backstory: Bookends
Our chief curator, Helaine Posner, retired yesterday. Helaine was with the Neuberger for over a decade, during which time she curated many important exhibitions and contributed in many meaningful ways to the life of the museum.
On Monday, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Helaine about her time at the Neuberger, as well as her long and distinguished career. You can see that interview here.
One thing that we didn’t discuss in depth during the interview was how Helaine was actually the first person to give me a paying museum job. Just after college, I had taken an internship in the curatorial department at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC where she was serving as chief curator. Just as my internship was ending, the curatorial assistant left to go to divinity school and I was hired to take her place. Over the last few weeks I have been able to pay that experience forward in reverse, helping Helaine move into retirement. Poetic bookends to our careers, I think.
Farewell, Helaine. And good luck in all that you do in your retirement.
One thing that we didn’t discuss in depth during the interview was how Helaine was actually the first person to give me a paying museum job. Just after college, I had taken an internship in the curatorial department at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC where she was serving as chief curator. Just as my internship was ending, the curatorial assistant left to go to divinity school and I was hired to take her place. Over the last few weeks I have been able to pay that experience forward in reverse, helping Helaine move into retirement. Poetic bookends to our careers, I think.
Farewell, Helaine. And good luck in all that you do in your retirement.
Tracy Fitzpatrick