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Huntington Museum of Art collaborates across community and campus to advocate for the arts—GLAM series

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Huntington Museum of Art Executive Director Geoffrey K. Fleming and HMA Senior Curator Chris Hatten are shown with a recent acquisition. The watercolor artwork is titled View from the River Kanawha, West Virginia, Near Hawk’s Nest, which is attributed to Granville Perkins.

BY SALLY DESKINS, EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, WVU LIBRARIES

What’s GLAM? GLAM stands for galleries-libraries-archives-museums, and, for this series, The Hub is partnering up with Sally Deskins of WVU Libraries to put a spotlight on what happens when groups and institutions related to these collaborate. As Sally says, “Sharing resources can bring in more audiences, and lead to a better course for sustainability amongst all, as opposed to seeing each other competitively and bringing each other down.”

Read all of Sally’s GLAM columns here and read more about the series here.

Geoffrey K. Fleming is Executive Director of Huntington Museum of Art (HMA). For this interview, the Long Island, New York native shares about his passion for American art and history, the various collaborative exhibitions and programs at HMA, sharing art amongst art museums and more…

Sally Deskins: Tell me about your background and why you got into what you do.

 Geoffrey Fleming: Having always been interested in art and architecture, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation in 1996 at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va., where I graduated with honors and was awarded the J. Binford Walford Scholarship in Architecture. I earned my Master of Arts in Arts Administration in 1999 from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I wrote my thesis titled “Museum Shops: A Study.”  Since then I have worked in the museum field, chaired several committees and museum associations, and written over two dozen books on American art and history, with a special focus on my native Long Island, New York.

SD: Tell me about your organization and your role, what you do.

 GF: Situated on 52 acres with nature trails, the Huntington Museum of Art is a fine arts museum with a permanent collection of more than 15,000 art objects. HMA is home to the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory of tropical plants and orchids. I am the Executive Director of the Huntington Museum of Art and among my many responsibilities is to ensure the fiscal soundness of HMA and to look for ways to increase our permanent collection and maintain and grow our funding resources, so our organization can continue to offer art, education and nature experiences to the people of Huntington, West Virginia, the Tri-State community and beyond.

SD: So, what are some ways you have or will collaborate with either outside organizations or groups?

GF: As part of our commitment to promoting regional artists, the Huntington Museum of Art works with the Tri-State Arts Association and Allied Artists of West Virginia to present exhibits of work by regional artists. Regional artists are also in the spotlight in “Exhibition 280,” which is our triennial, juried exhibit that is open to artists who are 18 years of age or older and living in West Virginia and the five states that border the Mountain State.

In addition, for years the Huntington Museum of Art has worked with Marshall University in a number of ways. One of our longstanding partnerships is with Marshall University’s College of Arts and Media for the annual presentation of “Portfolio,” which is an exhibit of work by young artists in middle and high schools from West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

In addition, we regularly present solo exhibits by artists who are native to West Virginia (both past and present), which this year will include Brian Michael Reed and Jamie Sloane.

SD: Why is collaborating important to you and your position, and WV as well as society moving forward?

GF: Most nonprofit institutions in our region face financial challenges and it makes sense that if we can work with other nonprofits to everyone’s benefit that we should do so. The Huntington Museum of Art has created a great lending partnership with Ohio University’s Kennedy Museum of Art. We have borrowed art from the Kennedy Museum of Art and loaned some of our permanent collection to them. This has been a tremendously successful partnership as the two museums are close in proximity and our patrons have had the opportunity to see great exhibits because of this exchange program. The most recent exhibit the Huntington Museum of Art has presented due to this partnership is “Hot Can Be Cool: Jazz Portraits by Herman Leonard, which was on view at HMA from June 2 through July 29, 2018. Marshall University was very involved in the presentation of this exhibit and was responsible for bringing Jazz musician Ellis Marsalis to our opening reception for the exhibition.

SD: Any advice or tips for people wanting to collaborate—how do you approach people about it without knowing them? How do you think up such ideas?

 GF: When approaching another institution about a possible collaboration, I think it is important to have a plan that will benefit both organizations. When reaching out, let them know that you think both parties will be stronger by working together instead of alone.

In terms of ideas, it is important to visit other institutions to learn about their holdings, so that you can figure out ways that you can help to fill collection gaps at their museum while doing the same at your own.  This provides the maximum benefit for both parties.

SD: Anything to add? Hopes for future of WV?

 GF: Although I am a New York native, I have made my home in West Virginia for more than three years. I like that there are lots of interesting places and things to do in West Virginia and that we are within short driving distance to other wonderful cities such as Lexington, Louisville, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Washington, D.C.

I would like to see more people from outside West Virginia take advantage of all the attractions that the Mountain State has to offer. There are a lot of hardworking people in West Virginia who are doing their best to continue to grow tourism and the arts and I am happy to count myself among them.

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For more information on the Huntington Museum of Art, visit https://www.hmoa.org/.

Interested in having your group or initiative featured as a part of GLAM? Email Sally at sbdeskins@mail.wvu.edu.

Collaboration is at the heart of Boss Babes WV — GLAM Series

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Kayla Young by The Oberports

BY SALLY DESKINS, EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, WVU LIBRARIES

What’s GLAM? GLAM stands for galleries-libraries-archives-museums, and, for this series, The Hub is partnering up with Sally Deskins of WVU Libraries to put a spotlight on what happens when groups and institutions related to these collaborate. As Sally says, “Sharing resources can bring in more audiences, and lead to a better course for sustainability amongst all, as opposed to seeing each other competitively and bringing each other down.”

Read all of Sally’s GLAM columns here and read more about the series here.

Boss Babes panel on women and innovation in partnership with The Hub at 2018’s New Story

Kayla Young is the Executive Director of Boss Babes WV, a statewide women’s empowerment organization. In this interview, Kayla shares about why she created this organization, how Boss Babes collaborates with various community organizations and women-owned businesses, her tips on collaborating, her hopes for the future of WV and more.

Sally Deskins: Tell me about your background and why you got into what you do.

Kayla Young: Professionally, I worked in foodservice purchasing for the past few years. While I love food, I wanted to do something more directly involved with the community. Boss Babes WV was born out of realizing there were so many talented women around me and wanting to know them and work with them.

SD: Tell me about your organization and your role/what you do. 

KY: Boss Babes WV is a women’s empowerment organization, so as long as you identify as a babe, and are interested in being an active member of your community, we are for you in some way or another. We hold meetups, classes, panels, workshops around the state of WV and work to empower women. Boss Babes is about reclaiming the term “bossy” because there’s nothing wrong with being assertive and standing up for yourself and your beliefs, whatever they may be. We introduce women to each other and participate to make West Virginia better and more open and inclusive.

SD: So what are some ways you have or will collaborate with either outside organizations or groups?

KY: We’ve collaborated with a number of organizations. We hold our meetups at locally owned businesses and work with their owners – often women – to promote their businesses. We work with local movers and shakers to host panels and have conversations about innovation and entrepreneurship in West Virginia. We’ve worked with larger companies like Sephora to host private shopping events and workshops. We’ve also held fundraisers for local women-oriented groups like a comedy show with proceeds going to West Virginia Free, a reproductive justice organization, and a coat drive for Recovery Point, a women’s substance abuse clinic.

SD: Why is collaborating important to you and/or your position, and WV/society moving forward?

KY: Collaboration is at our core mission. We exist to bring people together, and think it is critical to moving forward as a state. The more people you get in a room to respectfully share ideas and work together, the better. Collaborating provides a sense of value, gets your brain working, helps you see another perspective, and promotes self-analysis. West Virginia is such a tight-knit state, and while our various communities have their own challenges, pooling our talents and skills and seeing the bigger picture as a state is imperative for our future to be successful.

Boss Babes panel on women and entrepreneurship in partnership with MESH Design and Development

SD: Any advice or tips for people wanting to collaborate—how do you approach people about it without knowing them? How do you think up such ideas?

KY: Just ask! You aren’t going to get something if you don’t ask for it, you have to put yourself out there. It’s scary at first, but realizing that people saying “no” to you isn’t the worst thing on the planet passes pretty quickly. When asking someone, especially a stranger for something, I’ve found it’s important to have a specific ask. Rather than just “let’s get coffee sometime” what works better for me is “Let’s get coffee to discuss (blank). Are you free on this day at this time?” It shows initiative and there is a clear plan. When thinking of ideas, I look around for things that have worked in other cities or groups that are similar to ours for inspiration.

SD: What are your hopes for future of WV?

KY: West Virginia has come a long way in the past decade or so, and I think it’s always important to credit that. There are great people around the state doing great work. Moving forward, I think a lot of changes need to happen at the top. We need a state government that spends time working to keep people here and advance our economy and technology. Our population is dwindling and young people need reasons to stay here. There are tons of grassroots efforts to retain young people, but it isn’t enough. Our legislature needs to find ways to grow job opportunities and make our state attractive to new industries.

Interested in having your group or initiative featured as a part of GLAM? Email Sally at sbdeskins@mail.wvu.edu.

Pocahontas County Artisan Co-op a model for collaboration — GLAM Series

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Exterior view of Pocahontas County Artisan Co-op. Image courtesy Anne Walker.

BY SALLY DESKINS, EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, WVU LIBRARIES

What’s GLAM? GLAM stands for galleries-libraries-archives-museums, and, for this series, The Hub is partnering up with Sally Deskins of WVU Libraries to put a spotlight on what happens when groups and institutions related to these collaborate. As Sally says, “Sharing resources can bring in more audiences, and lead to a better course for sustainability amongst all, as opposed to seeing each other competitively and bringing each other down.”

Read all of Sally’s GLAM columns here and read more about the series here.

Interior view of Pocahontas County Artisan Co-op. Image courtesy Anne Walker.

Anne Walker is the Mayor of Hillsboro, West Virginia, as well as a member of the Pocahontas County Artisan Cooperative. For this interview, the WVU agriculture alumna shares about her fabric artistry and involvement with the Co-Op plus their collaborations with various organizations from Pocahontas County Art Guild to Mountain Music Trail to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park and more…

Sally Deskins: Tell me about your background and why you got into what you do.

Anne Walker: My personal background is in the field of agriculture. I graduated from WVU with a Bachelors’ of Science in Agronomy and a Master’s of Science in Agriculture Education. I joined the Pocahontas County Artisan Co-Op in August of 2013, as a fabric artist, making purses, totes, and aprons. I began sewing as a stay at home mom and started an online business to give my family extra income for fun things, like eating out and vacations we couldn’t afford otherwise. My first project was a diaper bag for myself soon after my son was born in 2005. I’ve always enjoyed creating handmade items and products, even through college. I fell into being a fabric artist as a way to earn extra money.

SD: Tell me about your organization and your role, what you do.

AW: The Pocahontas County Artisan Co-Op was formed in 2007 but was granted non-profit status in 2009. Currently, we have 35+ artisans and crafters in our organization. Our focus on the region’s arts and crafts heritage has attracted a blacksmith, broom maker, basket maker, stonecutter, several quilters, and wood craftsmen making everything from spoons and cutting boards to clocks, scrollwork, and fine furniture. We also have artists working in watercolor and oil, photographers, jewelry-makers, and members creating specialty foods from local sources. We are a business incubator, assisting regional artisans in advancing from hobby to cottage industry. We are also committed to promoting the arts in Pocahontas County through public demonstrations, workshops, exhibitions and community-based educational activities.

I am currently serving on the Marketing Committee, where we promote art, our artists, and events through different media outlets.

SD: What are some ways you have or will collaborate with either outside organizations or groups?

AW: In the past, the Pocahontas County Artisan Co-Op has collaborated with the Pocahontas County Art Guild in providing publicity for their guest artists as well as gift certificates for their redemption. We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Art Guild for use of their current space for meetings and other events. In addition, we are currently in negotiation with the Art Guild and our landlord the Marlinton Depot Committee to provide a public art space at the McLaughlin Cabin (which has been restored). Our hope is that our facility along with the McLaughlin Cabin will provide public space for classes, demonstrations, and events for the community of Pocahontas County.

In addition to the Marlinton Depot Committee and the Pocahontas County Art Guild, we have a membership in the Mountain Music Trail, and the Mountain Arts District. Both of these promote mountain culture through art and music events, as well as websites. Our Co-Op is a stakeholder at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. We operate a seasonal gallery behind the Cass Depot for about 8 months of the year. Our artisans display and sell their work to train enthusiasts who come to Cass for a unique turn of the century train experience. Lastly, we collaborate with the Marlinton Opera House, in that we sell tickets for their events.

Our membership is active in the community’s fairs and festivals during summer months. For the last 3 years, members have provided demonstrations, along with make and take crafts at the Little Levels Heritage Fair held in Hillsboro, WV at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Museum. In 2017, the Watoga Foundation began “Art in the Park” during Labor Day weekend. Our Co-Op shared its Hotel/Motel funding and supported this event when other grants fell through. We continue to be a sponsor in 2018.

SD: Why is collaborating important to you and/or your position, and WV/society moving forward?

AW: Our Co-Op provides opportunities to individuals who would not have ready access to tourism markets on their own. Collaborating amongst other groups helps our members to network and promote their art. Also, Pocahontas County has high tourism but low socioeconomic standing in the state. Financial and human resources are limited for various reasons. However, pooling resources and efficiently utilizing hotel/motel monies to improve the local economy has a positive impact on our citizens as well as our children. Retirees who move here benefit from the social interaction such events and classes create.

SD: Any advice or tips for people wanting to collaborate—how do you approach people about it without knowing them? How do you think up such ideas?

AW: I would advise anyone looking to collaborate with different groups or organizations to start out volunteering for that organization in order to learn its mission and to network with its members. Non-profit organizations, no matter where they are located, are always in need of human resources. People are more apt to listen to your ideas if they see you are willing to help and want an open and honest dialogue. Collaborative ideas can come from many sources. Mostly, I see collaboration as a way to fill a void in a community. Openly and honestly discussing problems or issues is a great way to learn of a need or void in your community.

Interested in having your group or initiative featured as a part of GLAM? Email Sally at sbdeskins@mail.wvu.edu.

Libraries As Strategic Art Venues – GLAM Feature

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Viewers visit an exhibit produced by WVU History students at the WVU Downtown Campus Library in 2017. Photo courtesy WVU Libraries.

BY SALLY DESKINS, EXHIBITS & PROGRAM COORDINATOR, WVU LIBRARIES

Since coming on board the West Virginia University Libraries as Exhibits Coordinator, a new position for
WVU Libraries and a truly rare one for libraries in general, I have had a growing interest in the
significance of art programs in libraries, and, further, collaborations between organizations like libraries
and other GLAM institutions (galleries-libraries- archives-museums) to advance the field in general, thus
benefiting us all!

I had the great opportunity to take my research on libraries as strategic art venues to the College Art
Association Conference in Los Angeles in February. This is the largest conference of art professionals in
the world, over four thousand people attend, network and present on topics mostly around the fields of
visual art and art history. I was able to attend partly because of the funding from a Professional
Development grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and I was the only person
currently from West Virginia University (and perhaps the state) that attended, according to the
conference app.

Also, perhaps, the only curator from a library—people don’t firstly think of libraries as venues for
art—but in fact they are ripe for this very role. As books and journals become increasingly digital, the
library becomes a new space—still one for study and resources with expert librarians—but also seeing
its place as an incubator for knowledge and ideas expanded into the visual, into the space itself. Not
only is a library a prime location for art in this way but it also offers an accessible and unintimidating
places for people from all walks of life to come across art, when they may not have gone into a museum
or gallery otherwise (though they should because museums and galleries are awesome!)—in this way,
libraries, as transmitters of knowledge, can also be seen as transmitters of creation—an encouraging
gateway to more art and culture.

That is my research on seeing libraries as strategic art venues in a nutshell—and to be sure—many
libraries do! Many states with the Percent for Art program (which West Virginia, unfortunately, does not
have), dedicate a percentage of construction costs for public buildings to commissioned art—and
libraries fall in this category. So, Ohio State University Library has amazing permanent installations by
international artists such as Ann Hamilton; and Los Angeles Public Library by Therman Statom, further
exciting people about the space and art, while also being a destination for art connoisseurs. Other
libraries have artist-in-residence programs, like Madison Public Library, or dedicated arts programs, like
several including WVU, and many lucky enough to have their own art library. Some even boast their
own special gallery space inside the Library, for rotating exhibits.

As the art crowd traditionally sees most value in exhibiting work in museums and galleries, it was
curious from many perspectives.

Beyond the Library, collaborating amongst GLAM organizations is another layer to advancing the field
and getting more people to experience and appreciate art and other cultural effects. I also had the
opportunity to present in collaboration with Eliza Newland, Collections Manager of the Royce and Carol
B. Watts Museum in Morgantown, about collaborating, at the West Virginia Association of Museums
conference last month in Charleston, thanks in part from a scholarship from the WVAM.

Eliza and I discussed the challenges, hesitancies, and benefits to collaborating, including giving examples
and ideas for projects and types of currencies and other fun stuff. We had a great conversation with
those in attendance and hope people got even one idea to take back with them.

My favorite question asked by the audience was “do you ever do projects collaborating with the
public?” Yes indeed, isn’t this the biggest point? To collaborate with organizations, to have art in the
libraries, all of it is to engage the public. Some projects and exhibitions more evident than others; next
month the WVU Libraries opens “Looking at Morgantown,” an exhibit juried by the Art in the Libraries
committee from over 350 submissions from regional professional and amateur photographers, inspired
by Roger Mays’ “Looking at Appalachia” crowd-sourced project currently on view in the Downtown
Campus Library. On display, April 20 thru August 15, 2018, ”Looking at Morgantown” in Downtown
Campus Library will include 24 photographs by 18 area residents giving their impressions of
Morgantown. This exhibit literally involved inviting the public to submit, but it is our hope that the
public is interested and engaged with any and all of our exhibits and programs. Collaborating with GLAM
organizations can encourage this across the board.

That is the point– -the reason we all work for these organizations, to spread the good news of the arts
and culture, right? So why not spread the goodness-whether its small cross-supporting of social media
posts, or larger, substantial support like educational programming, campaigns or volunteer training.
Even just having informal meetings regularly between organizations with shared ideals is a good thing! If
we advance the field, that means we make a difference.

Looking for examples of WV collaborations among arts + culture organizations and groups

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BY SALLY DESKINS, EXHIBITS AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR, WVU LIBRARIES

As technology continues to develop at a rapid pace and funding for the arts and cultural organizations remains light, collaboration amongst galleries, libraries, archives and museums makes more and more sense.

Sharing resources can bring in more audiences, and lead to a better course for sustainability amongst all, as opposed to seeing each other competitively and bringing each other down.

Each organization has its own mission and scope of media, culture, history, preservation, membership and events, but with varied perspectives come varied skill sets that can be pooled and used to move everyone forward.

My position as Exhibits Coordinator at the WVU Libraries is unique. Some libraries do exhibits programs aimed at sharing their own collections, but most do not extend further into art and exhibit programs that move beyond that scope.

As printed books go to storage to make room for technology, libraries evolve into a new sort of space—still a space for research, learning, study and respite—but also for community engagement and reflection. Having art and exhibits in these publicly used spaces presents a unique opportunity for exhibitor and library guest. The exhibitor’s work is in a neutral space, a space which preserves and protects new ideas and perspectives, and a space where some who wouldn’t normally seek out art and exhibits, will go.

Additionally, as books and other library materials become more digital, exhibits provide a new physical representation that encourages the environment of focus, contemplation and thinking that library users seek.

Working in the Libraries with a background in studio art, art history, and curating presents a unique challenge to me as well—to produce exhibits in a space not originally built for exhibits, and in an environment whose primary use is for quiet study.

How do I encourage viewership, reflection, and even engagement through exhibits?

Such a challenge presents an opportunity to collaborate with other organizations, pooling our knowledge and passion for cultural engagement as well as our resources. 

While I’m developing such relations with cultural organizations both on and off campus, through collaboration on programs, events, and idea sharing, I decided to initiate this blog post series to learn and share such collaborations that are happening across the state.

Selfishly, I gain ideas for my own practice, but collaboratively we can all learn from each other on this public platform provided by The Hub.

I am looking to interview folks working in galleries, libraries, archives and museums across West Virginia who do or have collaborated with other organizations, how it has worked, its benefits and challenges, and maybe what they hope or wish for the future of cultural organizations.

If this is you, please get in touch! I will start the series as soon as I find some individuals willing to share. Contact me at sbdeskins@mail.wvu.edu.