Sacred Garments: Curating Orthodox Christian Vestments at the Doug Adams Gallery

August 14, 2017 by usfmuseumstudiesblog

by Lydia Webster (MA, 2017) It’s not everyday that you get to work alongside an Eastern Orthodox Bishop to bring his collection of sacred vestments to life. Interning during the Spring and Summer of 2017 at the Doug Adams Gallery in Berkeley, a small gallery that promotes scholarship, reflection, and practice in the arts and religion, has given me the opportunity to curate an exhibition celebrating precisely that: nine visually stunning works of material culture, still worn to this day. […]

Categories: Collaborations, Exhibits, internships, Museum Studies • Tags: curating, exhibit, internships, textiles

Opening the doors of Oakland’s new Museum of Capitalism

August 7, 2017 by usfmuseumstudiesblog

by Greer Montgomery (MA, 2017)   On Saturday, June 17th, a new museum opened in Oakland’s Jack London district. Not only is it a new museum, but it is also the first museum of its kind in the United States: a Museum of Capitalism.   Created by conceptual artist duo FICTILIS, the Museum of Capitalism is dedicated to, as its mission states, “educating this generation and future generations about the ideology, history, and legacy of capitalism.” The museum displays multimedia […]

Categories: Exhibits, internships, Museum Studies, Social Justice • Tags: exhibit, internships, social justice, USF Museum Studies

Inspiring Relevance: Nina Simon Advocates for Change

July 3, 2017 by Paula Birnbaum

By Greer Montgomery (MA, 2017) Last fall, the USF community had the opportunity to hear Nina Simon, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (the MAH) and Museum 2.0 blogger speak about her recent book, The Art of Relevance.  The event, hosted by the University of San Francisco Museum Studies Graduate Association, brought together museum professionals from across the Bay Area to hear Nina’s revelatory approaches to how museums can foster greater meaning and relevance within […]

Categories: Collaborations, Community, Exhibits, Forums, Museum Studies, Social Justice • Tags: art, collaboration, collections, community, design, education, history, interactive, professional development, research, social justice, students, technology

Reclaiming History, Reconstructing Lives: Chinese Laborers and the Building of the Transcontinental Railroad

June 26, 2017 by usfmuseumstudiesblog

by Shabnam Shermatova (MA, 2016) On April 11, 2017, University of San Francisco hosted a panel discussion on the Chinese American Historical Society exhibition Reclaiming History, Reconstructing Lives: Chinese Laborers and the building of the transcontinental railroad.  It was on display from March 20 to April 28, 2017, at the Gleeson Library/Geschke Center. The goal of both the exhibition and the discussion was to give voice to the Chinese laborers who built the American railroad system; call attention to this […]

Categories: Alumni, Collaborations, Exhibits, Forums, Museum Studies, Social Justice • Tags: Alumni, California history, collaboration, Gleeson Library, social justice

Alumni Connect: Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

June 19, 2017 by usfmuseumstudiesblog

by Victor Crosetti (MA, 2015) Editor’s note:  For this installment of Alumni Connect we interviewed Victor Crosetti (MA, 2015).  Victor serves as Membership Coordinator for BAMPFA, the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.   –MS USF Museum Studies Blog:  Tell us something about BAMPFA. Victor:  The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is the visual arts center of the University of California, Berkeley. BAMPFA offers one of the most distinguished and provocative programs of art […]

Categories: Alumni, Exhibits, Interviews • Tags: Alumni, art, California history, marketing, professional development

Designing Innovation for Museums

June 12, 2017 by Paula Birnbaum

By Emily Lawhead (MA 2017) How can museums effectively facilitate problem-solving, creativity, and innovation – both within their gallery spaces and in their programs? Dana Mitroff Silvers, founder of Designing Insights, has developed custom workshops and trainings in Design Thinking to answer this question. The Design Thinking process emphasizes learning by doing, and assists museums and companies in developing their best visitor experience. On April 25th, the USF Museum Studies Graduate Association invited Mitroff Silvers to conduct a Design Thinking […]

Categories: Exhibits, Forums • Tags: design, professional development

Sacred Garments: Orthodox Christian Vestments from Around the World

June 5, 2017 by usfmuseumstudiesblog

by Lydia Webster (MA, 2017) Editor’s note:  We congratulate the Doug Adams Gallery at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley on its June 6, 2017 opening of  stunning exhibition of Greek Orthodox vestments belonging to Metropolitan Nikitas of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute and thank the gallery for giving us permission to re-post this exhibition announcement.  Sacred Garments:  Orthodox Christian Vestments from Around the World, was curated by USF museum studies graduate student Lydia Webster (MA, 2017) during an internship that […]

Categories: Community, Exhibits, Forums • Tags: exhibit, history, social justice, textiles

Alumni Connect: Kathleen Schlier and the Accessibility Learning Collaborative

May 29, 2017 by usfmuseumstudiesblog

by Ivy Young, California Association of Museums Editor’s Note:  The Accessibility Learning Collaborative is part of the California Networks for Collaboration, funded by the Institute of Museums and Library Services and coordinated by the California Association of Museums.  Its goal is to share best practices for accessibility and professional practice with museums across the state.  In this post, we share an interview with Kathleen Schlier (MA, 2016) about disability justice, conducted by CAM’s Ivy Young.  –MS ********** Kathleen Schlier is […]

Categories: Alumni, Community, Forums, Interviews, Social Justice • Tags: access, Alumni, social justice

Curating Community with Robert Flynn Johnson and Shipyard Trust for the Arts

May 22, 2017 by Paula Birnbaum

by Else Trygstad-Burke (MA 2016) One of San Francisco’s most wonderful attributes is the city’s closely interconnected art communities. In October 2016, students from University of San Francisco’s graduate Museum Studies and undergraduate Art History/Arts Management Programs were invited to collaborate with one of the city’s longstanding art organizations, Shipyard Trust for the Arts (STAR). Four students were granted the exciting opportunity to assist Robert Flynn Johnson, Curator Emeritus of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, California Palace of the […]

Categories: Alumni, Collaborations, Community, Exhibits, Museum Studies, Site Visits, Social Justice, Uncategorized • Tags: Alumni, art, collaboration, community, design, education, faculty, interactive, professional development, social justice, students, workshop