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Seventeen security guards turned curator to create an exhibit inspired by music, black artists, humour, and social justice, or simply time spent guarding a particular piece
Alice Davis | Planet Attractions | 23 Mar 2022
The artwork House of Frederick Crey, attributed to Thomas Ruckle, was chosen by Dereck Mangus, who has worked at the BMA since 2016 Credit: Attributed to Thomas Ruckle.House of Frederick Crey.1830-1835.The Baltimore Museum of Art: Gift of J. William
A unique art exhibit is set to open on Sunday at Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), brought to visitors by a surprising group of curators – the museum’s security guards.
“Guarding the Art” will consist of 25 artworks compiled by 17 of the staff, those who, the museum says, spend more time than anyone else looking at the Maryland attraction’s collection. Running from Sunday until July, the curated works – taken from the museum’s collection – will tell the story of what it is like to work in the museum, protect and reflect on the art, and talk with visitors, as well as the curating guards’ own thoughts and perspectives on their chosen pieces.
The unusual idea stemmed from conversations among trustees and curators, who wanted to engage more with the BMA security. The 17 curator guards were mentored by art historian and curator Dr. Lowery Stokes Sims and compensated for their extra-curricular work. As well as choosing artifacts from the museum collection, the group were instrumental in deciding how best to present each artwork, how to plan the visitor route through the exhibit, and what to write on labels, brochures, and even social media.
“Guarding the Art is more personal than typical museum shows as it gives visitors a unique opportunity to see, listen and learn the personal histories and motivations of guest curators,” said Amy Elias, the BMA trustee who came up with the idea. “In this way, the exhibition opens a door for how a visitor might feel about the art, rather than just providing a framework for how to think about the art.”
The participating security team were inspired by a range of topics, including, music, black artists, humour, social justice, underrepresented artists, or simply because they had formed a connection with a particular piece.
“There is so much more to see in the BMA’s collection than what’s on the gallery walls,” said BMA security guard and now-curator Elise Tensley. “It’s been exciting to get first-hand experience in organizing an exhibition and discovering all the behind-the-scenes considerations. It gives you a new respect for how museums work and the stories they tell.”
Works by Jeremy Alden, Louise Bourgeois, Sam Gilliam, Grace Hartigan, Winslow Homer, Alma W. Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, and unidentified artists from Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Solomon Islands are among those featured in the exhibition.
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