I haven’t said much about my curatorial work on this blog since announcing my new position back in January. Beyond that introductory post and an overview of our current maritime show, I really haven’t said much at all. That doesn’t mean I don’t have anything going on though. On the contrary, I’ve got several projects and long-term initiatives happening at the moment. So many, in fact, that I couldn’t fit them all into one post.
Today then, we’ll start looking at what I’ve been up to at the Barry Art Museum. From collections research to upcoming exhibitions, there’s no shortage of things to do.
Museum Work and Publications: Founders Book
The first major project I’m working on for the museum is a guidebook on the permanent collection. Its role is twofold. First, it will give readers an art historical overview of the three collections while highlighting key pieces. Second, it will recount the early history and development of the Barry Art Museum itself, giving particular attention to its transition from a private collection to a public, university-serving institution. Currently, I’m in the research phase of this project, reviewing object files, archival interviews and correspondence, and reading secondary sources.
This project will benefit my work at the Barry Art Museum in several ways. First and foremost, it’s letting me get to know the collection in-depth. That knowledge will be critical to ongoing collections development, as I’ll be better able to understand both our holdings’ overall art historical significance and identify strengths and weaknesses. The research I’m doing on the collection will also be key to the museum’s post-expansion activities, as it will inform our reinstallation and reinterpretation of the galleries.
I’ll also benefit professionally by working on a book-length publication independent of my dissertation research.
Museum Development: Collections Planning
While the book focuses on the Museum’s initial development and key holdings, another important project of mine is expanding and refining that core collection. As Curator, one of my jobs is to oversee the expansion of the collection. In consultation with the Museum staff, we’ve put together a Collections Committee that will review prospective acquisitions. As I get a better understanding of the collection, I’ll also begin developing a long-term collecting plan identifying potential areas, artists, and works to pursue.
This initiative is exciting for me because I haven’t had the opportunity to shape the collection before. All the other museums I worked at were several decades old and fairly established in their collections. My role was usually to winnow out potential acquisitions because we didn’t have the room to accommodate them. The Barry Art Museum is a fairly new institution though, and I’m in a position where I can influence its ongoing growth.
Above all, my ambition is to get to a point where we’re proactively acquiring objects. In my other curatorial roles, we were largely reactive, responding to whatever donations came our way. At the Barry Art Museum though, we’d like to identify where we’d like to focus our collecting, and actively pursue it.
Museum Work and Coming Attractions: Upcoming Exhibitions
Not all my museum work focuses on the permanent collection. I’ve also been working on temporary exhibitions. Coincidentally, all of them address dolls in one form or another. Let’s take a quick look:
- Dollhaus: this show opens August 27th, so I’ll do a longer post next month. Long story short though, we’re taking a look at the dollhouse as an art form by featuring a custom dollhouse with rooms designed by faculty members at ODU’s art and theatre departments.
- Carved Couture: This show looks at 18th-century English wooden fashion dolls. In addition to featuring works from our collection, we’re working with Colonial Williamsburg to feature some of their objects. This show opens in January 2025 in our doll gallery.
- Secret Show: In addition to the two shows going in our Doll Gallery, we’re also working on the next major exhibition in our main temporary gallery. Until that’s officially posted on our website though, I’m going to keep it a secret. Stay tuned!
Conclusion
In terms of collections research and upcoming exhibitions, then, there’s plenty of activity happening at the Barry Art Museum. That’s not all I’m working on though. Next week, we’ll take a look at projects relating to our upcoming expansion, as well as long-term initiatives.