Curating from the Crypt: The Permanent Collection Exhibition

This course is organized around the scholarly and curatorial work involved in the re-installation of the permanent collection galleries at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in the fall of 2015. Course readings, discussions, site visits, and applied exercises will introduce students to the project from conception to realization as we shadow MAD’s chief curator and other museum staff essential to the project. The objectives of the course are multiple and include introducing students to current debates about the creative activation of permanent collections; studying the unique history and evolution of MAD’s permanent collection; considering the relationship between institutional mission and object selection; distinguishing between competing curatorial styles of display and storytelling; and evaluating the way interpretive text is integrated into exhibition design. Course meetings will take place at MAD, BGC, and other sides as needed. 3 credits.