PrefaCe Labor<strong>at</strong>ory for Learning This exhibition is the final project <strong>of</strong> the undergradu<strong>at</strong>e students enrolled in Cur<strong>at</strong>ing, Collecting & Connoisseurship, a seminar taught by Dr. John T. Spike during the Spring 2011 semester. Since its construction in 1982, the primary mission <strong>of</strong> the Muscarelle Museum <strong>of</strong> Art has been to educ<strong>at</strong>e <strong>William</strong> & <strong>Mary</strong> students in the visual arts by serving as a labor<strong>at</strong>ory for learning. All works <strong>of</strong> art were cre<strong>at</strong>ed within the cultural, political <strong>and</strong> social clim<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> their time, <strong>and</strong> thus are primary source documents th<strong>at</strong> lie <strong>at</strong> the crossroads <strong>of</strong> interdisciplinary studies. Faculty from across the campus use works <strong>of</strong> art on view <strong>at</strong> the Museum to enhance <strong>and</strong> amplify classroom curriculum. In addition, the Museum itself hosts classes in museum studies, such as the seminar th<strong>at</strong> resulted in this exhibition. Students gain practical experience by serving as volunteers <strong>and</strong> interns in all areas <strong>of</strong> the Museum’s work, from scholarly research to collections management, exhibition design, marketing, programs, public<strong>at</strong>ions, <strong>and</strong> special events. As always, I wish to express my deepest thanks <strong>and</strong> appreci<strong>at</strong>ion to the pr<strong>of</strong>essional staff <strong>of</strong> the Muscarelle Museum <strong>of</strong> Art for their constant efforts to cre<strong>at</strong>e an artistically <strong>and</strong> academically stimul<strong>at</strong>ing environment. It is their dedic<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> continues to strengthen the Museum’s role as the cultural hub <strong>of</strong> The <strong>College</strong>. I extend a special thanks to Dr. Amy Gorman who organized <strong>and</strong> oversaw the public<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> this, as well as many other Museum projects, <strong>and</strong> for her work with the student volunteers <strong>and</strong> interns. Aaron H. De Gr<strong>of</strong>t, Ph.D., Director, Muscarelle Museum <strong>of</strong> Art INtroduCtIoN Cur<strong>at</strong>ing, Collecting & Connoisseurship - 27786 - ARTH 330-06 The sixteen memor<strong>and</strong>a in this booklet were researched <strong>and</strong> compiled by undergradu<strong>at</strong>es enrolled in ARTH 330-06 <strong>at</strong> the <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>William</strong> & <strong>Mary</strong> during the spring semester <strong>of</strong> 2011. The purpose <strong>of</strong> this museum seminar was to provide practical experience in museum activities, including primary source research using the original works <strong>of</strong> art in the permanent collection <strong>of</strong> the Muscarelle Museum <strong>of</strong> Art. The seminar took place in the Museum which allowed close <strong>and</strong> frequent interaction with the pr<strong>of</strong>essional staff. On behalf <strong>of</strong> the class, I would like to express our deep appreci<strong>at</strong>ion to Dr. Aaron De Gr<strong>of</strong>t, the Muscarelle staff, <strong>and</strong> guest speakers Shelley Svoboda, Conserv<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> Paintings, Colonial <strong>William</strong>sburg, <strong>and</strong> Alan Fausel, New York University, for sharing their talents <strong>and</strong> broadening our horizons. A recurrent theme in the seminar was the need for museum pr<strong>of</strong>essionals <strong>and</strong> art historians in particular to speak <strong>and</strong> write with ease <strong>and</strong> clarity. The prepar<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> these memor<strong>and</strong>a was selected as a project th<strong>at</strong> would both introduce the students to reference writing <strong>and</strong> directly benefit the Muscarelle by providing basic inform<strong>at</strong>ion for the cur<strong>at</strong>orial files. During the seminar, the students were called upon to rise <strong>and</strong> comment on their chosen objects <strong>and</strong> to report on the progress <strong>and</strong> problems in their research. Their findings <strong>and</strong> their writings were shared with one another to underscore the collegiality <strong>and</strong> shared commitment <strong>of</strong> museum work. From the beginning, a small exhibition was planned to provide an opportunity to share these works, most <strong>of</strong> them rarely exhibited, with the entire <strong>College</strong> community. Wall texts were compiled as a further exercise in museum writing – this time from an educ<strong>at</strong>ional perspective. We hope th<strong>at</strong> you enjoy the results as much as we did in making them. John T. Spike, Ph.D., Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence 16 Memor<strong>and</strong>a for 16 Artists | 5
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