a work in progress

When I Last Wrote to You About Africa | the Davis. | planned Spring 2011

For my museum issues class we will be helping with an exhibition planned for this spring by the African artist El Anatsui (b. 1944, Ghana). He employs found objects, often trash, and puts them together to create something far greater than the individual parts. He focuses on the things that connect us together as human beings, migration, communication, and consumption.

Right now, we are engaged in discussions about the role of the museum and how the definition of a temporary exhibition affects the execution of this particular show. We are very much in the information-gathering stage, just starting to choose groups. I am hoping to work on the installation design and budgets.

art education initiative

The website, OpenStudio is a resource for primary school educators looking to teach meaningful art lessons. Artists are invited to create lessons which are posted on the website along with a brief biography of the artist. Mark Bradford conceived the idea as a way to make contemporary art more available to young people, to help them engage with art in a way congruous to their everyday life.

My first favorite lesson was Color Walk by Amy Sillman, but the more I read the more I find that I really like. Each lesson encourages thoughtfulness and exploration without suggesting a linear path towards completion.

calculated risks

the Davis. | September 15 - December 12, 2010
A show of new art work from the studio faculty at Wellesley, curated by Elizabeth Wycoff. The design for the promotional material (pictured above) is about the hiding and displaying objects. There was no overarching theme for the show, mostly because it was all new work, but the title suggests the feeling of vulnerability that the faculty felt exposing their work to the community. I was especially excited to see my former photo professor Christine Rogers' work, especially because it was never something we talked about much in class. Her photos are accompanied by a video and the entire presentation is overwhelming, uneasy, comical, and critical. Before the show officially opened, my museum issues class had a tour and we were able to focus on things like the space that the artists used, the hanging of the objects, and the diplomacy required to fit 13 artists with differing goals into a shared space.