Date of Award

2020

Document Type

MA Project - Restricted Access (SIA Only)

Project Type

MA Project - Curatorial Proposal

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Fine and Decorative Art and Design

First Advisor

Ann-Marie Richard

Second Advisor

Eric Wolf

Abstract

Both/And, a contemporary art exhibition in New York City’s historic Merchant’s House Museum, challenges ideas of past, present, and future as they relate to objects and places. Each artwork in the exhibition utilizes non-traditional mediums that undergo some form of change. Adaptive use of material draws connections between the past and present through the artwork and the historic house, symbolizing the museum’s own transformation. Viewing contemporary art in a unique setting such as the Merchant’s House Museum will be out of the ordinary and make the experience unforgettable. Too often, historic house museums (HHMs) can be intimidating and are perceived as dull, stodgy, and elitist. Both/And changes this paradigm by appealing to a diverse audience, reimagining the historic house and providing an unexpected environment to view contemporary art. As visitorship at museums declines and a high number of historic house museums saturate geographical areas, HHMs seek creative ways to stand out and engage with audiences in new ways.

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