District II
November 19, 2016–February 12, 2017
November 19, 2016–February 12, 2017
In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, photographers Bill Barrett, Chris Earnshaw, and Joseph Mills documented downtown Washington, DC, capturing moments of urban transformation and social upheaval. Their images reveal a city in flux—buildings rising and falling, neighborhoods shifting, and lives unfolding in the streets.
The exhibition unfolded across three sections: Mt. Vernon Squared, featuring 14 photographs of the area; Billy Luck’s Downtown, with 50 “drugstore” prints and 12 sepia reprints of buildings and passersby; and Inner City, presenting 18 hand-varnished photographs that lingered on everyday life.
Objective
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Design a single-gallery exhibition that organized three photographic voices into a cohesive and immersive narrative.
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Design a single-gallery exhibition that organized three photographic voices into a cohesive and immersive narrative.
“Everyone here agrees—it’s a gem of a show! Thank you again for working your magic,
working quickly, and having patience with us!”
—Chrysanthe B. Broikos
working quickly, and having patience with us!”
—Chrysanthe B. Broikos
Challenge
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Maximize limited wall space while maintaining intuitive circulation and visual balance. Integrate casework for artifacts in a way that complemented the angled gallery architecture rather than competing with it.
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Maximize limited wall space while maintaining intuitive circulation and visual balance. Integrate casework for artifacts in a way that complemented the angled gallery architecture rather than competing with it.
Approach
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The exhibition unfolded clockwise, using angled walls to expand hanging capacity and guide movement. Wall cases aligned with these angles to maintain architectural coherence, while table cases floated opposite a central storyboard. Joseph Mills’s varnished metal prints were positioned at the end of the journey, subtly “cradled” to create a reflective pause.
—
The exhibition unfolded clockwise, using angled walls to expand hanging capacity and guide movement. Wall cases aligned with these angles to maintain architectural coherence, while table cases floated opposite a central storyboard. Joseph Mills’s varnished metal prints were positioned at the end of the journey, subtly “cradled” to create a reflective pause.
Story Plan
Outcome
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Visitors moved through a layered visual essay on the evolution of downtown Washington. The sequencing encouraged comparison across decades, revealing cycles of growth, demolition, and renewal. Many left with a sharper understanding of the city’s past—and a deeper awareness of how design decisions continue to shape its future.
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Visitors moved through a layered visual essay on the evolution of downtown Washington. The sequencing encouraged comparison across decades, revealing cycles of growth, demolition, and renewal. Many left with a sharper understanding of the city’s past—and a deeper awareness of how design decisions continue to shape its future.
Project Details
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Venue: National Building Museum
Size: 753 SF
Content: Objects (81)
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Role: Exhibition Design
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Organizer: Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Curator: Anne McDonough
Coordinating curator: Chrysanthe B. Broikos
Graphic designer: Lisa Noble, Lisa Noble Design
Photos © Allan Sprecher
—
Venue: National Building Museum
Size: 753 SF
Content: Objects (81)
—
Role: Exhibition Design
—
Organizer: Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Curator: Anne McDonough
Coordinating curator: Chrysanthe B. Broikos
Graphic designer: Lisa Noble, Lisa Noble Design
Photos © Allan Sprecher