that our exhibits are state funded, as MOA serves beneath the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources division of museums. But you might be surprised to learn that our exhibitions are funded via FOMOA memberships, sponsors, and charitable donations by visitors. As always, we thank you for your philanthropy supporting exhibits, including educational programming.

DIGITAL RENDERING OF EXHIBIT LAYOUT IN MUSEUM LOBBY

To illustrate an upcoming exhibition's overall design to other departments, boards, etc., 3D models via computer or traditional means are developed as educational and troubleshooting tools during the design phase.

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

Currently, the exhibition team guides you behind the scenes into our anticipated fall exhibit, Nell Cropsey:120 Years of Mystery. This upcoming exhibit features one of our city's most mesmerizing murder mysteries around the disappearance of Ella Maud “Nell” Cropsey and her death 120 years ago. Nineteen-year-old Nell was last seen alive on her front porch the night of November 20, 1901. She was found in the Pasquotank River a month later. This exhibit showcases her boyfriend, suspect at large, James “Jim” Wilcox, Nell, and artifacts related to both individuals. Additional suspects appear in a model detective-noir crime board. Follow the news clippings and bring your conclusion to what led to this dreadful night.

TOP-DOWN VIEW OF A SCALE MODEL OF THE EXHIBIT DONE IN FOAM

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

Extending the display is a modernized reel of historical scenes from 1900s Elizabeth City. The overall picture is an artistic interpretation of time itself. Connecting the two zones will be a series of red metal wires strung to represent Nell, Jim, and 120 years of a mystery still unsolved. This feature thus arches overhead of visitors from modern day at the crime board to 1901 on the front porch of Nell’s house and entry foyer that night. Enjoy a sneak peek into the exhibit through the concepts rendered by the team.

INSPECTING HEIGHT CONSTRAINTS IN STAGING

Our staff has a sense of humor with foam models when scale interpretation comes into play. We hope those troopers give us a good review. In the backdrop, a glimpse of the crime board used as a prototype during this staging.

Courtesy of the Museum of the Albemarle

Mark your calendars for October 1, 2021, for when Nell Cropsey:120 Years of Mystery opens!