art gallery
management // art 193
To my mind, how things are displayed in galleries
and museums makes a huge difference
in how one sees the world.
Fred Wilson
Museum installation artist
Spring
2005
Wednesday
12:00-4:50
Instructor:
Elaine O’Brien
Hours: TR
6-7 PM, W 5-6 PM
Office:
190 Kadema Hall
Phone:
916 278-5704
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/o/obriene
Course Description:
An
introduction to the practice and theory of art exhibition and gallery
management in a variety of spaces: commercial galleries, non-profit artist-run
galleries, university art galleries, museums, alternative spaces and digital
exhibitions. Topics include the history
of art display and art exhibition education.
Course Objectives
Required Texts:
Other
costs:
·
Transportation
and admission to galleries and museums in the Sacramento-Davis and Bay Area
·
Camera
and image processing
Grade Basis:
35% Participation
Attendance
is required at weekly classes, field trips, and certain gallery events. Illness and family care
emergencies are excused with some kind of proof. Job duties and scheduled appointments are not
excused. Your grade is reduced by half a letter grade after two unexcused
absences and after each subsequent unexcused absence.
You
will spend about 30 hours this semester helping with shows in the Else, Witt, University
Union, or Library galleries in various ways.
Your participation is evaluated by the person you work with on the basis
of the quantity and quality of your work and your attitude towards it.
Included
in the participation grade is your help with the Art 193 class exhibition,
which opens March 14th in the Witt Gallery. In class discussions,
field trips, and other activities, a positive attitude can raise your grade by
as much as a whole letter grade; a negative attitude can reduce it by as much.
20% Reading response papers: The reading response papers prepare you for class
discussions. The grade is based on how
well they do that.
The
format is one 2-page (550 word, typed double-spaced, 12-font) response to each
“reading” on the schedule, below. Indicate
at least two points you would like to discuss.
Turn journal entry in at the end of each class for a mark of check,
check plus or check minus. Late
responses receive an automatic check minus and can be turned in anytime.
25% Exhibition Diary - Due May 11: The
Exhibition Diary is brought to class.
With the Reading Response Papers it is the basis of discussion. It contains and documents everything you do
this semester, including reading response papers, notes from class,
discussions, plans and calendars for gallery work, guest lectures and field
trips, descriptions of installation shots clipped, printed off the web and/or
photocopied, articles about current or historical exhibitions, and your
photographs of gallery installations. Identify each photograph. Grade is based
on sheer volume! and how attractive, thoughtful, and complete the diary is.
20% Exhibition proposal - Due May 11
The
proposal includes a 4-page exhibition catalog essay; interpretative
material for the gallery (wall texts); the press release and marketing text;
and grants and proposals for
an exhibition for any actual public space - commercial gallery, university
gallery, museum, non-profit, artist-run, internet or alternative. The format will be explained in further detail
in class. It is presented to the class during the last class meeting and graded
on strength of concept; imagination; thoroughness and effectiveness of design
and plans; and professional appearance.
Subject to change
NOTE: Because you
are doing 30 hours of independent work, class only meets from 12:00-2:30 PM
except when field trips are scheduled.
January 26: Introduction // Exhibition
assignments made // plan the Art 193 Witt Gallery exhibition (March 14-18)
·
Assignment:
·
Meet
the person you will be working with for the 30 hour independent study portion
of the course. Write up a contract with
him or her spelling out what you will do.
That person will grade you on this part of the course, so be sure you
are both clear about what you want to do and when you can do it.
·
Purchase
your (loose-leaf) Exhibition Diary binder (paper, dividers, pockets, glue
stick, calendar, whatever you think you will need to contain/document your work
this semester). Include the syllabus.
·
Look
through current or back issues of art magazines, such as Art News, Artforum,
Art in America and Artweek, for ideas for the Witt exhibition. You can do a web search too, perhaps starting
with the Artforum website, above. Photocopy (or cut out if it’s not a library
copy) and paste the review / article into the diary.
·
http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/curatorial.html Read the information on this website and
print it out for your Exhibition Diary.
February 2: Present signed independent study agreements
and Exhibition diary with entry // plan the Art 193 Witt Gallery exhibition
(March 14-18)
February 9: discussion of reading and
exhibition diary // plan the Art 193 Witt Gallery exhibition
February 16: NO CLASS: O’Brien at art history
conference
February 23: Commercial art gallery visit (Bring camera)
March 2: plan the Art 193 Witt
Gallery exhibition (March 14-18)
CSUS Festival of the Arts, March 7-20. Your attendance and assistance at the art lectures and
events is part of class.
§
March
8: Carrie Mae Weems lecture
§
March
9: Rina Banerjee lecture
§
March
12, 1-5 PM: Art History Symposium
§
March
16: Sandra Davis lecture
March 9: Visit to
Assignment:
Work on Witt gallery exhibition
March 13: (Sunday): Install Witt Gallery Exhibition
March 14: (Monday):
Witt Exhibition Opening
March 18: (Friday):
Witt Exhibition de-installation
March 16:
·
Assignment: Help take down the Witt show
Friday night (March 18) or Saturday morning (March 19)
March 23: No Class - Spring
Vacation
March 30:
April 6:
April 13: Visit to
Reading: “Noodling Around with Exhibition Opportunities,” Elaine Neumann
Gurian (photocopy on reserve)
April 20:
·
April 27: Visit to
·
Look
through current or back issues of art magazines. Photocopy (or cut out if it’s not a library
copy) an exhibition review and paste it into the diary. Indicate location and date, describe the
exhibition and add your own commentary. Try
to connect the clipped exhibition review to the course readings, exhibition
projects, or field trips.
May 4: No Class – Make-up field trip to SFMoMA on Saturday May 7.
·
Assignment:
·
Write a one-page analysis of SFMoMA’s theory and design
practice with photographs and/or sketches and notes
·
Prepare Exhibition Diary for class presentation and final
grade. Complete Exhibition Proposal
May 7: Saturday field
trip to SFMoMA – bring camera and notebook If you are unable to come with the class, you can
go on your own.
May 11: Submit Exhibition Diary
& Exhibition Proposal for final grade and class review