Ron Haake

CURATING AND BUILDING INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES

I develop exhibitions and site-based interpretation from concept through installation. That includes objects, story, layout, graphics, fabrication, and documentation. I’ve also operated a gallery, which sharpened my eye for pacing, presentation, and what actually holds a visitor’s attention. My goal is to translate complex material into visitor experiences that are clear, durable, and engaging.

SCOPE OF WORK

Each project begins with the questions that matter: What is the story, who is it for, and what should a visitor understand when they leave? From there, I build a practical plan that connects curatorial intent to design, production, and on-site delivery.

Exhibition planning and interpretive strategy
Object-led storytelling and label or panel writing
Layout, graphics coordination, fabrication planning, and installation oversight
Documentation and imaging workflows that support preservation and access
Collaboration with artists, fabricators, printers, installers, and stakeholders

Selected projects shown here. Some work is not represented visually due to access, documentation limits, or client restrictions.

CASE STUDY: SITE-BASED INTERPRETATION AND PUBLIC-FACING WAYFINDING

Kohanaiki Native Plant Garden / Cultural Learning Center

I did not develop the education program. I translated it into a clear, visitor-ready system. Working with cultural practitioners and educators, I packaged place-based learning into durable, easy-to-navigate materials that work for quick visits and for deeper teaching moments during guided demonstrations and school field trips.

My role: interpretive design, visual system, and production-ready artwork (signage, handouts and promotional materials)

Unified the project’s signage and print pieces into one visitor-facing system
Made the content easy to scan in the field, with enough depth for programs and tours
Used hierarchy and typography to keep the message clear while staying respectful to context
Designed tools that support hands-on learning: cordage, weaving, navigation
Prepared artwork for long-term outdoor use and consistent reproduction across formats

The goal was not to over-design. It was to make the experience clear enough that the content could do the work.

CASE STUDY: EXHIBITIONS AND INTERPRETIVE INSTALLATION

I shape exhibit experiences where the presentation language belongs to the subject and supports the narrative from the inside. When it works, visitors feel the intent in the pacing, legibility, and proportion, and the story reads as a whole.

My contribution is a steady hand: enough guidance to orient the visitor. No more than the story needs.

GALLERY AND ARTIST SUPPORT

Gallery work sharpened my sense of stewardship. I supported artists by protecting the integrity of the work while shaping how it met the public. Curation, installation, and interpretation were all part of that role, from selecting what was shown to setting the pace and tone of the space. The presentation stays measured, and the work resonates.

The gallery work was grounded in relationships, with artists, collectors, and the local community, and in caring for the work beyond the moment of exhibition.

ABOUT

I come to this work through a mix of making, stewardship, and long observation. I have spent much of my career shaping how people encounter objects, stories, and places, whether through exhibitions, interpretation, archival work, running a small gallery, or leading a community nonprofit.

What carries through all of it is a respect for context. I pay attention to what is already there, what deserves emphasis, and what should be left alone. I am most comfortable in roles that call for judgment, care, and a steady hand over time.