Curation Project
Imagine that you have finished your PhD in Art History and have accepted a position with a prestigious museum. Because of your special talents and experience you are given a unique opportunity. The museum has put limitless resources at your disposal to create a special show for any artist from history or a theme illustrated by art.
You have space to display 12 to 15 images, so select them carefully. You are the curator for this special exhibit, and as such you must create an engaging and interesting show. Remember you are demonstrating your ability as a critic – someone who is trying to make us understand and appreciate this art. You may pick a painter, sculptor or architect (just imagine transporting 12-15 buildings to your site), or you may select a theme which can be illustrated using a variety of works. Likewise, you should put together a show which challenges the viewer to think and make connections.
This is a 2-part assignment:
Part 1: Pick ONE of these:
1.) Create a brochure that the visitor would be able to take to introduce the exhibition. This is very similar to the Renaissance card I gave you. What is the show about? How do the works by the artists reflect the show? What connections do you want the viewer to make?
Include in your brochure a bit of biographical background on the artist or time period. Ideally the brochure will include reproductions of the works. The style of the brochure is up to you, it might be a tri-fold but it could look different. I'm interested in how you do as a critic, putting together an interesting show and being able to convince me that I should appreciate this artist.
OR
2.) Create a diorama of your exhibition. Where will the people enter? Where will the title of the show be? In what order will the viewer see the work? You should have a picture of each piece on the wall or on a sculpture stand. What color will the walls be - How does this affect the mood and tone of the show? How will you hang the work, gallery style, or next to each other? All of these must be considered. This should not look like a 3rd grader did it!
Part 2: Complete the Following:
1.) For each of the 12-15 works, you will be writing a didactic card for each work. You need to include the title, artist, date, style, and medium.
Then, you need to write an 8-10 sentence paragraph on why this work was chosen for the exhibition. Why is important? How does it reflect the show’s theme? What do you want the viewer to walk away with knowing? This is not simply a description of what the painting looks like. (The visitor can look at the painting themselves, so there is no need for you to describe it to them.) Are their certain symbols that the viewer should know about? What about the historical context of the work?
Things to think about:
· Who is your audience?
· What is the title of the show- This can make or break a show if the title is lame.
· What museum would you want this exhibited?
· What will draw a crowd to the museum?
· Will you pick a retrospective for the artist?
· Will you pick a certain time period from the artist?
· Will you pick a theme and use several works by different artists?
· Will you mix sculpture pieces with paintings or architecture models?
· You should be using images that are not in the text book-challenge yourselves!
Remember, this is your final for the class in lieu of a written test, so it will be counting twice in your grade for 4th quarter.
Due: Tuesday, May 29
Every day it is late, I am taking 10 points off - no exceptions!
Good Websites:
You are welcome to use your textbook, and museum’s website, and other printed sources. Please stay away from Wikipedia. Do NOT plagiarize this paper….I will not accept it and it will count as a 0 in you final average, with no exceptions.
