think local: crash course in creativity

Think Local

ObservationsInsights

Opportunities

Linda Norriswww.lindabnorris.com

Down the Road

Many of the observation questions seemed to imagine that we go to chain stores or malls—but that’s not true for all of us. I live in the country and my observations are on two places in New York’s Catskills: Table on Ten in Bloomville and Barlow’s Store in Treadwell.

Observations in Context

• Bloomville, approx 250 residents• Treadwell, approx 250 residents

• Both in Delaware County, NY

• Delaware County Stats:– 47,599 people in 1442 square miles (33.2 people/sq mile)– Per capita income: $22,928 (NYS average $30,948)– Approx 50% of property owned by non-residents

Observation Station 1: Table on Ten

Café, Micrcshop and Farmstand opened in 2012 by husband and wife, cabinet maker and model, transplants from New York City. Described on their website as a gathering place, not just a restaurant.

Observation: What Does Local Mean?

Focus on Local Sourced FoodAbove: homemade bread with NYS grains, local cheese, organic poultry—but not a local recipe: chicken curry soup. Meeting growing interest in locally sourced food—but who’s this local sourcing for and how does it reflect values?

Observation: Connections and Cross Fertilization

Informal gathering places—and big tables—provide places to make connections and fertilize ideas. Here’s a diagram of our evening.

Observation: We Like to See Things Made

We went on Pizza Night, and began the evening, curious eaters all, by asking lots of questions about their handmade pizza oven. It’s great to see your food being made.

Observation Station #2:

Barlow’s

In business since 1841; new owners this year. General store in the classic meaning of the words. Husband and wife are the team of new owners.

Observation: Multi-Use Spaces

You can do lots of different things at Barlow’s: have a cup of coffee, browse the community bulletin board, buy nails and batteries, talk to your neighbors, sign a petition. Although the spaces are slightly segregated by function, it’s a multi-use space that’s not just about retail.

Observation:What does

Locally Made Mean?

In the past, my county has supplied bluestone for New York City’s sidewalks and lumber for clipper ships. Now, local may mean gourds, handknit items and candles. What does that mean for making a living?

Observation: Choices not Judgments

It’s not just local. A local business survives by selling what people need and want, including potato chips and cigarettes.

Observation:Community Connections

Barlow’s continues as a community meeting place. The new owners have installed this large table in the front window. On the morning I was there, the election inspectors were meeting to go over the ballot for next week.

Opportunities for Museums &

Cultural Organizations In

These Spaces

• Create pop-up exhibits in these community places. Start small: why not a surprising historic photo each month on the community bulletin board?

• Create programs here rather than in your own space: science cafes, book discussions…

• Connect local history museums and local food.

More Opportunities for Museums &

Cultural Organizations In

These Spaces

• Why not put museum catalogs or other publications here for people to browse?

• How about an installation where customers are invited to share their thoughts/ideas/photos about the place to become a part of the historical archives at the museum?

• Use a place like Barlow’s to address issues of class in the way museums are perceived, who they are for.

Opportunities for Museums & Cultural

Organizations In Their Own Spaces

• Amplify the purposeful use of museum spaces by offering more amenities: free wifi, easy-to-use meeting space, etc.: be the third space.

• Be open when people need you to be.• Offer options for both use and content

development. Don’t be judgmental about interests and commitment.

More Opportunities for Museums &

Cultural Organizations In

Their Own Spaces

• Create some way for cross-fertilization of ideas and skills. Can museums be hubs for skill banks?

• What role can museums and cultural organizations play in small town sustainability? Could we crowdsource local stores?

• We like to see things made: let’s make our museums makerspaces.

Insight: Reinforcing

The time spent observing and thinking helped strengthen some beliefs I hold about changing museums—but also made me think about different ways of sharing those ideas.

To Explore More

• You can find Tables on Ten, Barlow’s Store & the Uncataloged Museum (my blog) on Facebook.

Historic photos of Treadwell can be found athttp://www.flickr.com/photos/41782878@N03/ and of Bloomville at

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sunnyann/bloomville.html