INART 497C: The Museum Exhibition
Penn State Univeristy, Spring 2010
Tuesdays from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The Centre County Historical Society has been working with the department of Integrative Arts at Penn State for many years. Teaching Emeritus Scholar, Richard Pencek, incorporates the resources of CCHS into his historic preservation and Pennsylvania decorative arts classes, so it is a natural collaboration that serves students as well as the organizations.

In 2009, that relationship was expanded to include an Integrative Arts course, "The Management of Historic Sites and Museums," taught by CCHS Executive Director Angela Breeden. This spring, she will offer a class called "The Museum Exhibition," that will allow students to create an exhibit, which will be on view in the Borland Gallery April 2010.

This hands-on course develops the practical skills of students who are interested in museums by organizing and installing an exhibit in the Borland Gallery. Students gain experience in the development, installation, promotion, and documentation of exhibits as they work within a budget, set priorities, and honor deadlines. Activities include object selection, loan negotiation, gallery design and installation, marketing and promotion, programming development, and the creation of educational materials. Standards set by professional organizations, such as the American Association of Museums, will be introduced and followed throughout the course.

This year's exhibition will focus on the work of Stuart Frost, professor emeritus of art at Penn State. Mr. Frost joined the art department in 1957. He assisted muralist Henry Varnum Poor on the land grant frescoes in Old Main as a student; worked with Allyn Cox on the murals in the Capital Building in Washington DC; and participated in exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. His pieces are included in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and the Butler Institute of American Art, to name a few. Students will work together to define the scope of the exhibit using pieces from Mr. Frost's collection as well as from local collectors. While this is an art exhibit, the principles introduced throughout the course apply to all types of exhibits including history, decorative arts, and science based shows.

This course is open to all PSU students. Please contact Angela Breeden for more information: abreeden@centrefurnace.org or (814) 234-4779.

Integrative arts student Monica Mixer's project,"Lost Art Meets Modern Art", is currently on exhibit at the Borland Gallery through December 4. The gallery is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.