ALUMNI FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: CHRISTINE PENNINGTON & LAUREN WILLIAMS

ALUMNI CHECK-IN

BY: EMILY WELSH

This week I check-in with two alumni working on opposite coasts of our vast country:

Christine Pennington graduated from the MMSt program in 2017 and previously with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia in 2015. She is currently employed as Collections Assistant at the Museum of Vancouver (MOV). Christine's collections management duties include cataloguing and digitizing objects, processing photography reproduction requests, and facilitating collections visits for researchers and community members. Currently her work is focused on assisting the management and installation of MOV's upcoming exhibition, Haida Now, which includes over 400 objects from their collection!    

Christine's previous work with MOV includes her time in a different position with the same title, taking over 20,000 photos for an online database and digitization project. She was also a collections intern at MOV, preparing objects for long-term storage. Christine has previously worked and volunteered in the Ethnology Department of the Royal Ontario Museum, and has worked as Curatorial Assistant at Barkerville Historic Town.      

Christine Pennington, MMSt '17, taking a casual museum selfie. Photo courtesy of Christine Pennington.

Lauren Williams graduated from the MMSt program in 2014 and previously with a Bachelors of Arts with Combined Honours from the University of King's College in 2011. She is currently employed as Assistant Curator & Outreach Coordinator at Arts Nova Scotia. Lauren is responsible for administering and installing the provincial Art Bank, a working collection of artworks by Nova Scotian artists. Each year, artists are invited to submit works which then undergo a peer assessment process for acquisition. The collection's artworks are displayed in government offices and agencies across Nova Scotia. Lauren is also responsible for Arts Nova Scotia communication and outreach initiatives, including social media, information sessions and the annual Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala.

Lauren's past experiences in the museum sector include her time at the Ontario Science Centre during her MMSt degree when she completed her internship under alumnus Cara van der Laan, and curated the permanent radio exhibition as her exhibition project. She also worked as Collections and Exhibitions Coordinator at the former Museum of Inuit Art in Toronto where she initially started as a volunteer.

Lauren Williams, MMSt '14, standing in the Art Bank storage space. Photo courtesy of Lauren Williams.

Christine and Lauren kindly answered the following questions for us here at Musings:

1. Why did you decide to join the MMSt program?

Christine: I’ve always wanted to work in museums in some capacity. During my undergrad I was able to take multiple museum-related courses, including curatorial and conservation courses at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology. I started looking for programs that would help me pursue this career, and the MMSt program seemed like a great fit.

Lauren: At some point in my undergrad, I started fantasizing about how I could turn my love of museums into a career. I chose the U of T program as I was initially interested in pursuing the academic side of things – though the hands-on aspects of the program often ended up being my favourite parts.


2. What course or subject matter has been of most use to you in your current role?

Christine: I’m interested in collections work, so obviously the Collections Management course was important, but I think Sue Maltby’s Museum Environments course was the most useful for my current work. Most institutions will teach you general collections care, but Sue brings in so much practical information through a good combination of best practice and real life examples. I feel like nothing sticks with you more than a slideshow of conservation fails that are, unfortunately, all too common.

            Here, Christine photographs one of the beautiful Chilkat blankets at the MOV, in a slightly makeshift manner.                 Photo courtesy of Fiona Hernandez.

Lauren: I truly can find a relationship between each course I took in the MMSt program and the work I do today – which is especially interesting considering I don’t work in a “traditional” museum job. I use skills taught in Collections Management in order to maintain the Art Bank collection; I draw upon ethics taught in Ethics, Leadership & Management when working with artists and arts organizations; I had a background on collaboration vs. consultation from Museums & Indigenous Communities when Arts NS introduced the Indigenous Artist Recognition Award; and Curating Science taught me to strive to find ways to engage the public creatively. I could go on!


3. What do you enjoy most about your work?

Christine: The Museum of Vancouver is working hard to provide greater access to collections for Indigenous communities. This is so important, especially considering the controversial ways in which many Indigenous collections have ended up in museums around the world. It’s amazing and humbling to be able to help provide community members with access to their material culture.  

Christine basking in some of the rare Vancouver sunshine, outside the MOV. 

Photo courtesy of Christine Pennington.

Lauren: I’d have to say that the thing I most enjoy about my work is how every day is different. Through the Art Bank program, I have the unique opportunity to visit offices across different departments in government and interact with folks doing work completely different than my own. It is quite amazing to see the variety of responses to the artworks I bring with me to an installation. I’ve always known art was quite powerful, and that it can elicit strong emotion; however, seeing this in action every day has given me a new level of understanding, appreciation and sensitivity.  


4. Which object, exhibit or program, in your current institution, do you enjoy the most? Why? 

Christine: This is a tough question, because I feel like I change my mind and pick a new favourite weekly. I love anything miniature, and right now I’m working with a lot of argillite carvings from Haida Gwaii, so I would probably pick a mini argillite sculpture of a killer whale by Arthur Moody (AA 2312 in the collection: http://openmov.museumofvancouver.ca/node/91518 ). Argillite carvings are amazing, and this one has so much personality.

Lauren: Currently, I am reviewing applications for the Art Bank purchase program. Over 100 artists have submitted their work for consideration, and the unfortunate reality is, the public will only be able to see as many works as the budget allows for (under the recommendations of the peer assessors, not myself). It feels like such a great privilege to be able to see the amazing breadth of work being done by contemporary artists living in Nova Scotia. So today, that is my favourite program.

Cliff Eyland “Mouse Trap” (1988) 7.5 x 13 cm,
Mixed media, Nova Scotia Art Bank. 

Photo courtesy of Lauren Williams.

If I had to choose a favourite object, at the moment it would be “Mouse Trap” by Cliff Eyland. The piece is a mouse that met an unfortunate end in a mousetrap and was soon after preserved in a thick coat of clear lacquer (Jurassic Park amber-mosquito-style) and mounted on a small board.

Typically, my favourite objects in the Art Bank are the ones that are the hardest to hang in an office – the works that challenge people’s assumption of what “office art” is and forces people to step outside of their comfort zone (Nova Scotia has a very real comfort zone with paintings of boats).

Many thanks to Christine and Lauren for taking time to share their experiences with us! 

All the best in your future endeavours. 

MMSt 2017 INTERNSHIPS: PART TWO

INTERNSHIP CHECK-IN

BY: TABITHA CHAN

Here is part two of Internship Check-In! Let's jump right into it.

Today's post features:

Jessica Baptista: Museum London - London, ON
Alexis Moline: Museum of Vancouver - Vancouver, BC
Karley Staskus: The Law Society of Upper Canada at Osgoode Hall - Toronto, ON
Breanna Stephenson: Ontario Museum Association - Toronto, ON
Julia Zungri: Halton Heritage Services - Milton, ON

Describe what a typical day is like for you at your institution. What are some of your main duties and responsibilities?

Jessica: Currently, I am working on organizing the details of five different outgoing loans that will be leaving Museum London over the course of the summer. I have been condition reporting artworks from closing exhibitions and helping with the preparation for their safe delivery back to the lending institutions. I have also been organizing the physical accession files within the art collection’s archives, learning how to complete accession paperwork following the acquisition of new pieces to the collection, and organizing the catalogue collection within the archives.

Alexis: On a typical day I spend time researching at my own personal desk with my own personal laptop (so adult!). I’m currently assigned to two upcoming exhibitions which has me quite busy. I am lucky enough to be invited to insider meetings with my supervisor and other employees at the museum. There are usually a few meetings a week where I get to sit in, listen and observe all that is involved in curatorial practice and exhibition planning! I have also spent a lot of time in collections handling and reporting on objects to be readied for upcoming shows. Every day is different and I love taking it all on!

Karley: A typical day interning with The Law Society of Upper Canada at Osgoode Hall is not really so typical. My main duties and responsibilities right now are providing summer tours and researching and preparing a mini exhibition. I spent most of the month of May planning and preparing for Doors Open Toronto 2017, which involved sitting in on meetings, preparing volunteer lists and information packages, and preparing signage for Osgoode Hall. I was also here for Doors Open Toronto 2017 and it was a crazy, jam-packed day which was so exciting to be a part of.

Breanna: Typically I am responsible for various tasks related to all OMA programs and conference content. I have two supervisors (one for conference and the other for programming) whom I assist and coordinate various projects with. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of designing for conference content and creating tracking documents which can be updated with ongoing information. I am also responsible for the OMA Awards of Excellence that will be presented at the conference this year, as well as a promotional video project involving speakers.

Julia: We are working on two major exhibitions with a very tight schedule, so a typical day for me right now is extremely packed! My main duties include conducting research and writing text for the exhibition panels, as well as helping fabricate and design the panels and other exhibit materials. Most of the exhibition development and fabrication gets completed in-house and I love it – there’s never a dull moment! 

Jessica taking a photo in front of her institution, Museum London. 

What is something you have learned in your first few weeks of your internship?

Jessica: I have learned that there are always projects and tasks on the go that need to be constantly monitored and always in the back of your mind as you progress day to day. There are always loans that are arriving and leaving the museum, exhibitions that are being installed and removed, artists arriving with donations and loans and exhibitions that are in progress. While these tasks are occurring daily, there may be last minute inquiries, complications or details that require immediate attention. As an Art Registrar, it's crucial to be able to anticipate events to the best of your ability, and to be able to budget your time effectively so objectives and deadlines are met.

Alexis: That Vancouver is ruled by crows. It’s a very lovely, comforting feeling to be constantly watched by at least 7 gigantic crows wherever you go. #atonewithnature

Karley: Over the last few weeks I have learned that a typical job title doesn't limit your tasks and duties, especially in this field. I also learned that Osgoode Hall is very confusing, and that I am amazing at getting lost trying to find my way back to my office. I have also learned that I am not afraid at the idea of ghosts, but maybe that will change by the end of my internship!

Breanna: That the museum/heritage sector is smaller than one might think. There are people whose names come up multiple times for different projects, and are involved with so many things that I wonder how they manage to do it all.

Julia: I’ve learned that you cannot jump right into a project without considering many, many aspects and going through numerous steps. Although we are working on such a tight deadline for these exhibits, we’ve spent the first few weeks of my time here focusing on what may seem like very minute details but which make the process much smoother in the long run. I’ve also realized that skills which are not often associated with museum studies are in fact extremely useful, such as graphic design and, believe it or not, woodworking.

Alexis striking a pose in front of the Museum of Vancouver!

What is something that has surprised you about museums that you did not know before working in a real one?

Jessica: I did not anticipate the volume of activity behind the scenes. Hundreds of emails, multiple projects on the go every day, and the number of people involved in museum daily operation.

Alexis: I’ve learned that not everything is planned and to go with the flow. It’s very comforting to see how realistically new tasks and assignments are dealt with as they arise and I’m happy to learn this institution is flexible in how it seemingly effortlessly faces unforeseen challenges.

Karley: N/A! The Law Society of Upper Canada's Osgoode Hall isn't a museum.

Breanna: Since I don’t technically work in a museum, it surprises me how many other people think that the OMA is a museum. There are people who call asking about our ‘collections’ (non-existent) or want information about some random institution in Ontario that may not be a OMA member or affiliated with the organization. We do our best to answer their questions, but I find it strange how little people really know about the OMA and what we really do.

Julia: What I have found most surprising was how much of museum work does not have to be outsourced. Perhaps it is the type of institution that I am working in, but we do everything from research and writing (which seems very typical) to design and fabrication of the panels. What smaller institutions are capable of, especially what I am capable of, has seemed to be the biggest surprise thus far!

Karley interning with The Law Society of Upper Canada at Osgoode Hall.

What are you most looking forward to in your internship? What excites you about your internship?

Jessica: I love exploring the museum’s art collections and the vaults where the material objects are housed. Every object has a wonderful story waiting to be told!  

Alexis: I am excited to see how the different stages of exhibition planning unfold. I am working on exhibitions that open in September 2017 and June 2018 and observing a show that will open in a few weeks – it’s so interesting to see the dynamics and energy involved from start to finish.

Karley: I am most looking forward to preparing and presenting my mini exhibition. I have spent the last few weeks researching and choosing objects from the permanent collection that excite me and tell a story. I am excited to see it all come together. What excites me about my internship is that no two days have been completely the same! I also gave my first tour ever this week, which was extremely exhilarating.

Breanna: Something that I am really excited about is assisting with the upcoming OMA conference. I have never attended a museum conference before, let alone helped plan one, but this internship is allowing me the chance to see how much effort and work goes into those few days. Also, heads up, we will be announcing soon when Early Bird Registration will be open for Conference this year, and be on the lookout for possible student/volunteer opportunities!

Julia: What excites me most about my internship is being able to significantly contribute to major projects that have a tangible end result. Being so hands-on and immersed in exhibition development and collections is giving me practical and valuable experience that cannot be taught in class. I thoroughly enjoy not being treated like a student, but as another employee at the institution and therefore given responsibilities that allow me to get my creative senses tingling and learn so much more!

Breanna taking a selfie at the OMA! 

What do you hope to accomplish while you are at your internship?

Jessica: I hope to gain a well-rounded understanding of the various responsibilities of an Art Registrar.

Alexis: I hope to be able to have an even firmer grasp on the practical, real-life workings of museums. There are things you can’t learn if you don’t experience them firsthand, so I’m hoping to experience it all!

Karley: I hope to prepare and present an exciting online exhibition about an object from the permanent collection. This was one of my hopes coming into the internship portion of the program, and so far it's going really well!

Breanna: One of the main reasons I really wanted this internship was to drastically expand my museum network. The fact that I am emailing, meeting, speaking with numerous museum and heritage professionals is providing me the chance to connect with them, and in turn putting my name out there for future opportunities.

Julia: After only a few weeks, I already know that I will gain valuable experience at my internship that I can use in the future for networking and career building, as well as my second year exhibition project. I also hope to learn much more in areas that I am not so familiar with such as graphic design.

Julia in action! She's getting hands-on experience with exhibit fabrication for an upcoming exhibit at Oakville Historical Society.

What’s your passion?

Jessica: My passion is the conservation and preservation of objects of material culture, particularly glass-plate negatives and anything older than the 20th century.

Alexis: My passion is curation, specifically how research and knowledge can be shared with the public to activate critical thinking and social change.

Karley: My passion is the study of and interpretation of history. I strongly believe that heritage institutions play a vital role in a community's well-being and connection to culture. 

Breanna: I have various passions. But for the sake of this Q&A, I shall limit it to museums. My dream is to be part of an organization that is committed to improving international relations between Canadian museums and other institutions around the world. The potential to open up the channels of communication, to increase the number of art and artifacts that can travel via technology or other means, and to foster more awareness about other cultures and their art forms is right there; we just have to take that first leap.

Julia: My internship has certainly confirmed my passion for curatorial work, particularly exhibition development. I’m fascinated with getting fully immersed into a particular history or story and falling down the rabbit hole of researching and writing.

Big thank you to Jessica, Alexis, Karley, Breanna and Julia for participating in this interview and taking the time to reflect on your experiences. In two weeks, we'll have Part Three of the series!