Steve Furnett on Museums, Collecting and Comic Books
Subscribe on your favorite platform: Anchor | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher | Amazon Music | RSS | YouTube
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Consider supporting our content directly. You can also leave a review on your platform of choice. Thanks for listening!
In this episode, we are joined by Steve Furnett. Steve is the Exhibition and Collections Manager at the Dunn Museum. Before that, he worked at the Field Museum in Chicago for seven years as a Supervisor of Interactives. This conversation covers how Steve wound up in the museum industry. A common theme in this podcast is captured by this simple quote, “Be Ready to Wing It,” in general, Steve is an excellent example of a jack of all trades. His field is a blending of different categories in new ways.
Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross Opening Celebration
“The kid who realized he couldn’t be a superhero, so he decided to create them.”
On Saturday, March 9, the Dunn Museum in Libertyville, Illinois. Be the first to see how Alex Ross has shaped and influenced the superheroes we know and love today, including Captain America, Spider-Man and the Hulk. Celebration activities include creating a superhero mask, testing out your superpowers, tours of the exhibit and a book signing by Alex Ross from 2–5 pm. The exhibit will be open until September 8. For more information, click here.
Get your own copy of Marvelocity here!
Show Notes:
[00:08:58] - Summary of Steve’s Background
[00:10:48] - How did Steve start at the Field Museum
[00:15:18] - How much is shown at Museums?
[00:16:27] - Family Vacations to Museums
[00:17:43] - What was it like to work on Sue the T.Rex
[00:26:13] - Adding Easter eggs as a designer
[00:27:28] - Doodling aka. #MeetingNotes
[00:30:59] - Why do people collect?
The Toys That Made Us (TV Series)
John Tenuto sociology professor at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois, specializing in popular culture and subculture studies.
[00:34:08] - Toy Hunting
[00:36:41] - Jack of All Trade - Never know what skills will be useful in the future
[00:41:08] - Getting to 95% complete is the easy part, getting the last 5% is what your paid for.
“How did this happen? We’re smarter than this.” - Obi-Wan Kenobi
[00:43:18] - Knowing who to ask for help
[00:45:10] - Falling into this creative roll. Having thick skin.
[00:47:48] - Looking Back on Life
[00:52:38] - Steve’s Recommended Podcasts and Continuing to Learn
[00:55:58] - Adapting with Technology
“Ninety-five percent of what I do is knowing your audience.”
[00:59:58] - Marvelocity: Art of Alex Ross Exhibit at the Dunn Museum
“The kid who realized he couldn’t be a superhero so, he decided to create them.”
J.C. Leyendecker (Left) compared to Alex Ross (Right)
[01:06:19] - What Comics Mean to Steve
Frank Miller’s Daredevil
