Today, I got a reply to my emailed questionnaire to the curator of the BlueCoat in Liverpool, Sarah Jane Parsons.
Although the answers weren't as informative as I'd hoped, they still have given me a better insight into the curational side of a production. they have also given me good stead to ask, perhaps, better formed questions to gain a better and productive understanding.
In her email, Sarah also said that she had been busy just putting the finishing touches to a new exhibition in the BlueCoat that she was very excited about so I may try and book an appointment/touresque viewing to discuss the whys and where fores of her placements i.e, what the artist wanted from her, how she translated that and kept to them as close as possible.
Curation Questions
As the Exhibition Curator of the Liverpool’s Blue Coat, how do personally set out a room?
It depends on the type of art work, it’s requirements and the type of exhibition
How heavily do the artist’s wishes feature in the overall layout?
Quite heavily – it’s the requirements of their work and how they want it to look
How much time in advance do you start curating a show?
Sometimes up to two years in advance
What factors do you take on board for a curation?
Budget, staff, other resources, appropriateness of the art work or exhibition themes
Do you have a personal rigmaroll of how to start a presentation of work? For example, do you need to see the work in another exhibition, or see the work in your gallery before you actually curate it?
Not sure what you mean by “rigmaroll,” but no, I don’t necessarily have to see a work in the gallery before I know it needs to be in the show. Curating begins a long time before works are finally installed in a gallery.
Although, my fellow classmates and I are in the third year of University, curation has never really been pushed as an important factor in shows. Therefore, we have curated around factors such as aesthetic and practicality i.e. plugs projects etc.
A large percentage of what curators do is about being practical. The rest is aesthetic.
I know that curation and a deeper reasoning behind why exhibitions have been set out are necessary, but I’m unsure as to quite how necessary.
To make the art works look their best. To provide a unique experience for visitors
What was your favourite show to curate and why?
The recent 2010 Liverpool Biennial exhibition at the Bluecoat.
The artist’s involved were inspiring and the works they created transformed our gallery spaces creating a new space for our visitors to explore
What was the most awkward and why?
I can’t think of one to be honest. Most shows have their challenges as a rule, but nothing that really sticks in my mind as a “never again” show.
What’s the most outlandish request you have been asked to honour and respect within a show.
Nothing too outlandish. I usually tend to be on the same wavelength as the artists so nothing comes as a surprise.
One artist wanted to bring a live jellyfish into the show (with a specialist tank), but for the express purpose for it to eat itself. It was too expensive to do and I was ethically opposed to doing it. We didn’t do it and in the end the artist dropped out of the project all together.
When creating a prospectus for a show, convey the message in the most direct terms possible. Make sure that each description or requirement is not convoluted with unnecessary language that can be misinterpreted. A great deal of time is wasted for both the artist and organizer in asking and answering questions that should be obvious in the prospectus.
This is true!
Do you think the above is suitable for a degree showing?
Not sure what you mean??
The show in question is not expecting that many attendees due the size of the university campus. How would you or do you maximize attendance when the target audience is only small?
Use social media to advertise the show.
Free wine at the opening.
If we did a presentation to begin the show, what would you recommend to put in it. I know that it would have to be short, clear and to the point, but would a brief overview of each persons work be enough?
Probably enough.
