Fair Trade Jewelry - Custom for Your Store & Exhibitions

Dunitz & Company's been at it for a long time! And one thing we adore is collaborating with our clients on custom designs for your stores and art exhibitions.  Back in August, 2021, I wrote a blog post sharing some of our custom projects we had created up until that point. Here are some others from recent times, not in any particular order.

 

In 2022, Santa Barbara Museum of Art hosted a Van Gogh exhibit.  Through Vincent's Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources was a very well attended exhibition. We collaborated with the gift shop buyer so she could offer earrings that featured the artwork actually on display. This one of white flowers on a pale green background was one of my favorites. They offered dangles and studs of each of the custom designs we made for the show.

The Dayton Art Institute presented a wonderful exhibit, so I was told, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: The Birth of Modern Paris, which closed in January, 2024. Sadly I live too far away and couldn't get there to see it. The store buyers at the museum wanted to offer some earrings that featured one of the artworks that was up on display. This is what we came up with.

 

 

 

 

We've created several custom earrings for the Michigan History Museum and when they staged an exhibit showcasing the work of beloved artist, Mathias J. Alten, we were there to help. Several of his wonderful paintings became earrings! These shown here are my favorites.

But it isn't only about the paintings. The Michigan History Center also manages many regional museums. The earrings here feature the Tawas Point Lighthouse. Did you know that Michigan has the most lighthouses in the United States? More than Florida or California.

Back in 2022, the National Building Museum in Washington DC showcased Notre Dame de Paris with an interactive exhibition. We scoured every image of old paintings we could find and created these for their gift store. It's always fun to take a souvenir home after visiting a museum and these were a perfect choice for many museum visitors.

We've worked with the Detroit Institute of Arts for many years. Did you know I am originally from Detroit? And my aunt was a docent there for many years during my youth. This museum has a very special place in my heart and when I ship our fair trade jewelry for their store, I have to share widely to my Detroit based friends and family.  The DIA presented an amazing Van Gogh exhibition late 2022-early 2023. It was actually postponed because of the Covid lockdown. It was really fun to create dangles, studs and pins using paintings from their permanent collection. They sold a lot of the earrings we created for this show. That's good for everyone. We love it when these special projects provide a lot more work for the artists we work with in Guatemala.

For years the buyer from the Museum of Flight in Seattle and I had been discussing what we might create together for their store. From mid 2023 through January 2024, Art & Flight featured work of several talented artists. Seattle artist, Angelina Villalobos created two amazing murals for the museum. With her permission, the earrings shown on the right were created. Fun right?

What happened next? The staff at Museum of Flight thought it might be fun to offer stud earrings that look like paper airplanes. If you visit their website, you'll see a paper airplane serves as their site cursor. That's so cool! The earrings shown here can now be purchased at the Museum of Flight's gift store. They can also be purchased from us directly for your store.

 

 

Sometimes a store owner wants to show off their own amazing artwork. And in the case of Julia Mooney, a talented watercolor artist and owner of My Fair Trade Lady in Haddon Heights, NJ, this was the case. She had created a wonderful painting of the local train station. And on earrings, these make a terrific gift and souvenir. She provided a high-res image of her painting, and we created earrings. You too can purchase a pair here.

The truth is all you need is a good idea, and we can help you create just about anything. We have a lovely customer who is crazy for all things music. And so are her customers. In her case, most of her jazz fanatic clients are in Taiwan. Sora Designs had exhausted the musical instrument studs we offer.  We created custom bass violins, electric guitars and accordions for Sora. These have been turned into earrings, lapel pins and you name it.

Don't forget to revisit our original blog post where I highlighted other custom creations Dunitz & Company has made. We even laser cut out the state of Missouri for one of our clients. Our minimums are low. Our quality is excellent. And if you're already a Dunitz customer, you know our prices are more than reasonable. What are you waiting for? I'm here to help you create your next custom project. -ND

Museum Store Association Gallery at LA Mart: A First

Nancy & Daedre

I was there. Dunitz & Company was there. And Museum Store Association was there. Where? The LA Mart temps. Thanks are due Daedre Berryman of Studio Daedre (Western Region, Chapter Vendor Advisor) who worked tirelessly coordinating with LA Mart staff. Her efforts resulted in a new dedicated gallery for MSA vendor members to show off their wares. A shout out to Nora Wade from the LA Mart as well. Nora's the staff that definitely made the gallery "happen"!

MSA Table

Up front and center was our group's table offering information about Museum Store Association. Retailers grabbed available materials including copies of Museum Store magazine. We fielded their questions. I must say, Mary Lind from World Finds was particularly helpful in this department.







 

Ribbon Cutting

What was really wonderful was the placement of the Museum Store Association gallery. We all were the first thing buyers saw when they entered the "Temp" section of the show. LA Mart even staged a ribbon cutting to announce our new section. Follow the red arrow. Susan Tudor, MSA President (Cummer Museum) was right there in the middle of the welcoming crowd. See the tie dye and costumes? Mart staff dressed for the theme of this market,"Summer of Love". (A DJ in the Mart lobby, just outside of our room, was spinning lots of 60s tunes. Occasionally you'd find one of us bopping to a favorite tune.)

 

Dunitz Table & Me

Tables were reasonably priced, allowing several MSA members to exhibit. I'm based in Los Angeles, so for me, this was a no-brainer.  The affordability encouraged some out of towners to throw their hats in the ring as well.  It's amazing what one can manage with a 6' table. I'm still shocked that I could effectively show off so many Dunitz fair trade designs on such a small space. By comparison, I have a 15' booth at NY Now.  (Didn't make it to Los Angeles? Find Dunitz & Company at NY Now in Booth 1758, Global Handmade.)

MSA Group Shot

So here's the thing. It will take time to grow a new section of the show, both in terms of exhibitors and buyers. I'm willing to ride the wave. I met new buyers this week, including a few from museums. And I wrote orders with a few. Even if the market seemed slow, in the end, I wrote more than enough business to justify my time and expenses. I believe most of us in the MSA section did. [Photo here includes from L>R, Me, Susan Tudor, Daedre Barryman, Mary Lind Mahmud, Jennifer Barnella]





Another bonus of a smaller show? You get to know some of your neighbors really well! One morning Krista from Krista Bermeo Studio brought in homemade tamales from a vendor selling near her AirBnB. Those were seriously yummy... & her jewelry is in my opinion completely drool-worthy. Pat from Chick Boss designs a line that is made, like mine, in Guatemala. Her metal creations look nothing like what I do and they're fabulous. Gosh, the artisans in Guatemala are amazing. Kenny from Gallery Drinkware was a total delight. And talk about small world.  My niece, Helen Gotlib (an amazing artist, BTW) moved from her Ann Arbor, Main Street home a few years ago because it was being torn down to build condos. Turns out Kenny's in-laws bought one of those condos and occasionally receive Helen's mail.
   
I also spent some time chatting with exhibitors from permanent showrooms. (They came downstairs to the Temps to check us out.) I loved that they were so positive about the MSA Gallery. They all believe that growing a section such as ours is good for everyone. What smart people they are! They know if more museum buyers attend the LA Mart, that's more potential quality business for all of them. One larger company owner even suggested the Mart should reduce our table fees.

Instagram Story

In typical fashion, I also spent some energy promoting the LA Mart and MSA Gallery on social media. This was my favorite IG Story post. Sara and others were all decked out in psychedelic clothing and in the hall directing buyers and answering their questions.
















 

Los Angeles Mart

At the end of the day, one of the things I enjoy most is working with my customers. I love seeing buyers I've worked with for years. And I very much enjoy acquainting myself with those new to me. And now I want to sing! "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other, gold." Perhaps you'll join Dunitz & Company at the LA Mart in January 2020 to do the same. -ND

MSA-LA Mart Pin

Terrific Museum.Terrific Museum Store. Bowers Museum.

Bowers Museum

It's always fun to see Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry on museum store shelves. And my recent trip to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, put a smile on my face. Not only because I saw an amazing exhibit, (more on that later in this post) it's also such a privilege to have my designs offered at the Bowers Gallery Store.

Nancy & Pauline

I entered the museum looking for the friend I was to meet. It was Sunday. And there at the 'Information Desk' I spotted Pauline Rusterholtz, the buyer for the museum's store trimming and arranging a vase of flowers. Yes, she's a woman of many talents. And as I waited for my friend to arrive, Pauline and I caught up and chatted. She told me I'd go nuts for the "Guo Pei, Couture Beyond" exhibit. And she was absolutely right. Guo Pei is an amazing Chinese clothing designer who first gained notoriety in the west when superstar Rihanna wore her golden cape dress at the 2015 Met Gala. If you're in Southern California, definitely check it out. It closes on July 14th. (And, yes, we're posing under a photo of Harry & Meghan in Pauline's office.)

Guo Pei Exhibit

I took this opportunity to ask Pauline if I could interview her for my blog and/or send her a few questions for the answering. She said yes. I know that Pauline supports fair trade when she can, and I knew she was also a member of Museum Store Association. My goal was to learn a few pearls of wisdom from this experienced buyer. I did. Keep reading and you will too.








NANCY: You've been part of the Bowers Museum family since forever. How did you come to work at the Bowers? Had you worked at other museums or done retail prior to taking over the gift store there?

PAULINE: I was moving to Orange County from San Francisco and knew the then manager of the Bowers Museum store. She asked me if I would be interested in working at the store and I said yes. And here I am, 25 years later.

NANCY: Each time I see your store, I'm not only impressed with the merchandising, but also the breadth of amazing products you offer in so many price points. We met in the legendary Kentia Hall World Style exhibits of the now, closed Los Angeles Gift Show - back in the 90's. How do you now source new things for your store?

PAULINE: Mainly by researching on the Internet. I also meet new vendors that come to the museum.

NANCY: You sell items from all over the globe in your store.  Is there a part of the world that you've visited, or products from a certain part of the world that excite you the most?

PAULINE: Just receiving different items from around the world is exciting for us, especially when we meet with different artists from different cultures.  (Yes, Pauline is a diplomat. And it seems she likes vendors to personally call on her. Makes me realize I wish I was 3 people, so I could meet with many buyers in person, on their turf.)

NANCY: When we first met, fair trade really hadn't yet been defined.  I'm sure you could tell which vendors seemed more ethical in the ways they did business. Does validated or certified fair trade play a part in your purchasing decisions now?

PAULINE: Very much so. We always try to work with Fair Trade [vendors].

NANCY: I joined Museum Store Association a few years ago. I have found it to be such a supportive group and I'm thrilled to know you are a member. Is there something in particular about this association that you appreciate or find most helpful? 

PAULINE: I find all of the available information they provide very helpful. I particularly enjoy "Shop Talk". It is a very good resource for so many things. (Shop Talk is an on-line forum of the Museum Store Association where members share ideas on products and store management. This alone, justifies membership.)

NANCY: And you know, I had to ask. Do you have a personal favorite design or designs from Dunitz & Company's collections?

Dunitz at the Bowers

PAULINE: You have such a great variety, it is tough to have a favorite. I try to pick out what appeals to our visitors. (always a diplomat!)

----end of interview---

It appears I wasn't 100% on my game on my recent trip to the Bowers Museum Store. I should have been snapping photos, and except for one of Pauline and me (show above), I didn't take photos in the store. This pic to the right is from May 2017. And yes, the Bowers has always done particularly well with our fair trade earrings.


I want to 'shout out' to the Bowers Museum social media team. I follow them everywhere. Definitely follow their Instagram account. Their feed is fun to watch and I've learned a thing or two from the way they engage their audience. They consistently ask questions of their viewers. (SO SMART.) I love when they ask their followers to caption old photographs from their collection. And guess what? I always do. And one time I even won entrance for two to the museum.

In Southern California? Can't make the Guo Pei exhibit? Don't fret. OK, fret a little. The Bowers Museum has another (what looks to be incredible) exhibit coming up September 21 - January 19, 2020. That's a big window of time which means I definitely will NOT be missing "Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografia." (Did you know I was a summer intern at the Guggenheim Museum NY when I was in college? And that summer, I was a docent guiding visitors through the Rufino Tamayo retrospective.) In the area? Want to join me?

Definitely visit the Bowers Museum for their exhibits AND their fabulous store. And while you're there make sure to treasure hunt for Dunitz fair trade jewelry. -ND

Reflecting on MSA Forward 2018

I just returned from Museum Store Association's annual meeting and expo in Washington DC.  It was the first time Dunitz & Company has attended and I have several colleagues to thank for that. For years I have interacted (and sold to) museum buyers at larger trade shows such as NY Now.  In recent times, both customers and vendor colleagues told me it was time to participate in MSA Forward. Those encouraging my attendance include Ione Saroyan (New York Historical Society), Stuart Hata (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco), Debra Reiff (Origin Jewelry) and Susan Davis (Grandmother's Buttons.) If it wasn't for these friends, I might not have jumped on the bandwagon.

What's different about seeing museum buyers (and vendor colleagues) at a MSA conference?  One word. OK, two. "The Atmosphere."  At larger gift shows, everyone is in total business mode.  At the MSA conference, we were as well. But there was also a sense of family, camaraderie, community and supportive-ness you don't typically sense in other business settings. Seriously. Have you ever seen buyers and vendors taking Ellen DeGeneres type selfies together at a gift show?






My adventures with the MSA Conference started with Terry Tarnow (Dennos Museum Center) inviting me to be her roommate at the Renaissance. Terry and I have worked together several times before. We had never before broken bread. Our glue? We both were raised in Detroit and had previously discovered people and places we love in common.  Now I can say Terry is a true friend and an easy roommate. We've even discussed returning to Washington DC (without a conference) to focus on the many museums and their gift shops.




Ari Lowenstein (Vendor Member Advisor) gave me some terrific advice before attending MSA Forward. And, I'm sharing it here with you.  He said if you are taking the time to participate in this conference, make sure to join in on the educational tours and seminars. Make a point of meeting other attendees. This was sage advice.  I along with a bus-full of others enjoyed a tour to Hillwood Estates and Tudor Place and their gift shops! Whenever I could, I introduced myself to those I didn't know.  I attended seminars when I could. At luncheons I consciously sat with people I didn't know.  I joined the Western Chapter for their group pizza dinner.  Sometimes it's tough to mingle with people you're not acquainted with. It may seem awkward. Do your best and try it, always with a smile.  (Turns out many of those people I met stopped by my expo booth. And some wrote orders. I'm certain had I not dined with them, this might not have happened.)

On Saturday night, MSA staged their Gala. There was a fabulous band. Many of us danced for hours. (I can't think of the last time I danced so much. That was sooooo much fun.) Staged concurrently with the party was a Silent Auction with a host of terrific products donated by vendors and museum gift shops. The goal; to raise lots of money for scholarships for deserving buyers to attend future conferences. Dunitz & Company donated two necklace/earring sets.  One, beaded. The other, fused glass. I wanted anyone seeing our donation to know that Dunitz & Company wholesales two very different fair trade collections.  I was nervous that no one would bid on our donation. I was thrilled to see by the end of the evening a bidding war had ensued.  The winner, Ryan Oswald (Vizcaya) had bid three times to make sure his wife would be wearing our pretties. Now that put a big smile on my face.


I was one of the lucky ones. I was able to set up my booth starting Friday morning, and not after dinner as many others.  Even with using most of Friday for creating my attractive display (which I absentmindedly forgot to photograph), I was able to attend a couple of seminars.  I really had no idea what to expect when I attended Neal Cohen and Jeremy Richardson's session "Year in Review, Your Annual Business Check Up."  These guys are smart and they're very savvy when it comes to issues of product safety, copyright and trademarks.  Some of these very BIG issues can actually have impact on small businesses like ours. My view? Even if most of what is said doesn't apply to you, if you take away one valuable point at a seminar, it was worth being there. I am better off for having attended their presentation.

And finally! Yes, the main clincher for why I attended MSA Forward.  I wanted Dunitz & Company to be seen at the Expo.  As my colleagues had promised, the Expo was a terrific way to get our jewelry in front of the faces of many museum buyers I'd never previously met. And do you remember my mentioning all those people I nervously sat with at lunches?  Several came by my booth. Some ordered. Many left their business cards for follow up. (Next blog post will be about the new Laser Cut collection we launched at MSA Forward. Earrings that can be customized for any type of institution or exhibition. Butterfly teaser photo here!)  And yes, I did see several buyers I already knew, which accounted for reorders. Yeah!

Other feedback from me? Order the lights for your booth. I was told that the ballroom and exhibition spaces were well lit and extra lighting was not needed. My booth was dark. Thankfully most everyone's booth was dark. With a small show and a captive audience, it seemed most buyers looked everywhere. My gut is if I'd had a few spotlights, my booth would have garnered a few more pauses.

The jury is no longer out.  Attending MSA Forward 2018 was a success for so many reasons. I enjoyed DC. I made new friends. I wrote business and I was able to pitch our fair trade jewelry line to those who didn't previously know Dunitz & Company.  And guess what? Next year MSA will be hosting it's annual event in San Diego. (And may the hotel there have food as edible/delicious as the Renaissance Downtown DC.) I can even drive to San Diego!  Will you attend? - ND

Museum Store Sunday - November 26th

Forget about Black Friday. Consider Museum Store Sunday. This will be the first of what will be an annual event promoting museum stores. Of course, I think museum shops provide some of the best curated gift selections available anywhere...all year long. Not only do museum shops sell great stuff...the profits earned from purchases directly assist in the missions and programming of museums. I can't think of any reason not to support Museum Store Sunday. And besides, if you're reading this blog, you're a fan of Dunitz & Company. And we consistently sell our beautiful fair trade designs to many museum shops all around the good 'ole USA and sometimes abroad! (Did you know that Dunitz & Company is now a member of the Museum Store Association?) If you read the 'News' section of the Museum Store Sunday website, you'll see that many shops are offering special discounts, giveaways and musical entertainment on November 26th. Why wouldn't you do your holiday shopping at a museum store?

Yes! Shop at a museum store.... & take in an exhibit or two.  Since we're located in Los Angeles, I thought I'd highlight some of the museums & shops I've recently visited. Each of these are participants in and are promoting Museum Store Sunday.

J. Paul Getty Museum - is on my list. I haven't been there yet this season. But, our jewelry is in their shop! And their current exhibit Golden Kingdoms, Luxury and Legacy in the Ancient Americas is calling my name.  I'm sure I'll be there soon to take in the Mayan, Aztec and Inca art on display. And yes, I'll take a secret shopper pic of our embroidered earrings and bracelets! They've already reordered, so we know museum store shoppers like their Dunitz selections.



The Library Store -  I was at the Central Library for the opening of Visualizing Language: Oaxaca in LA in September. The murals on display are fantastic. And of course, while I was there, I had to visit the shop. The staff was lovely and they really have some amazing and innovative gifts there. And seriously, many are so affordable. It would be the perfect place to check out on Museum Store Sunday.



Japanese American National Museum - A regional Museum Store Association meeting, hosted by the Japanese American National Museum prompted my visit. There current special exhibit Transpacific Borderlands: The Art of Japanese Diaspora in Lima, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and São Paulo is so worth checking out. There were some fabulous installations. While there, you better believe I visited the museum shop. And it's terrific. There were so many cool gifts to choose from. And some were edible :). Somehow I think many people automatically assume museum shops  only offer expensive goods. This definitely was not the case here. You could easily pick up affordable treasures for all of your loved ones.


Skirball Cultural Center -  I didn't know about Anita Brenner. And now thanks to the Skirball Center and their current exhibit, I do. Anita Brenner, a Mexican Born, American-Jewish woman was paramount in educating those in the United States about the culture and arts of Mexico. It's not a large exhibit...easy to digest in an hour or a bit more. It is well worth seeing. Now let's talk about their gift shop. It's fantastic. The Skirball may have the best selection of Judaica gifts in all of Los Angeles. And guess what? They also sell Dunitz & Company's fair trade Judaica! You'll find our kippot on display and for purchase.

  
Annenberg Space for Photography - Most of you reading this won't know that I visited Cuba in 2000 for Jazz Fest. I spent 10 days in Havana listening to amazing music and feasting my eyes on the places and people of this iconic city.  The current photo exhibit at Annenberg Space, CUBA IS is replete with breathtaking and thought provoking images. I saw it last week. And now on my 'to do list' is revisiting all of the images on film and slide I snapped while I was there.  If you're interested in Cuba, or photography, consider this location for your Museum Store Sunday excursion.  The shop has gifts and a lot of really cool books.

Hammer Museum - The Hammer has one of the most talked about exhibits currently showing in Los Angeles.  Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960-1985 had been mentioned to me so many times that I made a point of visiting this museum a few weeks back.  Definitely go with your thinking cap on. There is a lot to read and watch. Do you like watching video?  You'll find it here.  Oh -and while you're there....VISIT the gift shop!

I'm in a tough spot now.  There are several Museum Store Sunday participants driving distance from my home and our offices. Where shall I go on November 26th? All are worthy. All have great shops. I know because I have been to many, just not recently. And we know all of these fine institutions have great exhibits going on as well. OK - so if it's not next week - my mission is to visit each of these museums and their shops over the next several months. This list is long! Pasadena Museum of History, Kidspace Children's Museum, Gamble House, Huntington Museum and Gardens, Long Beach Museum of Art, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Museum of Contemporary Art, LA Philharmonic (although I have been to the Hollywood Bowl and there gift shop many times this summer because it is located a stone throw from where I live), Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Craft & Folk Art Museum and Norton Simon. Phew. I have my work cut out for me! Where will you be on Museum Store Sunday? - ND

Museum Store Association Membership - Inspires Memories

I recently applied for membership to the Museum Store Association. And thankfully my application was approved. In all honestly, various members have been encouraging me to join this group for a very long time. Most recently and obviously persuasive was Ione from New York Historical Society. Dunitz & Company has always worked with and placed our fair trade jewelry in many museum gift shops. I'm now in an even better situation to mingle with and exchange information with a host of buyers I may not have met at the trade shows we attend.




Becoming a member of this group brought back a host of museum memories for me. For this blog, I thought it would be fun to share some of them. Now you'll know even a little bit more about me. I attended West Bloomfield (Michigan) High School. My senior year, I was one of 4 students chosen to participate in an educational program at Cranbrook Institute of Science.  Evidently Matt, Harold, Mark & I were the smart and nice kids chosen to "teach" sixth graders that were bused to the museum for introductory classes on a host of topics. My expertise became microscopes and introductory astronomy. Honestly the funniest memory for me is that I was paired up with Mark to teach the astronomy class. (Shall we talk about Alpha Centauri? No.) Nearly a year before this, Mark who lived in my residential neighborhood had asked me out on a date, to a school dance. I had already been on dates, so I remember thinking at the time how odd it was when his older sister chaperoned us. It was an awkward evening. What turned out to be even more awkward was that even though we only lived a few houses apart, we didn't speak again until we were paired for teaching this class.  Now THAT was awkward for two gawky kids. Thankfully we resolved the situation quickly and successfully taught together that semester. Guess what? Mark is now a 'facebook friend'!


I graduated from the University of Michigan and majored in History of Art. Truthfully, I always dreamed of attending Art School. My parents however didn't think that was a practical move and for me that was not an option. Instead, I spent my college years studying other people's art. One wonderful memory I have from my college days was being part of the first docent class at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. (The photo posted here is of the museum I remember. This building remains today. However, it is attached to a spectacular contemporary addition.) Our docent training took place over two semesters my junior year. Most of the class was comprised of women living in Ann Arbor who after training intended to volunteer at the museum for many more years. As an experiment,  three students were selected to be part of this program, Jonathan Kuhn (who is now the Director of Art & Antiquities for the city of New York), Barb Parker-Bell (now a professor at Marywood University) and me. Our instructor was a PhD candidate, Vicky Clark who later, and for years was affiliated with Carnegie Mellon. Our obligation after training was to provide docent tours throughout our senior year of college.

I don't remember my schedule exactly. Sometimes on the weekend, I would tour a group from the general public.  And more often, we took school kids who were bused from surrounding areas for a tour of the museum. If you asked them how a Helen Frankenthaler painting made them feel, they were without inhibitions. Or if you asked children how Esther (Esther before Ahasuerus by Guercino) felt in this prized painting, they were happy to share their thoughts. The kids were always the most fun.

For the most part, our tours were planned. We knew which pieces in the museum required a mandatory stop. A little leeway sometimes allowed us to squash in a piece not on our regular list.  A grey-scale print of the Swimmer by Alex Katz was one I typically added to my tours. I learned of Katz when I was a docent. And his images had never been included in my coursework. To this day, Alex Katz is probably my favorite living artist (other than my niece, Helen Gotlib!)



The summer after docent training, I had applied for internships at several museums. It was crazy but I was offered positions everywhere I applied. How was I going to decide between the Detroit Institute of Arts, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art or the Guggenheim? The choice was not easy, but it had to be made.  First, it was a given that I should leave home and experience the Big Apple.  I would have been volunteering my time to help out a curator at the Brooklyn Museum or the Whitney. The Whitney had always been one of my all-time favorite places. The clincher was the Guggenheim had a very specific internship program where they hired many students. At the time, I didn't know anyone in New York. It seemed a good idea to choose a job where I would have a built-in social life as well. I was selected to work in the business office of the museum. This was probably best suited for me since I had decided I wanted to somehow combine arts with business for my career. Truthfully, I didn't want to make a career out of studying other people's art.

And my other responsibility that summer....was being a docent at the Guggenheim. They knew I had experience. So, again, I was one of three interns chosen to study and then tour the general public on their then Rufino Tamayo retrospective. And those were some big crowds. Sometimes those tours seemed to attract 50, 60 or more people. Seriously it felt like 100! I must say, I've always been fearful speaking in front of crowds. And I'm not sure this experience helped me get over it.

My funniest memory was on what probably seemed like one of my largest crowds. Why? Because my mother traveled for a visit from Michigan to join in. At the end of the tour, my mom shouted out from the back of the crowd, "Young lady, that was an awesome tour!" And everyone clapped and seemed to agree. My reply - "Don't listen to her, that's my mother!" What a roar in the audience that created. I smile now just thinking about that.  (For years after this tour, my mom always remembered that Tamayo frequently painted small heads with bodies proportionally too large).

So, now I'm an official part of a museum gang again! I very much look forward to working more closely with many more museums. Do you have a favorite museum memory? -ND