About the course
Taught by PhD candidate Jennifer Baez, the Museum Object course is the culmination of the Museum Studies minor for undergraduates at Florida State University. This course examines the history, philosophy, practice, and implications of acquiring, researching, and displaying objects in art museums and gallery spaces in the modern era. Additionally, the course provides students with a working knowledge of literature on museum theory, African art exhibition history, and hands-on experience in designing and mounting a show in a gallery setting.
About the exhibition
Students will organize an exhibition with the Brownell and Mooney collection of African sculpture, masks, and statuary from Florida State’s Museum of Fine Arts. Working with personnel from MoFA, students will mount their exhibition in the William Johnston Building Gallery. The “Thrill of the Hunt” reflects on how the delight of having made a “discovery” shapes the perception of value and authenticity for the tourist art object. The show will offer visitors a glimpse into the cultural traditions these particular objects evoke, and feature moments in history that have fashioned tastes for the African artifact. From the Portuguese arrival in Africa and the origins of tourist art to the Avant-Gardist’s “discovery” of African art. Additionally, the show will feature a section on how contemporary African workshops manufacture “patina” (the wear-and-tear of an object) for aesthetic appeal.
Make a Gift
Your gift will allow our students to:
- Purchase materials for wall texts
- Properly install exhibition objects
- Create an exhibition catalogue
- Promote the exhibition to FSU and the broader Tallahassee community
Any and all donations are greatly appreciated!
The students of the Museum Object course invite you to join them for an opening reception of “The Thrill of the Hunt: Dynamics of Authenticity in African Tourist Arts” at 6 PM on Thursday, November 16th. The exhibition will run through December 4th. Thank you!