Hello Sciart People,
I am putting together a booklet entitled "Guidelines to Small Exhibits
of Natural History Art".  I am hoping this will be helpful to people who are
curating small exhibits and I am looking for comments on what should
be included based on artists' experiences.  An example of what I am
looking for is an experience I just had over the weekend.  Three
months ago I hung an exhibit in a very promising gallery connected to
another business.  I was hanging  along with some other artists and
the space was tight.  But I thought my pieces looked great in the large
entrance to the gallery, being the first pieces people saw.  Fine. The first and
second time I visited to look the place over and then to hang the show were
beautiful sunny days. The door was open and plenty of indirect light
came in the windows. The space seemed perfect.  The third time I went  was
the evening opening reception and everything was fine.  But after 3 1/2 months
I hadn't sold anything and thought this was very curious because I had sold over
a third of the pieces in a pre-exhibit showing at another place.  Well, the fourth
time I went to the gallery, a grey winter day, there was no light on the work
and it turned out that the lights were programed to come on at 5 pm; the gallery
closed at 5:30!!  I was speechless. The owner (it not being his primary business)
just didn't realize, simply hadn't thought of that little problem of LIGHT!! And
I hadn't thought to check at every hour of the day, especially since it was 6 hours
from home.
So..................who can think of every situation when hanging an exhibit??? Please
give me your suggestions.  Here are the content categories so far:

Introduction (setting a theme, parameters, etc.)
Example of flyers and what information should be included
Ways to arrange the judging  process and awards, if any
Example entry form
Example Loan Form
Framing, matts, tips and so on
Packing and shipping
Hanging an exhibit
1) general guidelines such as introductory panel and handouts
2) unpacking and checking condition
3) hanging- measuring, standard height, etc.
4) lighting
5) labels- various ways,  materials, etc.
6) considerations for a for-sale exhibit

Maybe some ideas about getting sponsors? Any other ideas?? Thanks.
Patricia

Patricia Kernan
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Patricia Kernan
Biological Survey
New York State Museum