This is the third in a series of posts from University of Virginia graduate student Tom Winters on his class’s experience installing works from our permanent collection in the Main Gallery. See parts one and two.
Meryl Goldstein holds the hornet’s nest. Photo: Tom Winters
Alfred Stieglitz. 291 – Picasso-Braque Exhibition. 1915. Platinum print. 19.4 x 24.4 cm (7 5/8 x 9 5/8 in.) Metropolitan Museum of Art, Alfred Stieglitz Collection, 1949.
Friday, September 14, our second meeting at The Phillips Collection, and the selected pieces are now all in place. However, one more object is set to enter the fray. Professor Turner has procured a hornet’s nest, similar to one seen in a photo of the 1915 Picasso-Braque exhibit at Stieglitz’s 291 Gallery. As we troop through the Phillips with a large hornet’s nest in a cardboard box, we are met with puzzlement and mild consternation from many of the museum’s staff. Professor’s Turner’s protestation that “It’s been cryogenically frozen!” is the catchphrase of the day. The nest is swiftly ushered to conservation. Perhaps hanging this somewhat bizarre object from the ceiling would be not be the best idea. Perhaps the objectification effect of a pedestal is required. We’ll see.
The class reviews their selections and decisions. Photo: Tom Winters
Tom Winters, UVa graduate student, Department of Art History