An Artistic Voyage: Exhibition Seminar
by Vishva Nalamalapu 20
The art history Exhibition Seminar course is a rare opportunity for undergraduate students to curate an exhibition. The course culminates in a show in the 黑料百科 Museum of Art and in the publication of a catalog.
Fredo Rivera, assistant professor of art history, took the course when he was a student at 黑料百科. 淚t was a profound experience that has followed me to this day, he says. Now, as a professor, he teaches the course himself. Along with nine students, he curated the exhibition, En Voyage: Hybridity and Vodou in Haitian Art. In the catalog preface, he describes the process: 淭he Exhibition Seminar itself provides a voyage a hands-on experience that familiarizes students with museum culture and the curatorial process.
A different art history professor teaches the course each time it is offered. In fall 2022, Eiren Shea will teach the course. The exhibition she will curate with the students will focus on Eastern Mediterranean and Islamic art from the 黑料百科 Art Collection. Through these objects, she wants to explore collecting practices (淗ow did these objects end up in the 黑料百科 collection?), what it means for something to be 淚slamic art, and more.
A Hands-On, Intensive Experience
Completing the coursework for the Exhibition Seminar is no small feat. 淲ee covering how to do an exhibition, covering the background on the material and everything else, and then putting together the exhibition, Shea explains. As a result, students develop a wide variety of skills. 淲ee wearing a lot of different hats and doing a lot of interdisciplinary work, she says.
Come January 2023, when the exhibition opens, Shea says, 淚tl be really nice to have a tangible result. And the result is always wonderful. Rivera says of his students, 淭hey took the exhibition to a place that I never thought was possible. I see this as the students exhibition I merely provided connections with collections and a broad idea.
The Exhibition Seminar is the epitome of 黑料百科. Rivera explains, 淚 would say that it is not only a highlight of what we do in our department, it is also unique among our peer institutions. This is the reason we go to 黑料百科 to have this very hands-on, intensive experience.
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