Touring Smithsonian exhibit on view at Lyman Allyn
A new exhibit has opened at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London: “Things Come Apart” features the works of creative photographer and tinkerer Todd McLellan, who explores the evolution of the smartphone and dozens of other everyday technologies.
The traveling exhibition circulated by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) will remain on view at the Lyman Allyn through Feb. 7, 2021, before continuing its 12-city national tour.
“This exhibit reveals to us the inner workings of our favorite things,” said Sam Quigley, director of the Lyman Allyn. “If you’ve ever asked what makes a clock tick, this exhibit will be a revelation! In addition, McLellan’s images are a must-see for photography fans.”
Through more than 40 photographs, videos and objects encased in acrylic, “Things Come Apart” displays the complex parts of products across multiple industries. McLellan spent countless hours disassembling objects of all sizes and functions — from a watch to a laptop to a Walkman and even an upright piano — into hundreds or even thousands of pieces with painstaking precision. With each object fully stripped to its basic parts, he methodically worked backwards, laying out each item in reverse order from the protective case to the smallest circuits until the true scope of each design was captured. The resulting images, grouped alongside other items built for similar purposes, provide a visual history lesson of mechanical innovation and highlight the contrast between old-world craftsmanship and sleek modern engineering.
“We don’t always think about the tools we use, but working on this project has given me a greater respect for engineering of newer technology,” said McLellan, who also disassembled bicycles, compasses and power drills, among other things. “It’s remarkable how much modern design packs into so little.”
The Lyman Allyn located at 625 Williams St. is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. and 1-5 p.m. Sun. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, $5 for students, $7 for active military personnel, and free for museum members, kids under 12, and New London residents.
Call (860) 443-2545 or visit www.lymanallyn.org.