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Looking Back and Ahead to a NEU Year

Though its doors may have been closed to the public this semester, the Neuberger Museum team has remained quite busy transitioning programming to a virtual format and ensuring that the art collection and employees are safe. For my final blog post, I would like to give you a behind the scenes look at what it takes to operate a museum during a pandemic, while tackling major construction projects, and preparing for new exhibitions and visitors next semester.

The Neuberger had already planned to temporarily close during the summer for several renovations, including a new roof. Ultimately, this allowed the team extra time to plan and learn best reopening practices from fellow institutions.

Immediately after the spring closures, however, the staff pivoted to curating digital content that fulfills the museums mission of promoting lifelong arts learning. You’ve likely seen a variety of NEU To Do suggestions for adults and great activities and projects for activities and projects for kids, Inside the NEU video Q&A interviews with staff, and even my NEU Student Voices blog!

I spoke with a few Neuberger staff members about how they have continued their roles this fall:

Diana Puglisi: Curator of Education, Youth & Adult Programs
In October, the Neuberger Museum of Art received a gift from Susan and Alan Fuirst that will be used to update a space for creative learning on the 3rd floor of the museum. It will integrate technology and STEAM curriculum into the learning experience for PK12 student visitors. Throughout this fall Diana worked directly with teachers, whom normally visit the museum with their students, to develop a PK12 Distance Learning Plan that connects Neuberger Museum of Art collection artworks to their school curriculum.

“At the moment we are thinking through how to afford students access to materials through a new program called NEU Kids Pack. In speaking with teachers, something I heard often is that students lack access to art materials, and in many cases they don’t have access to computers at home. The need for many of the schools we serve is actually physical, and realizing this has allowed us to focus the scope of our efforts. I truly believe this program will serve as an outlet and even inspire a generation of artists in our community.”

— Diana Puglisi


Kristin Lindberg: Associate Curator of Education for Academic Programs
As a teaching museum situated on a college campus, the Neuberger extends its assets to the Purchase community, allowing students to use the space as a platform for learning and collaboration. Kristin facilitates this by curating exhibitions and events that augment their classroom education, promote self-expression, and give students public exposure. In the past, these Open Classroom programs have included everything from course-related exhibitions with the Environmental Science program to pop-up concerts with musicians to performances by actors.

“With the amount of talent on this campus, we can be open to unusual concepts, and some of the most impacting moments for me have come when I’ve stepped back and just let a group run with their ideas; the learning goes both ways.”

— Kristin Lindberg

Philip Guston, Night Children, 1946. Oil on canvas, Collection Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase ... Philip Guston, Night Children, 1946. Oil on canvas, Collection Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase College, State University of New York, Gift of Roy R. Neuberger, 1975.16.14.The Open Classroom continued this fall with a semester-long Conservatory of Theatre Arts collaboration. With the museum closed to the public, Acting Professor Liam Joynt and his Voice II class used the available gallery space to narrate the stories behind selected works from the Neuberger’s permanent collection. As one example, Noelle Blackman performed the voiceover for Philip Guston’s Night Children. The voiceovers are being introduced, two per week, over the next few months.

“This process has really made me learn to appreciate other forms of art and how they relate to the current times we live in. Art is the only truth that is constant which is why the work all of us do as storytellers is so important.”

— Noelle Blackman, Conservatory of Theatre Arts, Company 47


Pat Magnani: Registrar
“One aspect of a Registrar’s job is to be vigilant when in the galleries and storage and be aware of the existing condition of the artworks.” — Pat Magnani

Even without visitors, Pat’s role is integral to preserving the valuable works in the museum’s collection, including monitoring their physical state and sending works out for restoration or repair if needed. She also handles loans and acquisitions and worked with other institutions to arrange the transportation and return of artwork borrowed prior to the pandemic.

Pat is instrumental in preparing for the spring 2021 exhibitions, which exclusively involves works from the Neuberger Museum’s permanent collection. Though this eliminates the shipping factor, Pat says these exhibitions still require extensive work with the curators on creating a checklist, gathering works from storage, and staging artworks in the gallery.

“During all of this time, I need to continually track the movement of all of the objects, work with art handlers to put away works that are not wanted, and finalize the location records when all decisions have been made.”

— Pat Magnani

After a 10-month closure, the Neuberger is thrilled to welcome back guests in February 2021, aligning with Purchase College’s spring semester calendar. I spoke with a few staff members about their involvement in preparing the museum for the reopening.

Sanjeev Avasthi: Head of Museum Preparedness
Sanjeev performs a role vital in executing the protocols that have kept museum staff safe and COVID-free during the pandemic. He and his team are finalizing the additional protocols for reopening next semester which will include restricting capacity in each gallery, implementing mask wearing, scheduling frequent sanitization of common areas, and stocking up on PPE. Campus members and visitors will visit by appointment on separate days, and employees will be kept separate from visitors in public areas.

“In today’s ever-evolving world security doesn’t just mean taking care of the paintings or the art. Security means taking care of the staff and custodians and everyone whose involved with the museum directly and indirectly.”

— Sanjeev Avasthi

David Bogosian: Chief Preparator and Director of Facilities
As facilities manager, David, like Sanjeev, is considered an essential worker and has worked in the museum since late spring.

“The main thing we’ve been doing this fall has been working within our permanent collection to prepare for a construction project that is happening in the spring to summer of 2021. It required a lot of sculpture and framed works to move from their real homes to temporary places.”

— David Bogosian

This project will improve the study storage and collection room. Looking forward, David is scheduling the movement of spring 2021 exhibition installations, returning some of the permanent collection paintings back to the galleries from their safe keeping in storage during the pandemic and roof renovation project.

Avis Larson: Assistant Curator
The curators have been hard at work selecting artwork from the Neuberger Museum’s permanent collection to present in the spring. With over 6,000 pieces to choose from, the team has organized a variety of exhibitions ranging from modern and contemporary South American and Caribbean art to Roy Neuberger’s donated collection of Alexander Calder’s modernist works on paper. Most of this work and planning is still being done remotely. Avis Larson is working on a project related to assemblage.

“For me, the biggest challenge in preparing the Spring exhibitions is the lack of spontaneous conversation with colleagues that often occurs in the hallway or lunchroom; the brainstorming and creative solutions that come about when we are physically in the gallery, especially regarding exhibition design and layout.”

— Avis Larson

 

Tracy Fitzpatrick: Neuberger Museum Director
In alignment with Purchase College and our new President, Dr. Milagros Peña, the Neuberger Museum is rejuvenating their strategic plan, incorporating the many lessons learned in the last several tumultuous months.

“The how and the why of what we do is a key part of any strategic plan. I think it’s particularly acute just now as people all across the country are looking to institutions to address issues of diversity, equity, inclusion and access. These are all issues that we have been and are continuing to discuss in relation to particular pockets of the museum.”

— Tracy Fitzpatrick



Though this year may have looked different, I’ve really enjoyed my internship this past semester and the opportunity I had to interact and hear from a variety of voices about the profound and important role the Neuberger Museum of Art plays in the campus community and beyond. My experiences further cemented for me that museums have a responsibility to reflect the community they inhabit and listen to its members. In my role as NEU Student Voices blogger, I have tried to capture the synergy between the Neuberger and those it impacts— including students, donors, and alumni—in the context of today’s compelling issues. I look forward to reading the perspectives of the next ”Student Voice” and hope all our readers continue to take advantage of this platform!

 

Gabrielle Bohrman
Neuberger Museum of Art
Fall 2020 Communications Intern
NEU Student Voices Blogger