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Sci-fi enthusiasts create exhibit
Published 5:00pm Thursday, October 15, 2009The theme from Star Trek, a figurine of Yoda, a Stargate uniform.
Area science fiction enthusiasts have brought together their collections of items to create a new exhibit at the Otter Tail Historical Society.
The exhibit, Encounters of the Third Kind: Convergence of Sci Fi Enthusiasts, was the brainchild of local sci-fi enthusiasts Teresa Jasciewicz and Craig Winters, along with the museum’s Executive Director Chris Schuelke.
The exhibit is open until Dec. 18 and can be viewed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is $4 for visitors older than 12 years old, $1 for children aged five through 11 and free for children under five.
The museum was looking for an exhibit that would go along with Big Read events for Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” and they thought of possibly putting together a sci-fi collection, Schuelke said.
Since the museum didn’t have any items it could display, it put a call out for those in the community to loan any sci-fi items to the museum for the exhibit, Schuelke said.
They received items that included comics, movies, posters, trading cards and costumes, PEZ dispensers and collectors cups.
For museum Curator Kathy Evavold, the exhibit was a learning experience because she wasn’t into the sci-fi genre. Schuelke said they discovered with the exhibit that “there’s a niche group of people who really enjoy the sci-fi genre.” The enthusiasts go beyond only watching the TV shows and movies, but they collect the items that go with the shows and movies, he said.
Visitors to the exhibit can also test their basic knowledge of sci-fi TV shows, movies and books with interactive quizzes, while listening to familiar sci-fi music put together by Lakes Radio.
About 40 people attended the exhibit opening last week, with several people turning out in costume, Evavold said, adding that Fergus Falls resident Jean Wiersma even dressed up her car to be a time machine.
