After the doors of Allen Memorial Art Museum closed on Memorial Day for updates related to the Sustainable Infrastructure Program, museum staff took initiative to rethink the galleries and offices. Closing day was also Commencement Day for the class of 2024, marking an ending and a beginning for both the new graduates and the museum. With the reopening of the museum today, Sept. 6, the Oberlin community will be able to view the changes that were made over the summer.
Along with installing new heating in several offices as part of the SIP, AMAM’s summer closure provided the opportunity to get refinished floors in the Nord and Willard-Newell galleries, as well as new carpeting and light fixtures in other areas of the museum. In order to make space for this work, the art from these galleries was moved around within the building. Changes to the exhibits were made during the renovation period as well.
“Dr. Marlise Brown, our assistant curator of European and American art, rethought three galleries — one with the help of Dr. Emily French, our interim curator of academic programs,” said Andria Derstine, director of the Allen. “The two of them teamed up to do a new presentation of our ancient works of art in the ancient ambulatory of the museum.”
Other AMAM curators were also involved in the process of upgrading galleries, providing a comprehensive and refreshing look for the museum. One piece that will make its long-awaited return is the Coiling Dragon. Although the sculpture was removed from public view in 2022 to repair damages to the bronze caused by decades of freezing and thawing, its recent restoration will allow it to find a home at the museum once again.
“Our Asian art curator, Dr. Kevin Greenwood, did a reinstallation of the Stern Gallery West and installed a new work that had just been conserved,” Derstine said. “We got a grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona [B.] Carpenter Foundation that was used to conserve a really important sculpture in the museum, called Coiling Dragon — a Japanese 19th-century bronze work that had come to the College in 1904 as a gift from Charles and Abigail Olney.”
Sam Adams, AMAM’s curator of modern and contemporary art, created the museum’s first ever space dedicated to presenting video art on a loop for visitors to view. These works feature artists Dara Birnbaum and Kalup Linzy. According to the AMAM’s website, Birnbaum’s Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman (1978–1979) uses glitching and alteration techniques as a critique of sexist representations of women. Linzy’s Lollypop (2006) showcases a queer flirtation between two Black men, lip-syncing a song originally performed by a man and a woman. By acquiring new benches and providing headphones to watch the videos, the museum’s staff worked toward their goal of providing a comfortable and immersive experience without disturbing other exhibits.
In addition to the excitement of new and upgraded galleries, there will be many continuing exhibitions on display, some of which include explorations of queerness, culture, religion, and femininity.
“We’re just excited to have the community in the building again,” Derstine said. “I love the fact that at the Allen, the community and the students intermingle. I want to commend the museum staff who worked hard all summer to get the museum ready to reopen and to let people know how excited we are to be back open for classes, faculty, students, and the public.”
