Imprints in Time exhibition opens at the Folger Shakespeare Library

06/28/2024

Last week, the Folger Shakespeare Library opened their new and expanded exhibition space. Studio A, in partnership with Polygraph, was selected to design the inaugural show in their temporary exhibition gallery. “Imprints in Time” features fifty rare books and manuscripts representing highlights of literature, science, religion, and philosophy.

Our design contributions included space planning, wall text, object labels, giveaway booklets, a microsite, and a wallpaper-like treatment for the gallery. The wallpaper design includes nine medallions featuring authors of works in the exhibition, surrounded by imagery related to their writing and lives. You can get a better look at the medallions here and view some images of the treasures in the show.

It was a great honor to be selected for this important first exhibition, and a pleasure working with my colleagues at Polygraph. I hope you get a chance to see the show (it closes on January 5, 2025).

Upon entering the gallery from the west end, you come to the first object: an Egyptian Book of the Dead from 2000 years ago.

In this view you can see MLK, Beatrix Potter, and Jules Verne (along with two display cases) to the left and a detail of the L. Frank Baum medallion to the right.

Below the introductory text on the wall is a shelf holding the giveaway booklets.

"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and companion label to the left. And the label for Galileo's "Dialogo." Yes, that Galileo!

A visitor looks at a first edition of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in the case, with a medallion of the author L Frank Baum nearby.

The eight giveaway booklets. Each highlights a particular book and author.

Opening pages of the booklets with a splash page of the wallpaper and the word "Welcome!" and a map of the exhibition.

This booklet contains a brief biography of Frederick Douglass.