by Kristina Durkin
how a museum exhibition comes to life
INITIAL PLANNING
AN IDEA
2
1
WITH COMMITTEE APPROVAL, THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO MAKE A BASIC PLAN.
HOW, EXACTLY, DO WE CREATE AN EXHIBITION FROM CONCEPT TO GALLERY?
For the museum’s recent exhibition “Nancy Baker Cahill: Through Lines,” museum staff, including preparator Elizabeth Marable and associate curator of modern and contemporary art Kathryn Hill, met with artist Nancy Baker Cahill to discuss and imagine the many possibilities for the exhibition. They talked over the basic details, including how much space the exhibition required, what gallery spaces were ideal and what technological requirements were needed. With Baker Cahill’s use of augment- ed reality, the exhibition had some unique requirements, but requirements are different for every exhibition that the museum hosts. For “Through Lines,” museum staff and Baker Cahill decided that the exhibition was well suited for three museum spaces — the Roush Gallery, the Dudley new media gallery and the Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden. With those deci- sions made, the exhibition was added to the museum calendar and more detailed planning for the show could begin.
Collaboration and planning are key, but it all begins with a great idea. Most often, that great idea comes from one of the museum’s curators, who brings an exhibition concept to an internal committee, either with the Georgia Museum of Art or another collaborative institution. Advocating for the concept to the committee, the curator makes the case for the importance and impact of a potential exhibition. With unique knowledge and expertise, curators promote art and artists they want to showcase to the committee and provide a plan to make it pos- sible. “I always say the biggest job of the curator is to have a strong checklist. It is from there that everything springs, from negotiation to programming,” said Shawnya Harris, deputy director of curatorial and academic affairs and Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Curator of African American and African Diasporic Art.
A SketchUp design by Elizabeth Marable for the exhibition “Emma Amos: Color Odyssey,” on view at the museum in 2021, and the actual installation based on the design.
9
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker