MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS: ALUMNI CHECK-IN WITH KATE WOLFORTH

Alumni Check-In | Elizabeth Cytko

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Kate Wolforth, MMSt. (1997-1999) has been Manager of Collections, Exhibitions and Technical Services at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s, NL since 2014.

Kate Wolforth is the Manager of Exhibitions, and the Collections/Exhibitions Program Supervisor at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery . She graduated from the Museum Studies program in 1999. Kate keeps the show running, maintaining schedules, and ensuring that the exhibition changeover is completed smoothly.

What is your favourite memory from your time in the Museum program?

The other students and all the discussions we had. Just having the time to think, talk, read, and we had some good debates. It was a really small program in the late 1990s. We only had about 13 students. Everybody was just so passionate and happy to be there. I enjoyed my internship as well. I did my internship at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont. I worked with the education department doing all kinds of things. I developed an exhibition for kids and I worked on their summer camp program. I learned a ton – this museum was very supportive of interns at the time.

Is there anything you wish you had done while you were in the program?

I wish I had put myself out there more. I didn't publish anything. All the time that I spent writing papers for courses and I didn't turn any of [the papers] into a journal article while I had the time to think and write. Yes, so that's probably my biggest regret.

Can you give me a brief overview of where you work?

I work at The Rooms, which is the major provincial facility in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Rooms is home to the provincial art gallery, museum and archives. We manage all of the important objects related to this place. It's a really exciting institution - especially if you're someone like me, who likes art, but also likes history. This place has a truly fascinating past and a very vibrant culture. It’s a great place to live and work.

What does a typical day entail at your job?

A lot of my work is sitting at a desk, writing emails to people, buying things… it could be any administrative job. There's also the interesting part where we're working with an artist to develop a commission or sculpture, and you're trying to get plans together for exhibitions and reading over texts that the curators create. That kind of thing is what's really fun. We change over exhibitions every three months. Even when you're finished an exhibition, you're going right into another one. There's not really time to relax!

Since Newfoundland is an island, are there any island-specific challenges in running a museum, like getting items out or in?

Definitely, people from the mainland don't know exactly how far we are. It takes seven to ten days of shipping from Montreal or Toronto, and I have to allow for the fact that the ferry might shut down. In wintertime, we can have weeks sometimes when the ferry doesn't cross and we have no other link. If something's really urgent, I try to ship it by air, but in general our shipping costs are very expensive. So again, when we're doing tours of exhibitions from here, people in central Canada are used to sending things out for a few thousand dollars; it can be tens of thousands of dollars for us to send an exhibition. We have to make a special request in wintertime for the transport trucks to find a spot on the ferry where they can plug in so that they can keep things at a regulated temperature. Transport is probably the biggest issue and also access to colleagues.

The Rooms presented SakKijâjuk: Art and Craft of Nunatsiavut in Fall 2016. It is currently touring across Canada and is set to open at the Art Gallery of Windsor in October 2019.
Photo courtesy of Kate Wolforth

Which traveling exhibition did you find most challenging to supervise?

A current exhibition we are touring right now is called SakKijâjuk: Art and Craft of Nunatsiavut, curated by Dr. Heather Igloliorte. It is a very challenging to tour because it involves 40 artists and 80 artworks. All of those artists required a contract, all of those objects have to be tracked and installed in each venue. We found, after we developed it, that there weren't a lot of venues that could take a show that big. It's a beautiful show. We're so proud that our institution was able to put it together and tour it. It has received huge, wonderful accolades. It was a bit of a beast, challenging but worth it.

Do you have any tips for negotiating (with suppliers/team/other museums)?

Clarity of communication is probably the biggest recommendation. Make sure emails are straightforward, say what you want to do and why, because we're all really busy. Be clear about what your limits are. When you’re not clear up front it generally leads to trouble down the line. We’ve tried to make sure our contracts are airtight pieces of legal language.

What are some of the greatest risks you have taken in your career?

Every time you move jobs: I've left jobs that I really enjoyed for other opportunities, when I felt it was time to make a change. It's always a risk when you take a new job, because you don't know exactly what you’re going into. So far, I’ve been very lucky – the jobs I’ve moved into in my career have given me opportunities to grow and learn.

The current major summer exhibition at The Rooms Future Possible: Art of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1949 to Present is a comprehensive look at the art history of the province.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Blackburn

What are some of the long term trends that you think young museum professionals need to be aware of?

I think we all need to think more about environmental sustainability in everything we do. Exhibitions, in particular, can be very wasteful and I think that's something that people need to think about more and more. There need to be different design strategies, different ways of producing materials, and just different ways of doing exhibitions, that isn't so wasteful, that's a direction we need to go in. It is hard to do when people are used to doing things in the same way.

We also need to consider how museums can help people connect in meaningful ways. I think we're all connected to our phones - we're all connected digitally – but we’re all craving real, meaningful connections and experiences. When we do surveys asking why people come to The Rooms, they tell us “we're coming for peace”, “we're coming for calm”, “we're coming to get away”, “we're coming to escape.” When I was doing museum studies we were taught that people come to museums to be social with each other and to learn, but that's not what we're hearing from visitors now. People want to get away, so that kind of changes the way you think about how you design your spaces. All that stuff changes when the goal is to help people relax and find peace. I think that people can learn anything now from their phones, they can learn all the basic facts, anything they want to know, they can look up on Wikipedia. What they come to museums and galleries for is an immersive experience, some way to just be totally enveloped in some other reality. I think that's something that we're going to have to do better.

What is your advice for becoming a great leader?

Recognizing that you're only as strong as the people around you, always thank other people around you; always give credit where credit is due. I think that's really important. Generally we're all moving so fast and we don't get to hear from people about how well we've done. Within our team, I always try to make sure that if we get a compliment from a visitor, it's passed along to the person who actually did the work. If someone's done a good job, they should hear about it, because it motivates them to keep going.

What advice would you give to museum professionals entering the sector today?

I think just be really flexible. Take opportunities when they come. Sometimes you think you might not be interested in something, but try it anyway. You never know what you might learn from that experience. I think in museology, you have so many opportunities to try lots of different things. I've switched back and forth between art and heritage, and I've had a really rich career because of that.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

ANSWER THE CALL: EXHIBITION CROWDSOURCING

MUSEUM INNOVATIONS

BY: JAIME CLIFTON-ROSS

“Enlisting your help!” 

“Answer the call!” 

“We need you to do your part!”

These are some of the headlines that are encouraging communities across Newfoundland and Labrador to contribute to a 2016 permanent exhibition at The Rooms, in commemoration of the First World War centennial.

Advertisement from the Great War

If you’re unfamiliar with this wonderful provincial museum, please allow me to enlighten you! It is located on a hill overlooking the harbour of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and was opened in 2005. Referred to by locals as “the box that the basilica came in” (in classic Newfie humour) because its hyper-modern design drastically contrasts the many historic buildings surrounding it. What makes it so special is its progressive fusion of a museum, art gallery, and city archive into one grand cultural centre. An afternoon visit may just have you pondering contemporary art, Newfoundland traditions, the mass Irish exodus, and even local biodiversity!

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While museum crowd sourcing is rapidly becoming a popular strategy for engagement in museums, this project is relying heavily on public donations including family artefacts, photographs, and other First World War memorabilia to enrich the existing collection. Under the guidance of museum director, Anne Chafe, a team of researchers visited fourteen communities across the province to collect valuable oral accounts from descendants of those who fought in the war.

The outpour of support and contributions were overwhelming!  Medals, notebooks, boots, uniforms, a prosthetic leg, and even a practice gas mask were donated to the museum. What makes these items special however, are their stories and histories passed along by the families. Museum staff have a rare insight into the provenance details of these artefacts.

Recruitment Advertisement

What makes the Royal Newfoundland Regiment particularly interesting is their unique position in North America. During the First World War, Newfoundland and Labrador were a colony and dominion of the United Kingdom. The colony swiftly assembled a zealous 500 soldier regiment in 1914, who were eager to join forces “for King and country”. Sadly, the majority of the regiment was killed during the Battle of the Somme at Beaumont Hamel on July 1st, 1916. Their courage is honoured every year across the province as they willingly took position above a ravine, despite the obvious presence of German soldiers below.

The memorial to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at the Beaumont Hamel battlefield site in France.
Jeff Thorpe, For Postmedia News

In addition to collecting oral histories and objects in various communities, the Rooms has set-up an interactive exhibition space that encourages community involvement and interpretation. They’re hope is to gather as much information as possible, before it is lost in the passing of generations.

The exhibition space contains the following features:

1. A collection of couches that encourage visitors to comfortably share their stories.
2. A printer and scanner, for those individuals who want to retain original photographs and documents. Museum staff work in the gallery and offer assistance.
3. Message boards that encourage visitors to share their interpretations or their impressions.
4. A list of specific artefacts in which the museum hopes to acquire for the exhibition.
5. Images with unidentified soldiers. Their hope is for visitors to come forward with information.
6. Select artefacts on display.
7. A clear container full of replicas of blue wool socks worn by Newfoundland soldiers (this was part of an interpretive programme). These objects are of particular importance to Newfoundland, as their soldiers were the only regiment to sport blue puttees.
8. Postcards that encourage message writing.
9. Posters evaluating the eligibility for the recruitment of visitors (i.e. age, height, weight, health, etc.)

Photo by Jaime Clifton-Ross

Photo by Jaime Clifton-Ross

The nature in which this exhibition is conceived will most certainly instigate an emotional impact for many Newfoundlanders. Considering the immensity of community support required for such an exhibition, local visitors will likely feel a sense of ownership of the exhibition. This innovative method of museum development has ultimately united a new community, who will collectively share, interpret, and educate museum visitors. In a sense, they’ve transformed 100 year old history into living history. Talk about community engagement!

ANIMAL OF NOTE: THE MAJESTIC BLUE WHALE

WALK OF FAME

BY: JAIME CLIFTON-ROSS

The existence of dinosaurs on earth has inspired a multitude of research, excavation, and entertainment since the 19th century. How could such creatures exist on the very planet in which humans evolved? After watching the terrifying scene of ferocious Velociraptors in the kitchen in Jurassic Park, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who is relieved that we don't share a habitat with such large creatures. But we're forgetting one massive animal that continues to exist on our planet; one that far surpasses the size of any dinosaur: the blue whale! 

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The biggest news in museums right now is the recent tragic deaths of nine blue whales. While the circumstances of their deaths is unclear, it is assumed they drowned or were crushed by ice. Three bodies were beached along the western shores of Newfoundland, however one drifted back into the ocean. With help from the locals, Mark Engstrom (Senior Curator and Deputy Director of Collections & Research) and Burton Lim (Assistant Curator of Mammalogy in the Department of Natural History) from the Royal Ontario Museum Biodiversity team, took it upon themselves to relocate the whale from Trout River to Rocky Harbour in Newfoundland. They subsequently began the challenging and putrid process of deboning, collecting, and removing at least one of the decomposing whales from the quiet harbour. If you’re like me, and can’t help but look at the nauseating photos of this process, follow their Twitter page for regular (graphic) updates! Also look for #BlueWhale.

Whale Fall (After Life of a Whale) from Sweet Fern Productions on Vimeo.

During the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, blue whales became endangered as whalers obliterated an estimated 350,000 animals. They eventually gained protection, in 1966, under the International Whaling Commission. While the recent deaths of these endangered animals is undeniable devastating—as they encompass 5% of the entire population of this baleen species—the efforts of the BioDiversity team will ultimately facilitate valuable research. The team of scientists have turned this unfortunate event into a positive research initiative, that may help humanity better understand and appreciate this majestic being. While blue whales will never be held in the same esteem as dinosaurs, for obvious reasons, perhaps now they will play a larger role in our collective psyche. We share our planet with these enormous and incredible forces of life, so we therefore have a duty to protect them. As far as I'm concerned, the ROM (along with other museums that have previously collected blue whale specimens) has taken this rare opportunity to enrich the scientific, educational, and cultural climate surrounding blue whales.   

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/blue-whale/

Here are a couple of interesting facts about blue whales:

- Blue whales are the largest known animal to have ever lived on Earth. They typically weigh twice the

  size of a large dinosaur!
- Their hearts alone can weigh as much as a car.
- In good conditions, they can hear other blue whales up to 1,000 miles away.
- They have few predators, considering their size, however large shark and orca attacks occur  

  occasionally.
- They can ingest 3 to 4 tons of Krill (crustaceans) per day!

http://greenfishbluefish.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/tumblr_mdph50ixvy1qgt14zo1_500.jpg

The following sources were consulted:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/blue-whale/

http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbf0a17896bb431f6a26e3/