nicole--the museum I work for uses a lot of this modular wall type product called Mila Wall, which is probably not the right thing for this space...but you can build walls straight or in any shape really:
http://www.mba-worldwide.com/museen/...ndmodule1.html
our shop has made some traveling exhibits for libraries and other places without walls. one of the most durable designs was something we called a "tombstone" which was a freestanding panel that sat in a wide base. the base was sloped like a small pyramid--wider at the bottom, with a slot that this panel sat down into. It was bolted in there at the bottom. The panels were made out of hardwood actually, and faced with laminates--had a clean design--and they had inset plex on the front of either side to protect the images. The images/graphics were mounted to Sintra and then slid into a slot on each side from the bottom. So each tombstone was a freestanding unit. They were heavy though, but then again, you couldn't easily knock one over or vandalize the pictures either. They could be set up out in a busy area and left alone more or less. if this idea sounds feasible--you might be able to make the panel out of MDF or Sintra, and skip the whole integral part of the design. it would be lighter for sure, and you could hang prints on both sides. we also have some folding walls, but they always need to supported somehow, and the fabric trade-show type one we have is just flimsy really, and not as clean a presentation. fwiw--exhibit builder magazine would be the place to look for vendors & product ideas.