Through July 3: WSU exhibit takes viewers behind the scenes

By Debby Stinson, Museum of Art/WSU

Aboriginal-art-80PULLMAN, Wash. – A rare glimpse of the operations that allow a museum to present world-class exhibitions will be offered this summer by the Washington State University Museum of Art during its “Curator’s Choice Exhibition: Behind the Scenes,” May 20-July 3.

Museum admission is free. Summer gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

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Cataloging a new gift of Andy Warhol art. (Photos by Zach Mazur, Museum of Art/WSU)

During the exhibit, museum staff will perform “back of house” curatorial tasks within the gallery space. Visitors will be able to observe and converse with staff and student assistants as they work on collection preservation, exhibition mounting, documentation and inventory.

This exhibit takes place at a time when museums are seeking to modify their core processes to become more transparent and participatory, leading to an accessible and socially engaging experience for the viewer.

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Curatorial work on contemporary aboriginal art.

Throughout the exhibit, the artwork displayed and modes of engagement will be constantly changing, offering audiences the opportunity to view artworks from the permanent collection that are rarely seen. Each day will potentially offer a completely new experience for the viewer and make visible the methods of conservation and scholarship that are essential to any museum.

For more information, please contact the museum at 509-335-1910 or visit the website, Facebook and educational sites at http://museum.wsu.edu/http://www.facebook.com/museum.of.art.WSU or http://www.wsumuseumclass.com.
Contacts: 
Debby Stinson, Museum of Art/WSU, 509-335-6282, debby_stinson@wsu.edu
Anna-Maria Shannon, Museum of Art/WSU, 509-335-6140, annamshannon@wsu.edu