For the last several weeks, I’ve shared some project ideas I’ve had stemming from the dissertation. Not all the potential projects I’ve developed relate to it though. Today, we’ll wrap up this series by looking at art access ideas I’ve had that aren’t directly related to my dissertation work.
Beyond the Dissertation: American Federation of Arts
Founded in 1909, the American Federation of Arts organizes traveling exhibitions for museums in the United States and beyond. I first learned about this organization while I was at the Roswell Museum. We didn’t have the money for traveling shows so I mostly ignored their brochures. During my prospectus work though, I became more interested in the organization, especially after I learned about its document collection at the Archives of American Art.
Ultimately I decided that the program was too massive for a dissertation chapter. That said, I think it would be a great follow-up topic for a book. Knowing that they’ve circulated shows internationally, moreover, the American Federation of Arts would be a great opportunity to put my work in a transnational context.
Another Idea: The War Art Program
I’ve also considered researching the FAP’s afterlife through the War Art Program. More broadly, I’d like to consider the role of the U.S. military in art access. I’ve already done some work on the War Art Program through my research on Howard Cook, but that work focused on one artist’s experience with the initiative. There’s a lot more research that needs to be done.
I became more interested in the connections between art access and the military through CACs. Toward the end of the program, military bases in Florida and other states began requesting art exhibitions as a means of engaging recruits. I’d like to look into the relationship between the FAP and the military more closely, as I think it’s an interaction that warrants closer consideration.
Beyond the Dissertation: CETA
I’ve known about CETA for a few years, and there is a lot of potential for research on this initiative. Unlike the FAP, some of the artists who participated in it are still alive, and have started creating archives. Anyone who takes on CETA would likely be dedicating a lifetime to it, but it would greatly enrich American art history focusing on the 1970s and 1980s.
Airports, Subways, and More: Art in Places of Transit
If you’ve been to an airport or other transportation hub lately, chances are you’ve seen an art display. I’ve certainly noticed them over the years, and I think there’s a lot of potential for scholarly research. While there has been some work on them, there’s plenty of research that can still be done.
I’d be especially interested in comparing large, national hubs like O’Hare or DFW with more regional airports. I’d be interested to see if they choose similar kinds of art in terms of media, subject, and regional representation. Do they focus on highlighting local artists and resources? How do they address political topics, if at all? How does the experience of viewing art while in transit differ from a museum, gallery, or park? These and other questions would offer more than enough fodder for a study.
Other Topics
Not all of my ideas relate to art access. On the contrary, being in an American Studies program has shown me that I can turn just about any idea I have into a research project. Don’t believe me? Here are some examples.
I could do a comparative study of Christmas stores and Halloween pop-ups. The euphemistic quality of toilet paper advertising could form the basis of an article. I could start a YouTube channel discussing sci-fi franchises through an art historical lens. The possibilities are only limited to my time and imagination.
Endless Possibilities for Research
When I arrived at William & Mary, I worried that I might not have any other research ideas beyond federal community art centers. It’s an expansive topic, to be sure, but I wondered whether I’d pigeonhole myself by focusing so much attention on it. After years of adapting my research interests to reflect the collections I’ve curated, of just researching whatever was presented to me, I wondered whether I could come up with any other ideas on my own.
Over the past six years, I’ve gained more confidence in my ability to develop new research projects. In researching and writing this dissertation, I’ve come up with dozens of ideas for research projects. Some grew out of the dissertation, but many others haven’t. All of them have shown that when it comes to art, mobility, and access, I’ve got enough ideas to cover a lifetime of research. And who knows what I’ll come up with in the future.
Realistically, I won’t have the time to pursue most of them. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to follow up on one or two of them. But that’s okay. Just knowing that I could delve into these topics has boosted my confidence as a scholar.