UToledo Students Curate Exhibit at Toledo Museum of Art

"Generational Echoes: Privilege, Power and the Transmission of Knowledge," an exhibit curated by art students at The University of Toledo, opens at the Toledo Museum of Art on Saturday, April 6.

"Generational Echoes" explores interpretations and representations of knowledge in visual art, as well as the ways that societies share and protect what they have learned. The exhibit features 19 works that students selected from the TMA collection, working with museum staff and University faculty through consecutive art history classes that began in fall and a studio course in spring semester.

The art history courses are two of three required for a concentration in art museum practices, which emphasizes professional standards, practices and procedures used in contemporary museums of art.

The studio course is part of the graphic and interactive design concentration, and these students created the graphic identity of the exhibition and its accompanying catalog. This experience offers art students an introduction to some of the ways they might practically apply their degree in a career, along with resume-building experience at a preeminent art institution.

"Fundamentally, this curriculum is about teamwork," said Dr. Thor Mednick, a professor in the Department of Art who teaches the courses in art museum practices. "It is never one person's idea or one person's job; one of the most satisfying aspects of the experience is witnessing how collaboration across disciplines leads to a result that no one could have foreseen alone."

Sixteen students pursuing degree concentrations in art museum practices and graphic and interactive design worked together to conceive and curate "Generational Echoes." The exhibit's featured works include "Barber Shop" by Jacob Lawrence and "Mirror, Mirror" by Alison Saar.

"The Toledo Museum of Art is proud to share our collection and gallery space with these talented University of Toledo students and to provide them with an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world museum scenarios," said Dr. Erin Corrales-Diaz, curator of American art at TMA. "We are heartened to see these art students develop their skills in collection selection, presentation and interpretation. Their fresh perspectives and ideas always lead to an interesting exhibition."

"Generational Echoes" runs through July 6 in Gallery 6.

A free public reception is set for 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 12, in UToledo's Center for the Visual Arts, adjacent to TMA at 620 Art Museum Drive in Toledo. A student-led gallery chat will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. in TMA's Gallery 6.

TMA, 2445 Monroe St. in Toledo, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is free and parking is $10.

For more information on "Generational Echoes," visit TMA's website.