Art Exhibition Practices
Students work together to organize public exhibitions, from selecting works and writing labels to installing and documenting the show. I guide students as they make decisions, work with collaborators, and consider how visitors will encounter the exhibition.
Exhibition Planning and Design
Students work together to develop exhibitions with artists and community partners. Planning includes discussing the exhibition purpose, assigning responsibilities, preparing timelines, and deciding how artworks, texts, and space will work together. Students use curatorial terminology to explain and discuss their choices.
Installation and Deinstallation
Students practice measuring artwork placement, calculating spacing, using levels, and selecting appropriate hardware. They apply their skills during exhibition installations and learn to handle, remove, pack, and return artworks. Deinstallation includes cleaning and repairing the space.
Curatorial Writing and Exhibition Communication
Students write curatorial statements, wall texts, and labels, considering what visitors need to understand the exhibition. They prepare printed materials and learn how placement, text size, and readability affect the visitor experience. Publicity and collaboration with advertising students also form part of exhibition preparation.
Museum Visits and Professional Workshops
Museum visits, guest speakers, and facility workshops introduce students to the people and resources involved in exhibition work. Students analyze displays, participate in educational activities, and learn about artist communication, public programs, and exhibition production.
Immersive Media
Students plan and test how projected images, sound, and space can work within an exhibition. Preparation includes mapping equipment locations, planning visitor pathways, testing media, and aligning projections. Students work together to troubleshoot problems and review the installation from a visitor’s perspective.
Stewardship of Shared Spaces
Students contribute to the care of the Schantz Memorial Garden through observation, documentation, mapping, and maintenance coordinated with Facilities. The work asks students to consider how shared spaces are cared for over time and what records future students will need to continue that work.
Reflection and Documentation
Students document their contributions and reflect on decisions made throughout the exhibition process. Discussions, individual check-ins, and exhibition walkthroughs provide opportunities to examine visitor experiences, assess the work, and identify changes for future projects.