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Jim Olson

@bostonbeerman.bsky.social

Museum nerd. Experience Designer. Music lover. Guitar player. Father of the best daughter in the world. Obsessed with golf, but I don't play enough.

123 Followers  |  144 Following  |  12 Posts  |  Joined: 22.11.2024  |  1.8628

Latest posts by bostonbeerman.bsky.social on Bluesky


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Massachusetts art museums look back on a tumultuous year Leaders at art museums have been grappling with a cascade of existential challenges in 2025. We checked in with directors at four Massachusetts institutions to see how they fared.

@wbur.org @npr.org Interviewed the leaders of leading Massachusetts museums to discuss 2025 which has been at the very least tumultuous www.wbur.org/news/2025/12...

18.12.2025 14:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Excited to share we are working w/ Heritage Museums & Gardens on Cape Cod to help them reimagine their Bountiful Bogs exhibition. Thrilled to partner w/ our friends Colorbox Industries. The show will open in April and build on the marvelous work done on the 1st installation. Stay tuned for more!

31.10.2025 20:06 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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After Declining to Give Trump a Sword for King Charles, a Museum Leader Is Out

Museum & library folks, hire Todd Arrington! He refused to give Trump an Eisenhower Collection, as a gift for King Charles (ironically, as the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches). We all need to stand up in our own way, where ever we can. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/a...

03.10.2025 14:54 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A World Reshaped by A.I. Needs Museums More Than Ever

We are proud to have worked on two of these exciting new museum spaces at Princeton University Art Museum and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art! www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/a...

08.09.2025 14:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Ed Rodley holding his new book in front of his face.

Ed Rodley holding his new book in front of his face.

Looking for new additions to your summer reading list? Grab our own @erodley.bsky.social new book Designing for Playful Engagement in Museums www.routledge.com/Designing-fo...

07.08.2025 19:43 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Jennifer Foley, Ed Rodley, Hillary Spencer, and Melissa Mohr outside the Figge Museum

Jennifer Foley, Ed Rodley, Hillary Spencer, and Melissa Mohr outside the Figge Museum

Ed Rodley and a Disruptor cocktail

Ed Rodley and a Disruptor cocktail

Ed Rodley, MM

Ed Rodley, MM

Ed Rodley, Emily Fry, Jennifer Foley

Ed Rodley, Emily Fry, Jennifer Foley

Our own @erodley.bsky.social was out on the road doing a workshop the Association of Midwest Museums, the Figge Museum, and a Drinking About Museums in Chicago!
#ammconference #drinkingaboutmuseums #chicago #figgemuseum #museums #museum #ontheroad #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign

06.08.2025 22:06 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Attended The American Institute of Architects Expo today. Lots of cool stuff to consider for future projects! #americaninstituteofarchitects #aia25
#experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists
#architecture #architect #design #museum #museums #exhibitiondesign

05.06.2025 20:57 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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We are thrilled to be an official partner of The Boston Triennial 2025: The Exchange, on view from May 22β€”October 31, 2025.

#BostonPublicArtTriennial #BOSTriennial #PublicArtCity #TheExchange #boston #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign

23.05.2025 00:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A Whirlwind Tour of Gulf Museums, Part 2: Abu Dhabi and Doha The Experience Alchemists My previous post looked at Dubai museums. Now we'll move on to Abu Dhabi and Doha in this post. To say that Abu Dhabi has been on museum building binge is actually a bit of an understatement. The Zaye...

Part 2 of our own @erodley.bsky.social write up on his visit to a number of Gulf museums. theexperiencealchemists.com/a-whirlwind-...

13.05.2025 14:16 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Our latest project!

06.05.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Label welcoming visitors to American Ancestors. You have an amazing history!

Label welcoming visitors to American Ancestors. You have an amazing history!

The Family Heritage Experience that we designed for American Ancestors opens tomorrow! Lots of photos and videos forthcoming!

#museum #bostonmuseum #americanancestors #nehgs #theexperiencealchemists #experiencedesign #newburystreet #genealogy #familyhistory

23.04.2025 15:36 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The White House has begun process of looking for new secretary of defense The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

BREAKING NEWS: The White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

21.04.2025 17:25 β€” πŸ‘ 37498    πŸ” 7787    πŸ’¬ 3815    πŸ“Œ 3111
Profit must not devalue people and planet. With B Corp logo - a B in a circle.

Profit must not devalue people and planet. With B Corp logo - a B in a circle.

As a Certified B Corp, for us every day is Earth Day.
#earthday #bcorp #experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists

22.04.2025 13:13 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This is so heartbreaking and makes nothing better and no one safer. It is the punitive act of an administration that values fealty over human health.

16.04.2025 01:41 β€” πŸ‘ 4683    πŸ” 1198    πŸ’¬ 65    πŸ“Œ 21
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Episode #1 - So, about the name... Exploring how museum careers evolve and the need for continuous learning in a shifting landscape.

I just wrote 'Episode #1 - So, about the name...'.
buttondown.com/erodley/arch...

09.04.2025 15:37 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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β€˜It reminds you of a fascist state’: Smithsonian Institution braces for Trump rewrite of US history Normally staid historians sound alarm at authoritarian grasping for control of the premier US museum complex

Now is not the time to be quiet. Speak out and stand up for the IMLS, The Smithsonian, The National Museum of African American History and Culture, and whatever they come for next. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

31.03.2025 16:13 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The templates are super easy to use and only take a matter of seconds to send out. Support museums and libraries.

17.03.2025 15:27 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Notice to flat-Earthers all around the globe: Please alert the authorities if tonight’s Total Lunar Eclipse looks like this:

13.03.2025 20:27 β€” πŸ‘ 28985    πŸ” 4802    πŸ’¬ 1118    πŸ“Œ 549

Proud to be B!

13.03.2025 20:59 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Most Ridiculous Things Caught Up in Pete Hegseth’s β€œDEI” Purge The Donald Trump–directed removal of all things β€œwoke” has accidentally wiped references to the β€œEnola Gay.”

Close to 100,000 historical images could be deleted as part of the Pentagon’s latest purge...

β€œRepublicans spent years complaining about cancel culture and then took office and banned photos of the Enola Gay because it has the word gay in it."

07.03.2025 15:49 β€” πŸ‘ 184    πŸ” 73    πŸ’¬ 24    πŸ“Œ 17
Cards and game pieces displaying the number 4.

Cards and game pieces displaying the number 4.

TEA is 4 today! Happy Birthday to us! #experiencedesign #theexperiencealchemists #museum #museums #bcorp

03.03.2025 20:02 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Five Failures in the Oval Office (video) America hurt itself badly today.

Here I react to the shameful encounter between American leaders and media and the Ukrainian president. No doubt there were more, but I saw five failures on our side: of hospitality, decency, democracy, strategy, and independence. Please watch and share.
snyder.substack.com/p/five-failu...

28.02.2025 22:15 β€” πŸ‘ 31022    πŸ” 10549    πŸ’¬ 1058    πŸ“Œ 689
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Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them WASHINGTONβ€”With the elected officials trying their hardest not to move a muscle, reports confirmed Monday that top Democratic leaders in Congress were standing real still in hopes that the American pe...

Democratic Leaders Stand Real Still In Hopes No One Notices Them

24.02.2025 16:04 β€” πŸ‘ 35402    πŸ” 6910    πŸ’¬ 813    πŸ“Œ 723
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A flow chart derived from estimates from the @itep.org

21.02.2025 21:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The average person with the flu gives it to around 1.4 people. The average person with measles gives it to between 12 and 18 people.

17.02.2025 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 3497    πŸ” 929    πŸ’¬ 66    πŸ“Œ 58

Now more than ever.

10.02.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Exhibits covered with paper and closed to the public.

Exhibits covered with paper and closed to the public.

And I just saw these photographs of some of their exhibits.

07.02.2025 22:55 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Army Women's Museum website is down because they have to review their content to comply with recent mandates. Just think about that... awm.army.mil

07.02.2025 16:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

It only took me like a minute to fire off 6 messages to my Senators and Representative. Check it out.

06.02.2025 23:46 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Playful Engagemen with Ed Rodley. Making the Museum. With photos of Jonathan Alger and Ed Rodley.

Playful Engagemen with Ed Rodley. Making the Museum. With photos of Jonathan Alger and Ed Rodley.

Our own @erodley.bsky.social is the guest on the latest Making the Museum podcast with @jonathanalger.bsky.social
It is a fantastic podcast, even when Ed isn't the guest! #museum #experiencedesign #design #museumexperience

04.02.2025 18:42 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

@bostonbeerman is following 20 prominent accounts