Weisman Art Museum presents The Other Four - a Multi-sensory Show

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

Wendy Fernstrum, Common Scents

Are you ready for something totally different in a museum experience? The Weisman Art Museum (WAM) recently opened The Other Four - it’s an exhibit of multimedia works by avant-garde artists that explores touch, taste, smell and sound – the underutilized senses in art appreciation. That’s right – you can touch these artworks!

The sensory symphony was curated by John Schuerman, a Twin Cities-based artist and independent curator. The first exhibition of the show was at The Plains Museum in Fargo, ND in 2019, where it was well received. The pandemic postponed the exhibit until now at the Weisman.

Yevgeniya Kaganovich pieces

Schuerman notes that it isn’t easy to stage a multi-sensory show – it is difficult to install and by its very nature, it breaks the rules of the gallery, such as no organic matter in the galleries. (One of the pieces is a reimagining of an airline service where you may eat pretzels and biscotti.)

Schuerman with Alison Hiltner's TethersSchuerman worked on the show for a decade. He had been thinking about the one-dimensionality of museum visual expressions for a while and wanted to try something more expressive and immersive – artworks primarily experienced through the other four senses. He notes that visual art appreciation maps heavily to the prefrontal cortex. Scientists are discovering that creative moments may require the prefrontal cortex to be shut down – let the mind wander – which can lead to innovative and imaginative outcomes when senses other than vision become more dominant. Visitors can run their fingers across surfaces, breaking the traditional "look but don't touch" barrier. Vibrating sounds, fragrances and aromas are integrated into the installations, enhancing the overall sensory experience. You can actually wear some of the artworks!

Diane Mullin, Senior Curator at WAM, told us that the museum is thrilled to showcase this exhibit which has something for everybody. She invites the community to come to the museum and experience art in very different ways.

There are QR codes that provide an introduction to the exhibit and at each piece that provide a guide to the visitor. Schuerman hopes that the visitor will engage with the pieces with a sense of playfulness.

I had several reactions to the immersive exhibit – from delight to puzzlement - but what I liked best was the mingling of senses, seeing colors in scents, feeling textures in sound. 

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The Other Four will be on display until May 19.