Final Reflections: On Display, Dialogue, and Development

The exhibition is over now, but the intensity of that day is still fresh in my mind. Watching people move through the space I built - pausing, asking, inspecting - was both exhilarating and surreal. Life Finds a Way came to life not just as a body of work, but as an immersive environment. The responses I received helped illuminate what worked - and what I might do differently next time.

Much of the feedback was incredibly positive. Visitors frequently commented on the time, thought, and detail visible in the project. The combination of photography with physical props helped anchor the themes, and the decision to include a soundscape was mentioned more than once as a subtle but effective element. The blacklight hermit crab and the bee radio were definite highlights - people leaned in, took photos, asked questions. One visitor, a local museum representative, told me how innovative he found the work and how much he’d like to see it exhibited in a museum context! That was a moment I won’t forget.

Still, there was valuable critique, too. The most consistent suggestion was that the tech wall could have benefitted from more direct, focused lighting. I used dispersed ambient lighting to give the installation a soft glow, but in doing so I lost some of the finer detail. I agree with the feedback: next time, I’ll install small spotlights to isolate and enhance individual props. I also learned the hard way how important it is to secure objects firmly - one of the wall-mounted pieces fell during setup and needed on-the-spot repairs.

Creatively, I’m proud of how the space came together. It felt cohesive without being repetitive - there was enough variation to keep people engaged, and the physical layout allowed for free exploration without feeling chaotic. Technically, I feel I’ve grown the most in terms of lighting, spatial awareness, and exhibition curation. I’ve always been confident in sculpting and photography, but installing a full 3D show taught me how deeply the physical environment shapes interpretation. One key realization was that the space itself is part of the narrative - lighting, layout, pacing, sound - it all tells the story.

Thematically, the exhibition communicated its message clearly. Some guests asked whether the work was hopeful - nature reclaiming space - or critical, a reflection on our unsustainable consumption. The fact that viewers asked that question was, to me, proof that the project succeeded. The ambiguity is intentional. I was happy to explain the dual reading and refer people to the written call to action in my brochure.

Going forward, I plan to expand Life Finds a Way. I have new ideas for props, and now that I’ve seen how people engage with the physical pieces, I’m excited to explore new methods of presentation. I’ve also learned practical lessons: how to evaluate printers, how to communicate with galleries, how to transport fragile works, and how to pace an opening day.

Most of all, this experience taught me how to think like a curator - not just about how work looks, but how it feels to encounter. That shift in thinking is something I’ll carry into everything I make next.