The Samek Art Gallery may be closed for the summer, but exciting things are happening behind those doors! For the first time in its history, the gallery is departing from its traditional white walls. Although pebble gray remains firmly rooted in the black-to-white spectrum, the effect on the space is already revealing itself to be tremendous: even with a second coat yet to be applied, the contrast between lit and unlit spots on the walls has been amplified, heightening the shadows and rendering a dramatic atmosphere. This interior transformation will wonderfully complement our fall show, Dusk to Dusk: Unsettled, Unraveled, Unreal (opening August 20, just in time for the new semester!). As hinted at by its subtitle, this exhibition strives to create an environment at once haunting and compelling. The selected works, united aesthetically rather than ideologically, combine to create an experience which will envelop and intrigue the viewer—and the gray walls certainly contribute to this.
Sorry for my soliloquizing on painting, but this project has consumed much of my first few weeks as one of the two new Graduate Assistants at the Samek. My specialization is in Museum Education, meaning my focus is on tours, interpretive programs, and public events in addition to assisting with the day-to-day functions of the gallery. Painting, while it may not seem very glamorous or museum-y, is actually a vital part of exhibition preparation. I am enjoying seeing the transformation unfold, and every time I start to grumble to myself about stepping in paint (don’t ask me how these things happen) or getting it in my hair, I remind myself that the end result will absolutely be worth it. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to our new look!