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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
Would Joseph Beuys be able to enter a deed coyote in?a museum like in his famous 1974 performance?I Like America and America Likes Me? On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 4:08?PM James Steward via <jsteward=[email protected]> wrote:
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Adriana Herrera, PhD? Independent writer and curator Co-founder Aluna Art Foundation |
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Seeking Mural Policy Examples from University Campuses
Hello Colleagues, I’m hoping some of you might be willing to share your university’s campus mural policy. Our Public Art Committee is exploring the possibility of launching a mural program, and we’re eager to learn how other institutions are approaching this—what’s working well, and what to watch out for. If you have documents, insights, advice, or even cautionary tales, I’d be truly grateful for anything you’re willing to share. With thanks in advance,
? Anna Conlan
Neil C. Trager Director,?(she/her/hers) ?| SUNY New Paltz 845-257-3847 ? |
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
Veronique: Thanks for 'closing the loop'. I really like that you found a range, and a range-safety-officer, who was willing to engage in such creativity. The student will never know what a learning opportunity?they lost - incl for people at the firing range who would have found out that?art intersects with their lives - right here, right now. Best to all, D.? Dr. David C. Michener, Curator he / him / his University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum:? Midwest Co-Lead, Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science? Mentor Faculty - Public Engagement Faculty Fellowship? Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity & Social Change? ORCID ID:?0000-0003-2577-4777 The University of Michigan was funded by and founded on Anishinaabeg (including Odawa, Ojibwe, and Boodewadomi) and Wyandot lands ceded in coercive historical treaties. We acknowledge that our university stands, like almost all property in the United States, on lands obtained through the dispossession of indigenous peoples. These lands continue to be the homelands of many indigenous peoples. Our obligations to these communities originated in Article XVI of the 1817 treaty which stipulated that their children hereafter would be educated in their homeland. We affirm and preserve indigenous sovereignty. We will work to hold U-M more accountable in sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships with indigenous peoples, communities, and nations that recognize and fulfill their aspirations. On Wed, Mar 26, 2025 at 10:08?AM Veronique Cote via <vcote=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
Having countless conversations like these (with staff, faculty, students) in over 20 years of gallery and museum leadership hosting a wide range of historical collection?works and challenging contemporary?art by important artists of our time, I began asking the same questions as James years ago when catching myself nixing a flower arrangement.? As a BFA/MFA in studio, and PhD in art history, with a long history in museum leadership (and hosting student exhibitions), it is my observation that students perennially struggle to link materials and meaning; the intentions of the artist don't align with the artistic intentions. When working with student artists, try to take a step back and perhaps a little time (as some have described here) to sensitively pose a few questions as an interested educator and mentor who wants to help. If you have a good relationship with studio faculty (another story for another day) ask if you or a designated staff person can begin to meet and learn about the senior students or MFAs long before they show up to install work; try to develop a trusting relationship. Share some of your stories. Can your gallery or museum participate as part of the senior curriculum? Have "contracts" to help them learn how to plan, and conduct themselves professionally, while helping you prepare. What can you and your staff do to prevent worst case scenarios, rather than restricting the student artist.? And, can you help that budding artist become better in the process? I've had huge evergreen trees with root balls, tuna fish sandwiches, piles of candy, open containers of homemade jam, and rotting garbage scraps in contemporary art exhibitions over the past thirty years. I've got stories. I've also organized exhibitions that included 18th century wooden Burmese Buddhas; Kuna votives and?garments, and Afghan war rugs. I could list more. Discussions happened. Research was done. Precautions were taken. Only the Burmese Buddha had an infestation problem (long existing) requiring a treatment protocol,?that I recall. Many of the listed items were by world famous artists; only one was the work of a student (rotting garbage).? (and the tuna fish sandwich was made fresh daily and disposed of each evening) On Wed, Mar 26, 2025 at 10:10?AM James Steward via <jsteward=[email protected]> wrote:
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Natalie R. Marsh, MFA, PhD Independent Scholar, Curator, and Consultant Founding Director and Chief Curator, Gund Gallery, Kenyon College (2010-2020) |
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Re: Content Policy for Public Spaces
开云体育Dear Veronique: ? Hope this of use: ? Best, ? Andrea ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Veronique Cote via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 4:43 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AAMG] Content Policy for Public Spaces ? ** External Email: Please Use Caution with Attachments and Links from Unknown Senders ** ** Correo electrónico externo: tenga cuidado con los archivos adjuntos y enlaces de remitentes desconocidos ** ** ?????? ?????????? ???????: ???? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ??? ??????? ** Hi AAMG! ? I would be interested in seeing any examples of policies on content limitations for artwork that are exhibited in public spaces. One of our three galleries is a shared space. It also serves as a lobby for our theaters. As curators we are mindful of selecting pieces that are resilient to potential touch, light and friendly to the space. But recently, with our political climate, we have had content concerns, specifically related to children (so plays are meant for young audiences). Nothing major, just questions we are wrestling with internally so far, but we want to be responsive rather than reactive with forming a policy to guide us. ? Do you have such policies specifically for public art installations or public exhibitions. I want to be clear, we’re not discussing inside the museum, but installation in the lobby. And maybe the answer is just a parental advisory warning (this is what we did when we welcomed holocaust posters from the holocaust memorial museum which had violent content for example). I have a draft and AAM guidelines, but the advisory board wants to see comparables. Bonus point if you are in Florida. ? Thank you for any material you may be able to send for this research! ? Best, ? Véronique C?té Galleries Director ? University Galleries, Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Office:??561-297-2661 mobile: 215-779-4371 ? |
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育Thank you all. In the end, I redirected the student towards small objects that seemed more meaningful to his work and less dangerous to my collection. We purchased spent gun shell casings. Conceptually, as a professor, I would have preferred if he went and collected them at the firing range, I even found a place who welcomed him doing that safely, but the student rejected the premise, so we purchased them online on his behalf for display purposes. As far as exhibit design goes, they look better. They smell interesting too. And they don’t attract pest. ? Best, ? Véronique C?té Galleries Director ? University Galleries, Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Office:??561-297-2661 mobile: 215-779-4371 ? ? From:
[email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Sutley, Beverly Sue Balger via groups.io <bxb35@...>
? Wow. ? "None of it really matters that much in the end." ? Why do we bother with trying to follow best practices when caring for our collections if it doesn't matter? My entire career has been devoted to protecting the art entrusted to the museums where I have worked. How disheartening to find out now that it doesn't matter. ? Beverly Balger Sutley (she/her) Registrar Palmer Museum of Art Penn State University Park, PA 16802 814-863-9189 bxb35@... ? From:[email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Harris Fogel via groups.io
<harris.fogel2@...>
Sent:?Saturday, March 22, 2025 2:04 AM To:[email protected] <[email protected]> Subject:?Re: [AAMG] MFA Exhibition Asking too much ?
I think i's fine. ? Just make the student pre-pay all expenses ahead of time. So, so loss no gain. Let them have fun.? ? After all, none of it really matters that much in the end. ? Make sure there are financial penalties if they don’t clean up to your satisfaction. ? Harris ? ? ?
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育I can’t speak for the author of those words, but I for one find myself thinking a couple of things. ? First, in these times, it feels like we sometimes risk obsessing over the wrong things because they might be things over which we have a degree of control—whereas I personally may not be able to save democracy, I can assure that we don’t bring insects into our building by having a ban on fresh-cut flowers. ? Second, in the enormity of what we face—just to focus for a moment on the climate catastrophe—is it appropriate to consider ways in which established best practices should evolve? For example, do standards of RH fluctuation need to be reevaluated lest we contribute unduly to climate change?
? James ? James Christen Steward, D. Phil., h’67 ?h’70 ? The Museum galleries are now closed for construction of our , scheduled to open in fall 2025. Visit our website to discover an array of exhibitions, experiences, public programs, and digital events, and stay tuned for the exciting announcement coming soon of our reopening date. ? at 158 Nassau Street is now open, and presents the exhibition from February 15 to July 6, 2025. ? The at 56 Nassau Street on Palmer Square is also now open seven days a week. ? ? From:
<[email protected]> on behalf of "Sutley, Beverly Sue Balger via groups.io" <bxb35@...> ? Wow. ? "None of it really matters that much in the end." ? Why do we bother with trying to follow best practices when caring for our collections if it doesn't matter? My entire career has been devoted to protecting the art entrusted to the museums where I have worked. How disheartening to find out now that it doesn't matter. ? Beverly Balger Sutley (she/her) Registrar Palmer Museum of Art Penn State University Park, PA 16802 814-863-9189 bxb35@... ? From:[email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Harris Fogel via groups.io
<harris.fogel2@...>
Sent:?Saturday, March 22, 2025 2:04 AM To:[email protected] <[email protected]> Subject:?Re: [AAMG] MFA Exhibition Asking too much ?
I think i's fine. ? Just make the student pre-pay all expenses ahead of time. So, so loss no gain. Let them have fun.? ? After all, none of it really matters that much in the end. ? Make sure there are financial penalties if they don’t clean up to your satisfaction. ? Harris ? ? ?
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Content Policy for Public Spaces
开云体育Hi AAMG! ? I would be interested in seeing any examples of policies on content limitations for artwork that are exhibited in public spaces. One of our three galleries is a shared space. It also serves as a lobby for our theaters. As curators we are mindful of selecting pieces that are resilient to potential touch, light and friendly to the space. But recently, with our political climate, we have had content concerns, specifically related to children (so plays are meant for young audiences). Nothing major, just questions we are wrestling with internally so far, but we want to be responsive rather than reactive with forming a policy to guide us. ? Do you have such policies specifically for public art installations or public exhibitions. I want to be clear, we’re not discussing inside the museum, but installation in the lobby. And maybe the answer is just a parental advisory warning (this is what we did when we welcomed holocaust posters from the holocaust memorial museum which had violent content for example). I have a draft and AAM guidelines, but the advisory board wants to see comparables. Bonus point if you are in Florida. ? Thank you for any material you may be able to send for this research! ? Best, ? Véronique C?té Galleries Director ? University Galleries, Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Office:??561-297-2661 mobile: 215-779-4371 ? |
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Be a Part of the 2025 DLF Forum: Submit Your Proposal Today
开云体育Hello AAMG Community, ? is pleased to announce that we have opened the Call for Proposals for the in-person and Learn@DLF, happening in Denver, Colorado, November 16-19, 2025. ? We encourage proposals from members and non-members; regulars and newcomers; digital library practitioners from all sectors (higher education, museums and cultural heritage, public libraries, archives, etc.) and those in adjacent fields such as institutional research and educational technology; and students, early- and mid-career professionals and senior staff alike. We especially welcome proposals from individuals who bring diverse professional and life experiences to the conference, including those from underrepresented or historically excluded racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds, immigrants, veterans, those with disabilities, and people of all sexual orientations or gender identities.? ?
? The submission deadline for all proposals is Monday, April 14, at 11:59pm Mountain Time. ? If you have any questions, please write to us at forum@.... We’re looking forward to seeing you in Denver this fall. ? All best, Team DLF
? ----------- Aliya Reich | she/her/hers Program Manager for Conferences and Events ??Based in Baltimore, MD
1800 Diagonal Rd, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314 ? My weekly schedule is Monday-Thursday. |
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育
Wow.
"None of it really matters that much in the end."
Why do we bother with trying to follow best practices when caring for our collections if it doesn't matter? My entire career has been devoted to protecting the art entrusted to the museums where I have worked. How disheartening to find out now that it doesn't
matter.
Beverly Balger Sutley (she/her)
Registrar
Palmer Museum of Art
Penn State
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-9189
bxb35@...
From:[email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Harris Fogel via groups.io <harris.fogel2@...>
Sent:?Saturday, March 22, 2025 2:04 AM To:[email protected] <[email protected]> Subject:?Re: [AAMG] MFA Exhibition Asking too much ?
I think i's fine.
Just make the student pre-pay all expenses ahead of time.
So, so loss no gain. Let them have fun.?
After all, none of it really matters that much in the end.
Make sure there are financial penalties if they don’t clean up to your satisfaction.
Harris
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育
Much depends upon the resources of the institution. My current museum doesn't have a capacity to safely house live animals in a gallery, nor to appropriately treat works which could be damaged by pests which might be brought into the museum because of them
or the accompanying food; evidently the Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon does have those resources.
Véronique is attempting to decide what is appropriate for her institution. I think it wise of her to consider the resources available to them in what could very likely turn out to be a problematic situation.
Beverly
Beverly Balger Sutley (she/her)
Registrar
Palmer Museum of Art
Penn State
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-9189
bxb35@...
From:[email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of James Steward via groups.io <jsteward@...>
Sent:?Monday, March 24, 2025 12:40 PM To:[email protected] <[email protected]> Subject:?Re: [AAMG] MFA Exhibition Asking too much ?
Would our responses be different if the artist was, I don’t know, Ann Hamilton? Her live peacocks posed a challenge but one that was met. ? James Christen Steward, D. Phil., h’67 ?h’70 ? The Museum galleries are now closed for construction of our , scheduled to open in fall 2025. Visit our website to discover an array of exhibitions, experiences, public programs, and digital events, and stay tuned for the exciting announcement coming soon of our reopening date. ? ?at 158 Nassau Street is now open, and presents the exhibition ?from February 15 to July 6, 2025. ? The ?at 56 Nassau Street on Palmer Square is also now open seven days a week. ? ? From:
<[email protected]> on behalf of "Jennifer Knutson via groups.io" <jenknutson@...> ? No food or plants, sorry!
Jen ? Jennifer Knutson Assistant Director
? ? ? ? ? On Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 11:08?AM Veronique Cote via ?<vcote=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育This is a good question and for us (and all)the ?answer should lie in your exhibition policies which are global- and restrictions and limitations for materials used by artists are the same no matter if MFA or an established artist. We try as
best we can, but there are just some things no matter who the artist is, ?that won’t be possible.
So, if we had peacocks proposed by Ann Hamilton, we still would have to go through the same motions with Animal Research office as a MFA artist.
I think the other consideration here is time for these proposals and solutions. with many?MFA shows, the time is not there to adequately research a solution. You may only have months or even weeks to determine if it is possibly- along with twenty
or even thirty other artist proposals. Whereas with shows like the Ann Hamilton example you may have had a year, or years, ahead of time to determine how to safer present it.
Emily K. Dittman (Pronouns: she/her/hers) Director?
T?315.443.0212?M?315.430.5760
Shaffer Art Building, Syracuse, NY 13244 Syracuse University From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of James Steward via groups.io <jsteward@...>
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2025 12:40:50 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AAMG] MFA Exhibition Asking too much ?
Would our responses be different if the artist was, I don’t know, Ann Hamilton? Her live peacocks posed a challenge but one that was met. ? James Christen Steward, D. Phil., h’67 ?h’70 ? The Museum galleries are now closed for construction of our , scheduled to open in fall 2025. Visit our website to discover an array of exhibitions, experiences, public programs, and digital events, and stay tuned for the exciting announcement coming soon of our reopening date. ? at 158 Nassau Street is now open, and presents the exhibition from February 15 to July 6, 2025. ? The at 56 Nassau Street on Palmer Square is also now open seven days a week. ? ? From:
<[email protected]> on behalf of "Jennifer Knutson via groups.io" <jenknutson@...> ? No food or plants, sorry!
Jen ? Jennifer Knutson Assistant Director ? ? ? ? ? On Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 11:08?AM Veronique Cote via <vcote=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
Hi?痴é谤辞苍颈辩耻别,? This year, I have been asked to "try" MFA exhibitions in our professional gallery, the University Art Gallery, and have employed some of the same techniques that Emily at Syracuse referenced. I started creating more airtight policies that required signatures by both the MFA candidate and their committee chair because even when the candidates used the student spaces, there was always?something unexpected or not communicated that would happen or be requested. I did a lot of research within regional institutions to draft these docs and had support from my department chair and our faculty graduate advisor.? I agree with what everyone has said for all the same reasons. I also think the prep to make an artwork with unconventional materials ready for display should be handled by the artist in addition to or instead of you and other museum staff. Maybe it's too late for the student to do all the work this year but they should be as involved as possible.? Additionally, it's not just about the standard practices you have in place, the experience is also a professional development opportunity for the artist. Any institution with the same standards will have the same response you do. This is a valuable educational opportunity for all involved, especially the MFA candidate if they continue working with edible/natural materials.?? Good luck,? Chantel Chantel Paul Galleries and Exhibitions Coordinator San Diego State University School of Art and Design5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182 Office ARTN 300C: (619) 594 - 6332 / Campus Ext. 46332 Pronouns: she/her/hers Indigenous land/borrowing:? University Art Gallery: (619) 594 - 5171 / Campus Ext. 45171 Instagram/Facebook:? :?Reflecting on Ruth Asawa and the Garden of Remembrance?on view Feb. 4 - April 12, 2025 School of Art and Design Faculty and Students:? Office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. I observe email-free nights and weekends and understand that my hours may?differ from?yours.?  On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 9:47?AM Cheatham, Amanda via <cheatham=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
I LOVE AAMG and issues as this, as I was for 20 years on our graduate school's Museum Studies Faculty Steering Committee -? I'm the faculty Curator of a major university botanical institution with cross-ties to grad students/research in American Culture, Art, Ethnobotany .... all the way to virology (I currently work and publish in?contexts of plant viruses: stunningly beautiful in many ways......)? Students HAVE to learn that artistic/performative/exhibition restrictions are real, are for larger societal agendas, often building-specific, and are usually stated in a context to which they have already agreed. So their professional (and personal) integrity is tied to their compliance: this is the space and you've agreed. This has NOTHING to do with their artistic expression or academic?freedom. It is respecting the site and their word. I would not open any conversation other than 'this is a known restriction - and not a problem for anyone to solve but you.'? Be firm. Plants are the foundation of the food chain: viral, microbial, beloved creepy-crawlies all the way to rats, skunks, opossums, racoons, beavers and bears (clearly most of AAMG folk are not in bear-country; but that is a real concern in other places even here in Michigan: we have all here in Ann Arbor but the bears.)? And right now I'm on the MFA committee for a student and she was part of the MFA show that opened this past Friday - complete with her 40" deep soil profile with rooted plants on top. As you might imagine, that MFA exhibition space is NOT in any University museum/archive building, and it has floors able to take tonnage. Botanically sane, D.? Dr. David C. Michener, Curator he / him / his University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum:? Midwest Co-Lead, Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science? Mentor Faculty - Public Engagement Faculty Fellowship? Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity & Social Change? ORCID ID:?0000-0003-2577-4777 The University of Michigan was funded by and founded on Anishinaabeg (including Odawa, Ojibwe, and Boodewadomi) and Wyandot lands ceded in coercive historical treaties. We acknowledge that our university stands, like almost all property in the United States, on lands obtained through the dispossession of indigenous peoples. These lands continue to be the homelands of many indigenous peoples. Our obligations to these communities originated in Article XVI of the 1817 treaty which stipulated that their children hereafter would be educated in their homeland. We affirm and preserve indigenous sovereignty. We will work to hold U-M more accountable in sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships with indigenous peoples, communities, and nations that recognize and fulfill their aspirations. On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 12:48?PM Cheatham, Amanda via <cheatham=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育Hello, I would challenge the student to communicate whatever they intend to be their statement with micro amounts of the materials, and to consider how the materials could be displayed in a case with a well-sealed vitrine, having frozen the materials first. Or to create (using AI and Photoshop) a large, wall-size photograph illustrating the accumulation of their 50lb bags of stuff. If they cannot or will not do that, I agree with others, I would say “no” to an exhibit that involves bringing such materials into a gallery space. Students should learn about the constraints galleries and museums operate under. Some of the most creative work is generated by constraints, sometimes imposed by artists themselves, sometimes by circumstances. ? Susan A. Kaplan Professor of Anthropology Director, The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and Arctic Studies Center 9500 College Station Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME 04011 ? From:
[email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Veronique Cote via groups.io <vcote@...> Hi Listserve Friends! ? Although we are not a student gallery, every year, the University Galleries host both MFA and BFA exhibitions. And every year we have students who want to push boundaries. That’s what artists do! I don’t know if I am getting old and curmudgeons, ?or if I am brewing a cold… but I need your advice on this one. One grad student wants to bring in 50lbs of dry corn deer/turkey feed and 50lbs of rice, 50lbs… you get the gist of it. As a collections care person, in the state of Florida, all I can thing about is “how long before the rats, mice and roaches find out I have food for them right here in the galleries, and how long will it take me to get rid of them once they are in?” In the other hand I am thinking will a one month exhibition really give rats enough time to take hold (probably… it’s Florida, there might even be a raccoon sleeping on top of the pile the same morning we put the corn out.) on the other hand: artist integrity. ? Help me calm down. Should I care? Should I shellac individual corn kernels? Will the rats care about shellac? As an artist myself, I remember rats nibbling on paper shoes I exhibited in a NY gallery. Since it was a Cinderella piece, I thought it was hilarious… but also ewwww!!!! ? As a collections manager, I am afraid of inviting pests in my space for the future. I seek your advice on whether my worry is justified or not. ? Best, ? Véronique C?té Galleries Director ? University Galleries, Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Office:??561-297-2661 mobile: 215-779-4371 ? |
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育Would our responses be different if the artist was, I don’t know, Ann Hamilton? Her live peacocks posed a challenge but one that was met. ? James Christen Steward, D. Phil., h’67 ?h’70 ? The Museum galleries are now closed for construction of our , scheduled to open in fall 2025. Visit our website to discover an array of exhibitions, experiences, public programs, and digital events, and stay tuned for the exciting announcement coming soon of our reopening date. ? at 158 Nassau Street is now open, and presents the exhibition from February 15 to July 6, 2025. ? The at 56 Nassau Street on Palmer Square is also now open seven days a week. ? ? From:
<[email protected]> on behalf of "Jennifer Knutson via groups.io" <jenknutson@...> ? No food or plants, sorry!
Jen ? Jennifer Knutson Assistant Director ? ? ? ? ? On Thu, Mar 20, 2025 at 11:08?AM Veronique Cote via
<vcote=[email protected]> wrote:
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育
Hello!
That is an interesting question! Is there a way to seal the corn (and other edible bits) into a vitrine or other transparent box? Maybe vitrine bonnets are set on something other than the pedestals (like the floor) to create a pest barrier? Let us know how it goes, this is a museum conundrum! Thanks,
Patti
Patti Wood Finkle
Curator
Earth and Minerals Sciences Museum & Art Gallery
Penn State University
She/Her/Hers
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Veronique Cote via groups.io <vcote@...>
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 4:02 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: [AAMG] MFA Exhibition Asking too much ?
Hi Listserve Friends! ? Although we are not a student gallery, every year, the University Galleries host both MFA and BFA exhibitions. And every year we have students who want to push boundaries. That’s what artists do! I don’t know if I am getting old and curmudgeons, ?or if I am brewing a cold… but I need your advice on this one. One grad student wants to bring in 50lbs of dry corn deer/turkey feed and 50lbs of rice, 50lbs… you get the gist of it. As a collections care person, in the state of Florida, all I can thing about is “how long before the rats, mice and roaches find out I have food for them right here in the galleries, and how long will it take me to get rid of them once they are in?” In the other hand I am thinking will a one month exhibition really give rats enough time to take hold (probably… it’s Florida, there might even be a raccoon sleeping on top of the pile the same morning we put the corn out.) on the other hand: artist integrity. ? Help me calm down. Should I care? Should I shellac individual corn kernels? Will the rats care about shellac? As an artist myself, I remember rats nibbling on paper shoes I exhibited in a NY gallery. Since it was a Cinderella piece, I thought it was hilarious… but also ewwww!!!! ? As a collections manager, I am afraid of inviting pests in my space for the future. I seek your advice on whether my worry is justified or not. ? Best, ? Véronique C?té Galleries Director ? University Galleries, Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Office:??561-297-2661 mobile: 215-779-4371 ? |
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育I think i's fine.Just make the student pre-pay all expenses ahead of time. So, so loss no gain. Let them have fun.? After all, none of it really matters that much in the end. Make sure there are financial penalties if they don’t clean up to your satisfaction. Harris
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Re: MFA Exhibition Asking too much
开云体育
Veronique,
We also host our MFA and BFA exhibitions in the Ewing Gallery (University of Tennessee). We split our time between professional exhibitions in the fall semester and student exhibitions in the spring semester. We are located in the center of a large academic
building. Through trial and error, I have things I will permit students to install and things I will not.
I understand your concern for the rice and corn being out for a month-long exhibition. Our MFA exhibitions do not exceed 8 days and our BFA exhibitions are even shorter. I do allow food items on a case-by-case basis. All food on the floor (and for that matter,
sand, dirt, etc.) must have a thick plastic barrier between it and the floor to facilitate easy cleanup. ( I also had a bad experience with a graduate student putting an installation of cheese puff balls on a wood floor that left huge grease marks.) I don't
allow the installation of sugar. I will suggest salt in its place. We also had a student that once had meat sculptures as an important aspect of their work. We permitted them at the opening reception only and in the space for the purpose of documentation,
but they were not allowed to remain in the space unrefrigerated for the duration of the exhibition. Sometimes if the food is a small item, I will require the putting out and packing up at the end of the day by the exhibiting student, so that it is not sitting
out unsupervised overnight. I do my best to balance supporting our students' visions with keeping our gallery in as best shape as possible. You could also ask them if it is absolutely crucial they have the 50 lbs. Is it spread out or mounded? Is this something
that would be possible to suggest a mass of, by glueing the corn and rice to a mounded form - creating the illusion of 50 lbs?
I'm also less worried about food because I know there are roaches and mice already in the building. We have Bagel shop the gallery shares a workroom wall with, a bookstore that sells snacks, many trashcans throughout the building with food garbage in them,
and lord knows what food in the individual undergrad studios.
Hope this helps.
-Sarah
Ewing Gallery of Art & Architecture
1715 Volunteer Boulevard Knoxville, TN 37996 865.974.3200 www.ewing-gallery.utk.edu From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Veronique Cote via groups.io <vcote@...>
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2025 4:02 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: [AAMG] MFA Exhibition Asking too much ?
Hi Listserve Friends! ? Although we are not a student gallery, every year, the University Galleries host both MFA and BFA exhibitions. And every year we have students who want to push boundaries. That’s what artists do! I don’t know if I am getting old and curmudgeons, ?or if I am brewing a cold… but I need your advice on this one. One grad student wants to bring in 50lbs of dry corn deer/turkey feed and 50lbs of rice, 50lbs… you get the gist of it. As a collections care person, in the state of Florida, all I can thing about is “how long before the rats, mice and roaches find out I have food for them right here in the galleries, and how long will it take me to get rid of them once they are in?” In the other hand I am thinking will a one month exhibition really give rats enough time to take hold (probably… it’s Florida, there might even be a raccoon sleeping on top of the pile the same morning we put the corn out.) on the other hand: artist integrity. ? Help me calm down. Should I care? Should I shellac individual corn kernels? Will the rats care about shellac? As an artist myself, I remember rats nibbling on paper shoes I exhibited in a NY gallery. Since it was a Cinderella piece, I thought it was hilarious… but also ewwww!!!! ? As a collections manager, I am afraid of inviting pests in my space for the future. I seek your advice on whether my worry is justified or not. ? Best, ? Véronique C?té Galleries Director ? University Galleries, Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Office:??561-297-2661 mobile: 215-779-4371 ? |
Katie Farkas
Harris Fogel