We Want to Say Thank You
If you’re wondering how to start brainstorming ideas when building an exhibition, it’s really helpful to have someone guiding the discussion. Professor Kirsty Robertson was exactly this person for our class. Sometimes, creating a plan of action for a huge project can be quite daunting. Kirsty gave us just enough direction to get our ideas flowing and then encouraged us to dialogue with one another to find overlap in ideas. Asking questions like, “What do we like about this idea?” “How do we feel about combining these two concepts?” “What could be changed?” are all questions that create opportunity to agree, disagree, and eventually strike a balance among ideas. This is how Kirsty guided the class’s brainstorming sessions when we were thinking about possible themes for our exhibition. Throughout every step of the process, Kirsty has been patient, democratic, and fun-loving.
Katie also has been very willing to help us bring this exhibition together and is a really great source of knowledge. From its very beginnings as an idea to its final days of installation, Katie’s support for the class can best be described by her willingness to help ¾ her Google search history may just be the most obscure compilation of information due to the research she does for us; she has contacted numerous construction companies to inquire about sand deliveries in bulk; she has helped us paint and draw on any and every surface that needed paint or a drawing. Needless to say, she has helped us in any and every way needed. Katie has also helped us when it comes to uncertainty about our futures. As many students in the class are thinking about graduate school as a possibility for the coming years, Katie has been so supportive in answering any and all of our questions, reassuring us in the midst of uncertainty that life after undergraduate studies can be exciting and rewarding.
Through every stage of the planning and execution processes, Kirsty and Katie have provided us with support and encouragement. It is amazing to reminisce about this exhibition in its visionary stages and be able to look at the final product. Each of us in the practicum know that the exhibition would not have progressed as well as it did if we did not have their help.
We are grateful for their continued belief that us students have the potential to create profound commentary on current issues in popular culture.
But this practicum course is not just about putting together the exhibition ¾ when we were not doing work directly related to the exhibition, we have been critically analyzing the ways in which museums deal with some really contentious issues. We have analyzed and critiqued exhibitions that addressed race relations, colonialism, repatriation, and even human zoos. I always found myself very engaged in class discussions, particularly because Kirsty brought so many interesting examples of museum exhibitions to class. Everything in these classes was discussion-based. Kirsty always created an open environment for discussion to flow freely and for each person in the class to share their true opinions, which oftentimes were in disagreement with one another.
So now, what to say about Kirsty and Katie’s influences on the development of this course so far? I think it is fair to speak on behalf of all the 4485 practicum students when I make the claim that Kirsty and Katie have given each of us a more accurate illustration of what it looks like to pursue a career in museum studies and the necessary skillsets to succeed in a curatorial position. For me personally, gaining a better understanding of the curatorial field of studies meant that I came to the realization that curatorial studies is not the right fit for me and so I will not be pursuing this route. While this may seem like a disappointing way to end the practicum, I am thankful to have had Kirsty and Katie as mentors because through discussion and giving opportunities to learn more, I feel more convinced to find practical solutions to some of these issues.
Kirsty and Katie, thank you for giving us all a well-rounded experience of the 4485 museum practicum course. Whether some of us choose to pursue museum studies or not, the both of you have given us valuable insight that most definitely applies to whatever we choose to pursue in the future.
To infinity and beyond!