In this series, Young Artists Exhibitions Program Coordinator Jenna Kowalke-Jones profiles participants in the 2012 James McLaughlin Memorial Staff Show.
Keshia Pace. Untitled, 2012. Digital print
What do you do at The Phillips Collection? Are there any unique parts about your job that most people might not know about?
I am a museum assistant, a.k.a. one who protects the museum’s artwork. I’ve found that most visitors don’t realize is that I, along with most of my fellow assistants, have backgrounds in the arts, and that we are not volunteers.
Who is/are your favorite artist/artists in the collection?
My current favorite is Morris Louis. I didn’t know as much about him before I started working here; I now think he’s one of the more underrated artists featured in the museum.
What is your favorite gallery/space within The Phillips Collection?
The Music Room, mainly because it’s the most dramatic space in the museum.
What would you like people to know about your artwork on view in the 2012 James McLaughlin Memorial Staff Show and your work in general?
I am a graphic designer, not a painter like many of my fellow museum assistants. As such, my work is usually computer generated and tends to be more geometric. Most of my work is used for posters, brochures, calendars, logos, and the like; this is one of the few times I created something for it’s own sake, and I’m pleased it turned out so well.
The 2012 James McLaughlin Memorial Staff Show is on view September 4-October 9, 2012. Please join us for the reception on September 27, 5:30-8 pm. This year’s show features 35 artworks, of various media, all by Phillips Collection staff.
Jenna Kowalke-Jones, Young Artists Exhibitions Program Coordinator