The Grapevine

JOB: Department of Art, Art History, and Design Chairperson @ Michigan State University

The Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) presents an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader to reimagine and advance art and design research and education at Michigan State University. The new Chair will be forward-looking, catalyzing creativity and innovation within the department, and across the college, university, and wider community, to raise the profile of AAHD. The ideal candidate will demonstrate evidence of collaborative engagement and a commitment to excellence in disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, along with the management, interpersonal, and communication skills required to administer the department’s diverse programs and to advocate effectively for its students, faculty, and staff across all fields. The new Chair will be committed to shared governance, will foster an environment that promotes diversity, inclusivity, collegiality, and transparency, and will have a record of success with strategic planning, budget management, recruitment, and guiding faculty through tenure and promotion processes.

 Department of Art, Art History, and Design

AAHD (http://art.msu.edu) is home to more than fifty faculty and staff members, including thirty tenure-system faculty. Many faculty participate in interdisciplinary initiatives in and beyond the College of Arts and Letters, such as the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities, Experience Architecture, Digital Humanities, Arts and Cultural Management, Museum Studies, Film Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, as well as Asian, African, African and African American, and Global Studies. Additional opportunities for programming and partnerships include the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, the MSU Museum, MATRIX, the Abrams Planetarium, the MSU Main Library, the MSU Archives, and several departments and colleges across this extensive Research 1 university.

Serving over 500 majors, AAHD offers a wide range of degree programs: BA and BFA in Studio Art (ceramics, electronic arts and intermedia, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture); BFA in Graphic Design; BA and BFA in Apparel and Textile Design; BA in History of Art and Visual Culture; BFA in Art Education; and MFA in Studio Art (ceramics, electronic arts and intermedia, graphic design, painting, printmaking, and sculpture). An active visiting artist and scholar lecture series brings a group of internationally renowned artists, designers, critics, and scholars to campus each year, accompanied by the Bridge program (http://bridge.art.msu.edu) and the new Critical Race Studies Artist in Residence.

MSU leads the nation in study abroad and study away participation among public universities and AAHD faculty lead programs in Austria, China, France, Greece, Italy, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, as well as in New York and Chicago. 

Michigan State University

The nation’s pioneer land-grant university, and a member of the Association of American Universities, MSU is a research-intensive institution with seventeen degree granting colleges. Hosting a student population of more than 50,000, including nearly 11,300 graduate and professional students from all 50 states and from more than 130 countries, the MSU community is multicultural and multinational. The campus is located in East Lansing, a cosmopolitan university town adjacent to Lansing (the state capital), and is 80 miles from Detroit and 210 miles from Chicago. 

Appointment & Qualifications

This is a 12-month position with an initial 5-year appointment commencing August 1, 2018. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Candidates must be external to MSU and have credentials appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor. Candidates must also have a terminal degree in an appropriate field of art, art history, or design, and significant administrative experience — preferably, as Chairperson, Director, Associate Dean, Dean, or equivalent. 

Application Procedures

Review of applications will begin January 29, 2018 and continue until the position fills. All applications for this position must be submitted electronically at the Michigan State University Human Resources website: http://careers.msu.edu (posting #483112). Qualified applicants should submit:

  1. A letter expressing interest in the position and describing qualifications and experience;
  2. A current curriculum vitae;
  3. Evidence of creative and/or scholarly work;
  4. A document summarizing experience with diversity in the classroom and/or past research and administrative endeavors, any experience mentoring diverse students or community outreach initiatives, and an explanation of how you will advance our goals of inclusive excellence (http://inclusion.msu.edu);
  5. Email addresses of 4 potential referees.

For more information, contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Candace M. Keller, at kellercm@msu.edu.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

MSU is an affirmative action, equal-opportunity employer. MSU is committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. The University actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, veterans, and persons with disabilities.

The College of Arts & Letters at MSU recognizes that only an academic and organizational culture that actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members results in true excellence. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer The College of Arts & Letters is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that intellectual leadership is achieved through open access and pro-active inclusion.

Art Historian Helen M. Shannon’s Passing

Capture5

Helen M. Shannon, Ph.D., flanked by Dr. David Milburn and Cecile Keith Brown, date unknown. Source: Dr. David Milburn Legacy Award webpage. Photographer’s name not known.

 

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Helen M. Shannon, Ph.D. The photo was likely taken when Helen worked in the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Education Department, 1976-87, according to her LinkedIn page.

We have suffered a profound loss in our field and it will be felt among those with whom she worked. A few years back, a former student wrote that Helen Shannon had been an important mentor, calling her “one of the most inspirational career driven women I have ever met. I have never had a professor who has pushed me so hard to succeed, and I will be forever grateful to the role she has played in the development of my career as I pursue my Master’s Degree.” Helen inspired many of us, and she will not be forgotten.

Mark Campbell of the University of Arts, where Helen was Associate Professor and Director of the M.A. Program in Museum Studies, has written this account of his colleague:

“It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of
Associate Professor Helen Shannon. Helen has been a well-respected
member of the UArts faculty since joining the University in 2006,
directing the Museum Education program within Museum Studies, and
since fall 2013 serving as coordinator of Graduate Studies. An
accomplished educator and museum professional, Helen has had a deep
and lasting effect on the scholarship and professional training in her
field.

Helen received a BA from Stanford University, an MA from the
University of Chicago, and a PhD from Columbia University – all in Art
History. Her dissertation was titled “Race and cultural nationalism in
the American modernist reception of African art.”  Notable
professional appointments include executive director of the New Jersey
State Museum and educator in charge, Office of Public Programs, at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Freelance curatorial work includes “In the
Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” a
Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition, and “Biennial 2000: At
the Crossroads,” for the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

In 2015 Helen published, “Norman Lewis: Presence and Absence” as part
of “Procession: The Art of Norman Lewis” (University of California
Press – Ruth Fine Editor). She was in the process of completing an
important book in the field of Museum Education, “History and
Understanding of Museum Learning.”  Active in the museum world through
lectures and symposia, Helen has served on many boards including
current appointments with the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums and
the African American Museum.  She was also an ongoing member of the
African American Collection Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of
Art.

Within the UArts community and beyond, Helen was a respected scholar,
known for her integrity, grace and solid professionalism. She
instilled in her many students a tenacious work ethic, deep respect
for knowledge, and an awareness of the central role that museums play
in the enrichment of our lives.

An event celebrating the life of Helen Shannon will be announced to
the community in the coming weeks.”

 

– –Mark Campbell, Dean

College of Art, Media & Design

The University of the Arts

320 Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

215.717.6120

uarts.edu

 

 

IMAGE BELOW: From the award-winning exhibition catalogue, Procession: The Art of Norman Lewis (2015). Source: GoogleBooks.

 

Screen Shot 2018-01-21 at 6.37.54 PM

Appel Curatorial Fellowship–Delaware Art Museum (apply by Mar. 1, 2018)

ALFRED APPEL, JR.  CURATORIAL FELLOWSHIP


The Delaware Art Museum is pleased to offer an annual Curatorial Fellowship. This two-month Fellowship is intended for graduate students working towards a Museum career. This Fellowship honors Alfred Appel, Jr., a leading scholar of American Studies and a collector of modern prints and photographs.

The focus of the Fellowship changes each year based on institutional need. The Fellowship requires two months of full-time work, or the equivalent in part-time hours. The timing of the Fellowship is flexible and can be carried out full-time or part-time, based on applicant and institutional commitments, and must be served between April and September 2018.

The 2018 Appel Curatorial Fellow will research the work of Edward Loper, Sr. and Edward Loper, Jr. and write a scholarly essay for inclusion in the artists’ 2019 exhibition catalogue. The show, on view March–August 2019, will survey the artistic development of these two artists—father and son—and the establishment of the Loper tradition in the greater Wilmington area. Loper, Sr. is one of Delaware’s most celebrated artists, having lived his entire life in the state and taught generations of local artists. His son, Loper, Jr., was equally prolific and participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the region. Their styles, though different, are distinct for their approach to form and color and show the acknowledgment of modernist traditions from the turn of the 20th century. The exhibition will be assembled from the collections of the Delaware Art Museum, other public institutions, local corporations, and private individuals.

The Appel Curatorial Fellow will work closely with Margaret Winslow, Curator of Contemporary Art.

Receiving the fellowship
A stipend of $3,500 is available for the Fellowship. The Fellowship is intended for those who are currently enrolled in an art history graduate program and are planning a museum career. While the project may require off-site research, the fellow is expected to work on site regularly during the period of the Fellowship.

 

Important Dates

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2018. Notification of the successful applicant will be announced by April 1, 2018. The chosen candidate will then be asked to provide a date for assuming the Fellowship by May 1, 2018. The Fellowship must be carried out between May 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018.

 

TO APPLY

Applications for the 2018 Appel Fellowship, including a cover letter, resume, and two letters of recommendation as an MS Word or PDF attachment may be emailed to Margaret Winslow, Curator of Contemporary Art, mwinslow@delart.org.

We are committed to inclusivity and encourage qualified candidates from all cultures and communities to apply. Delaware Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer.

 

A.I.-Generated Images and the Play to Diversity

ai-generated-photos-1514935235304-facebookJumbo

From the NYTimes online site, accessed Jan. 3, 2018

 

The headline in the online version of a Jan. 2 NY Times story is an interesting twist from the way the same article is presented in the today’s print issue: the latter, which cites the byline of Cady Metz, “She Could Be a Star, if She Existed.” (The online version’s header is “How and A.I. ‘Cat-and-Mouse Game’ Generates Believable Fake Photos.”)

There’s certainly a lot going on here: for visual studies scholars and art historians, A.I. research that converts “images of horses into zebras and Monets into Van Goghs” is another visual turn, one that exceeds the predictions of Benjamin and Malraux. Then, there’s the interest in “truth” versus “falsity” as scientists develop generative adversarial networks that can “generate faux images and doctor the real thing” by putting words in the mouths of videoed speakers.

One scientist’s assessment of current research made me think about the ways in which bodily statements, representations, and recognitions are patterning strategies that animals rely on; we humans read race and other differentiating traits based on groupings to construct homogeneity and heterogeneity. Durk Kingma, whose work is funded by Tesla’s Elon Musk, is excited about the Finnish commuter chip maker Nvidia’s breakthrough technology. Kingma’s published remark: “We now have a model that can generate faces that are most diverse and in some ways more realistic than what we can program by hand.” Nvidia’s maximizing and extending diversity beyond what is experienced in everyday life is a viewed as a public good.

The marketing of diversity is not only significant because it demonstrates that paragon appearance–at least right now–is kinda Jennifer Aniston-y, kinda Selena Gomez-y.  It’s also that “diversity” can be produced on the surface. These efforts are designed to desegregate representational fields and to integrate different bodies into them. What is produced is the look of diversity, fairness, equity, and justness. As Machiavelli wrote, appearance is more important than reality.

Discussions of visuality are more necessary than ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFP Craft Studies Symposium–abstracts due Mar. 1, 2018

Call for Papers

Shared Ground: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Craft Studies

Presented by the Center for Craft, Bard Graduate Center, and the Museum of Arts and Design

September 20-22, 2018

New York, New York

Deadline: March 1, 2018

Click here to apply

Bard Graduate Center, the Center for Craft, and the Museum of Arts and Design are pleased to issue a call for papers for the forthcoming Shared Ground: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Craft Studies symposium to be held in New York City September 20-22, 2018.

The “material-turn” in the humanities has brought increased attention to the study of craft in art and design history, decorative arts and material culture studies, as well as other disciplines, such as anthropology and science and technology studies. Institutions are combining academic traditions of the humanities and social sciences with “learning by doing” pedagogy and the influence of global studies has led scholars to research, understand, and contextualize craft outside of the studio craft or the arts and craft movements. Beyond the humanities and social sciences, fields ranging from architecture and urban planning to engineering and computer science have begun to explore the craft-like nature and implications of their research and professional practice.

Craft studies is at a critical moment as more disciplines turn their research towards craft and more scholars expand the geographic and temporal boundaries of the field. The 2018 Shared Ground symposium will explore cross-disciplinary approaches to craft studies, with an eye towards intersecting and divergent theories, methodologies, and approaches in this emerging area of study.

DETAILS

Abstracts (up to 250 words) for 20 min papers and a brief curriculum vitae must be submitted here on or before March 1, 2018 at 11:59pm EST. We are looking for interdisciplinary knowledge and welcome papers from all disciplines. Alternative presentation formats are welcome, and graduate students are encouraged to apply. Abstracts will be subject to peer review.

For additional information, please visit www.cccdnow.org/sharedground or contact Marilyn Zapf, Assistant Director and Curator, the Center for Craft at mzapf@craftcreativitydesign.org

Library travel grants for Latin American Studies research — apply by Feb. 16, 2018

The Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida is offering library access grants for spring and summer 2018 for scholars from qualified U.S. colleges and universities to use the extensive resources of the Latin American and Caribbean Collection (www.uflib.ufl.edu/lac). The application deadline is February 16, 2018. [All travel must be completed by […]

via University of Florida: Library Travel Research Grants — Repeating Islands

Job Opportunity: Senior Digital Content Manager, Whitney Museum of American Art (Apply by Jan. 12, 2018)

The Senior Digital Content Manager at the Whitney Museum of American Art oversees the design, development and implementation of content strategies for the Museum’s digital platforms. The role is managerial and editorial in nature and develops digital project briefs and requirements, oversees content generation, and coordinates both internal and external production teams. The position’s primary objective is to use digital initiatives to increase engagement, both online and onsite, with the Whitney’s programming, mission and brand. As the lead liaison with Museum stakeholders, the role requires exceptional project management, storytelling, editorial, and digital experience-design skills.

 

 Responsibilities

  • Strategize and develop content across the Museum’s digital platforms.
  • Establish and maintain best practices for publishing on whitney.org, as well as other digital platforms, ensuring optimal usability, accessibility, and a consistent institutional voice across media.
  • Serve as editor for web copy, including website nomenclature, and exhibition and institutional announcements.
  • Serve as the primary project manager for all high-profile digital initiatives working closely with stakeholders throughout the Museum.
  • Oversee the development of digital requirement briefs, and manage budgets and timelines.
  • Oversee the production of video and audio content, ensuring a polished, consistent product; working with stakeholders to ensure success of livestreams of programs and events.
  • Produce institutional storytelling products, including the Whitney Stories series: conduct interviews, manage the editorial process, gather assets, and supervise outside contractors.
  • Oversee the Museum’s digital signage system and manage related contractor relationships.
  • Together with the Museum’s Digital Producer, manage website content via the Museum’s content management system, proofing and editing text for proper grammar and institutional style, and coordinating content with stakeholders throughout the Museum.
  • Work with Rights and Reproductions manager to obtain images and rights for content development and media production, as needed.

 

Requirements:

  • B.A.
  • 3–5 years professional digital content management or production experience.
  • Exceptional storytelling and production skills across media and platforms.
  • Strong background in planning and execution of media and technology initiatives, design thinking a plus.
  • Strong editorial skills, with a keen eye for consistency, accuracy, and detail.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and professional maturity in working with internal clients in a museum environment; ability and desire to communicate clearly about digital initiatives with non-technical staff.

 

Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to:  hr@whitney.org and write “Senior Digital Content Manager” in the subject line.  Deadline for submission is January 12, 2018.

 

 

About the Whitney:

 

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

 

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

Residency (Orange Co., CA) for Artists and Art Historians–Apply now through Dec. 15, 2017

The 36 Chase & Barns Residency is extending its application deadline for all  interested art history/curatorial studies candidates.  The 36 Chase & Barns Residency offers spaces to up to three visual artists and one art history/curatorial studies candidate each term. 
We are still actively looking for strong applicants from diverse backgrounds, working in the areas of curatorial studies and arthistory research. We will continue to accept applications to fill this vacancy for the March- May 2018 residency until Friday, December 15th.  
Art historians and curatorial candidates of color and/or any applicants who are conducting research and writing criticism specifically addressing the many overlooked contributions of female artists, artists of color and artists from the LGBTQ communities are strongly encouraged to apply. 
We are no longer accepting applications from visual artists for the March- May 2018 residency term. Our next residency term will begin in July of 2018.
Click here to apply or go directly here.

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Assistant Professor of Mural, Painting and Large-Scale Digital Public Practices–CSU-Monterey Bay

Apply on or before Jan. 15, 2018.

JOB: Two Positions @ Whitney Museum of American Art

Assistant to the Chief Curator

A position is available for a full-time assistant reporting directly to the Nancy and Steve Crown Family Chief Curator. The incumbent will support the administration of a creative, fast-paced office, working as part of a team to ensure the smooth functioning of day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities include: assistance with all administrative matters related to the chief curator’s office and the curatorial department, including management of the chief curator’s calendar, drafting correspondence, travel and expense reports; organization of meetings (internal, external and patron groups); PowerPoints and other presentations; supervision of interns; maintaining curatorial departmental files and record-keeping, including tracking of budgets; supporting processes related to acquisitions and gifts; sorting mail and ordering supplies; communication with external contacts, including artists, trustees, donors, galleries, etc., as well as other museum departments such as Exhibitions and Collections Management, Advancement, Registration, and Research Resources. The incumbent will work closely with the director of curatorial affairs and the curatorial assistant to the chief curator to carry out these duties.

Job requirements:  Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years administrative experience, museum or gallery a plus. Background in art history preferred. Outstanding organizational ability and rigorous attention to detail; excellent written and oral skills; good working knowledge of office practices and procedures; ability to work independently and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously. Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint; training in TMS preferred, but not required. Diplomacy, confidentiality, and teamwork skills are crucial.

Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to:  hr@whitney.org and state “Assistant to Chief Curator” in the subject line.

 

Curatorial Project Researcher

A part-time, temporary position for a Curatorial Project Researcher, reporting to the DeMartini Family Curator and Director of the Collection, is available immediately. The incumbent will work with the Director and a team of curators on a large-scale research project focused on postwar American art with a particular emphasis on Pop, conducting intensive research as well as supporting the administration and organization of the project.

Responsibilities include: scholarly research on artists; management of checklists, databases, and files; scheduling and preparing materials and presentations for meetings; corresponding with external contacts as well as museum departments such as Conservation, Exhibitions and Collections Management, and Research Resources; daily administrative support (telephone, travel arrangements, processing invoices, and other general office and clerical duties).

Job requirements: B.A. in art history (M.A. a plus); 2 years museum/gallery experience; working knowledge of 20th- and 21st-century art history with a focus in postwar American art; specialization in Pop preferred; excellent writing, research, and communication skills, with rigorous attention to detail; clerical and organizational skills, including experience with TMS, Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to handle several tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to:  hr@whitney.org.  Note “Curatorial Project Researcher” in the subject line.  Health insurance is not provided for this assignment.

 

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.