The Exh Files: Part 10

By JGarciaMosqueda | Published: September 22, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Bill Moore

BILL MOORE
IT

Title at MoMA: Technical Infrastructure Manager
Been working at the museum for:  13 years.
A brief bio: My major function at MoMA is managing all aspects of Telecommunications. This ranges from paying phone bills to handling cell phones for staff.  I started in the telecommunication industry in Texas in 1978 and have held a variety of positions since. I’m active in telecommunication industry groups and sit on the Electrical Code Revision Commission low voltage panel for the City of New York.
Passion outside of MoMA:  When away from work, I do research on my family history.  I’ve traced parts of my family to the 1300s in Europe.
What I did in Talk To Me:  My role in preparing for Talk to Me was related to planning and coordinating data and phone line cabling for the various components of the exhibit. One major task was working with the MTA to get the MetroCard Vending Machine installed in the gallery.
Curatorial Team says: We wish we had filmed Bill’s interaction with the huge MTA crews. It was a first time for all–MoMA and MTA–and a truly interesting and elating experience.

YooIn Cho

YOOIN CHO
Graphic Design

Title at MoMA: Intern, Department of Advertising and Graphic Design.
Been working at the museum for: the summer of 2011.
A brief bio: I currently attend the School of Visual Arts for a BFA in Graphic Design. I was born in Korea but raised in the States, DR (Dominican Republic), Scotland, and China.
Passion outside of MoMA: I enjoy playing with letterforms and collecting things that are beautiful.
What I did in Talk to Me: I assisted with exhibition advertisements and graphic design which include iconography, wall title, labels and signage.
Curatorial Team says: Interns at MoMA play roles that see them on the front lines of their area of expertise. Yooin assisted Sam Sherman in designing the graphics for the show and for all the publicity materials.

Jeri Moxley

JERI MOXLEY
Exhibition Technologies

Title at MoMA: Manager, Collection and Exhibition Technologies
Been working at the museum for: 3 years.
A brief bio: I have worked as a collections registrar and managed collection and exhibition information for museums for over a decade. I’ve lived on both coasts as well as in the midwest and hold degrees in Anthropology, French, African Languages & Literatures, and Linguistics.
Passion outside of MoMA: When not working at MoMA, I help to manage a small coffee shop in Queens and I spend a lot of time reading about world cultures, cognitive science, and language as social behavior.
What I did in Talk to Me: As manager of the centralized database of collection and exhibition information at MoMA, I provided cataloguing standards, reports, and support to the Talk to Me team using this information across the museum, including: curatorial, registrar, exhibition management, exhibition design & production, art handling, conservation, education, graphic design, communications, imaging services, information technology, and visitor services.
Curatorial Team says: The Collection Management System is a wild and fascinating planet, mostly unexplored by humans, inhabited by heavenly creatures such as Jeri. Curators pretend to know how to use CEMS, but in truth they’d be lost, never to be found, without their guides.
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The Exh Files: Part 9

By JGarciaMosqueda | Published: September 21, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.  

Sara Bodinson at her desk

SARA BODINSON
Education

Title at MoMA: Director, Interpretation & Research
Been working at the museum for: almost 12 years.
A brief bio: Born and raised in Kansas City, I studied Art History and Film Studies at Smith College. I started at MoMA as a Film Department intern and since then have had three different positions in the Department of Education. Last year, I wrote my MA thesis about The Arab Image Foundation, a photography archive in Beirut.
Passion outside MoMA: This summer, exploring Brooklyn on my new bike!
What I did in Talk to Me:  With my colleague Stephanie Pau, I reviewed the wall texts, editing them to make sure they are accessible to MoMA’s wide range of visitors, including designers or those who know a lot about design to others who know very little about the topic.  It’s always fun to work with curators and editors to determine the right amount of information to convey the exhibition’s ideas, and in this case, support the incredible range of concepts and strategies embodied by the objects on display.
Curatorial Team says:  Sara said it best, it is a good collaboration, albeit not always an easy one. Our meatiest back-and-forth this time was about the word parkour, which is part of the main wall text, also featured on the home page of our web site. The curators wanted to keep it, arguing that the word was the only one that could convey the right meaning, and that sometimes it is not such a bad thing to push the visitors outside of their comfort zone.

Stephanie Pau

STEPHANIE PAU
 Education

Title at MoMA: Associate Educator, Interpretation & Research
Been working at the museum for: just over 1 year.
A brief bio:  Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I studied Anthropology (Archaeology emphasis) at the UC Berkeley, followed by graduate work in the M.A. in Museum Studies program at San Francisco State University. Prior to joining MoMA, I spent nearly a decade at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where I honed my skills in digital media, educational technology, and museum interpretation (alongside a few random stints in the Registration department). I also worked in the Botany department at the California Academy of Sciences and spearheaded special projects at the Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
Passion outside MoMA: Exploring the “wilds” of my new(ish) city; urban foraging and mushroom hunting; cooking and eating anything and everything; hiking; surfing; woodland creatures; finding the perfect soup dumpling.
What I did in Talk to Me:  Working with Sara Bodinson (Director of Interpretation & Research), I reviewed the exhibition texts with an eye towards accessibility in both content and design. Nearly 3 million visitors stream through our doors each year, comprising an incredible diversity of personal experiences, needs, and knowledge. My job is to collaborate with curators, designers, and editors to develop compelling ways of storytelling through text, media, and physical displays, which may serve the broadest possible audience — from visitors who have little or no art historical knowledge to those who could teach us a thing or two; visitors with special physical needs or who are blind or partially-sighted. Each exhibit, including Talk To Me, is a new and unique opportunity to learn and experiment alongside colleagues from all parts of the museum. Curatorial Team says: Well said, Stephanie! Nothing to add here, just a reference to the post above–Sara Bodinson.

Lynda Zycherman

LYNDA ZYCHERMAN
Conservation

Title at MoMA: Conservator of Sculpture
Been working at the museum for: I haves been at MoMA since 1984 (more than 26 years).
A brief bio: I was trained as an archeological conservator at the Metropolitan Museum and the Freer Gallery of Art. I made a 3,000-year leap from ancient technology to modern and contemporary sculpture in 1984, when I joined the MoMA’s Sculpture Conservation Laboratory.  My research interests are Minimalist sculpture, Fluxus, early 20th century bronze sculpture and Picasso plasters.
Passion outside MoMA: Outside of MoMA, I am a gym rat, a baker, an Angry Birds addict, and a traveler.
What I did in Talk to Me: I prepared loan objects for display.
Curatorial Team says: The role of a conservator in an exhibition like Talk to Me goes well beyond simply preparing loan objects for display, Lynda is modest. It entails giving advice on positioning and mounting, assessing behavior of materials under the light and climate conditions available, and overall protecting the objects from the curators’ irresponsible behavior and unrealistic expectations.

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The Exh Files: Part 8

By GLEE | Published: September 18, 2011
Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Andrew Tedeschi

ANDREW TEDESCHI
Exhibitions Mechanic

Title at MoMA: Exhibitions Mechanic.
Been working at the museum for: 7 years.
A brief bio: I’m from Brooklyn, NY. Before coming to MoMA, I worked for AMEC construction and actually helped to build the museum expansion.
Passion outside MoMA: To make my family and kids happy.
What I did in Talk to Me: I did all the electrical to get it up and running. I love working at the museum; it’s a great institution to work for, and I love to work for exhibitions.
Curatorial Team says: Andrew, along with Sean and Ray, are our Superheroes. We dream of giving them each a Hyperreal Everyday Life helmet, or an Avatar Machine, to let them know how we really see them.

Wendy Olson

WENDY OLSON
Production Coordinator

Title at MoMA: Production Coordinator, Department of Advertising and Graphic Design.
Been working at the museum for: 3 months.
A brief bio: I studied Art History and Marketing with a strong interest in graphic design at the University of Miami and the American University of Paris.  Previous to working at MoMA I spent five years working on a creative team at The Morgan Library & Museum.
Passion outside MoMA: My passion is art.
What I did in Talk to Me: I worked on the advertising campaign.
Curatorial Team says: Wendy worked along with Sam on placing all of the publicity and ads that he designed, from banners in the street to full-page ads in The New Yorker.

Jennifer Tobias

JENNIFER TOBIAS
Librarian

Title at MoMA: Librarian, Reader Services.
Been working at the museum for: a long time.
A brief bio: Jennifer Tobias is a librarian and art history student at the City University of New York Graduate Center, completing a dissertation on The Museum of Modern Art’s What is Modern? Series, 1938-1969.
Passion outside MoMA: passion?
What I did in Talk to Me: suggested some relevant information sources? Actually I don’t remember doing anything!
Curatorial Team says: Always so modest! Yes, relevant sources always, but also Jenny is an ongoing precious ally for design curators, as she has deep knowledge and serious passion for design–despite what she says.

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The Exh Files: Part 7

By kcarmody | Published: September 2, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Steven Wheeler

STEVEN WHEELER
Registrar

Title at MoMA: Assistant Registrar
Been working at the museum for: over 10 years.
A brief bio/what I did in Talk to Me: I was the “backup” registrar for the exhibition, assisting Corey in any way I could, as I am also the Architecture and Design Department’s Collection Registrar. We typically acquire a good portion of Paola’s exhibition works, so its great to be involved from the beginning to help really understand each object. I also wanted to be involved because many of my school friends (Architecture – NJIT) ended up in the interaction design world (like Minimaforms‘ Theo!) and in this exhibition.
Curatorial Team says:  We always and forever love working with Steven. And he loves us and all of our pieces that defy classification and require TR numbers (temporary collection numbers, since every object that comes into the Museum has to be swallowed, even temporarily, into the Collection in order to be protected by MoMA in all its might).  We love the glasses–we are honored that Steve gave us THE VERY FIRST PICTURE EVER of him in his new specs.

Sean Brown

SEAN BROWN
Foreman of Exhibitions

Title at MoMA: Foreman of Exhibitions.
Been working at the museum for: 9 1/2 years.
A brief bio: I was born and raised in New Jersey. I’m a member of Local 30, and also the Local 30 shop steward here at the museum. Before coming to MoMA I worked at Ellis Island for 5 years as an Engineer.
Passion outside MoMA: I’m an avid hunter and sportsman, and I love fishing, archery, hiking, anything that involves the outdoors. And I love spending time with my kids.
What I did in Talk to Me: A lot. I did the lighting, all the electrical runs for the units and cases, did the wiring for the new security cameras, and for the new wi-fi in the galleries as well. I also helped out with any of the art works that needed special wiring, or anything else along these parameters.
Curatorial Team says: Phew!  Sean is an absolute star–he worked so hard for us and managed the huge workload, along with Ray (see below), like a champ.   The cases and wall units were specially designed by Betty to hold the wiring, dropped down in bundles from the ceiling, but before this could happen, all of the necessary cables had to be added and pulled within the walls and ceiling in order to reach the tops of the exhibition structures. Moreover, everything then had to be wired within the custom-made cabinets, so cases and walls of the structures through secret access panels.

Ray Martin

RAY MARTIN
Exhibitions Mechanic

Title at MoMA: Exhibitions Mechanic.
Been working at the museum for: It will be 11 years in October.
A brief bio: I was born in Queens, and I’ve been part of Local 30 Engineers for 15 years. I worked at the IRS (Internal Revenue Service, ed’s note for our foreign readers) before coming to MoMA.
Passion outside MoMA: Fishing, sports; I’m a big Mets fan.
What he did in Talk to Me: I ran all the electric and security camera wires. We were all very busy!
Curatorial Team says: Along with Sean (see above), Ray had so much work to do, considering the electrical and wi-fi needs for this show.  Our engineers are in charge of anything that requires electricity–in this particular show, that amounts to more than 80%, a staggering amount.

 

 

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The Exh Files: Part 6

By GLEE | Published: September 1, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Jason Fry

JASON FRY
Carpenter

Title at MoMA: Carpenter.
Been working at the museum for: 8 years.
A brief bio: I was born in south Texas and moved to California to go to the San Francisco Art Institute. Like a lot of people, I moved to New York when I graduated. Before coming to MoMA I worked in different museums, SFMoMA and PS1 among them. I started working at MoMA just before the museum’s expansion to come back to Manhattan from QNS (ca. 2003, ed’s note).
Passion outside MoMA: Art is my passion–painting, drawing, sculpture, music. I used to make paintings more but now I make more music. I make experimental music, art rock, Sonic Youth-inspired.
What I did in Talk to Me: I was on a crew that built all the cabinetry.
Curatorial Team says: Jason, along with Woody and the entire crew, built the Talking Carl-inspired casework to perfection. Amongst Jason’s many accomplishments in the show is the little diving board on which the original Crowbot from Crowbot Jenny is perched at a dangerous angle, quite a feat of detailing and patience.


Steven Peltzman

STEVEN PELTZMAN
IT

Title at MoMA: Chief Information Officer.
Been working at the museum for: 10 years.
A brief bio:  I am responsible for all technology at MoMA, internal and external.  I spent 7 years as a USAF Officer working on stealth technology, including the B-2 Bomber and mission planning software.  I also held position of VP of IT for EarthWeb.com.  I hold a BS from MIT and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Passion outside of MoMA: I am an instrument-rated private pilot.
What I did in Talk to Me:  I hovered over the folks who did all the real technology work and tried to stay out of their way.
Curatorial Team says: Not only does Steve love challenges–as you know from previous Exh Files reports, there was an incredible amount of IT work that went into Talk to Me, and Steven and his team had moved the entire museum over to Gmail 4 weeks before the show went up–but he is one of those rare people that is able to meet them with a smile. We truly love him. Also, great portrait, Steven. Jealous…


Carlos Yepes

CARLOS YEPES
Exhibition Coordinator

Title at MoMA: Associate Coordinator of Exhibitions.
Been working at the museum for: 13.5 years.
A brief bio:  I stumbled into museum work after being an art student.  This is my first “office” job.
Passion outside of MoMA: My family and my art.
What I did in Talk to Me: I handled the paperwork.
Curatorial Team says: Carlos had his work cut out for him, the works in Talk to Me being unlike most of MoMA’s other shows–from figuring out how to “loan” and insure non physical digital files to amending almost every loan.
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The Exh Files: Part 5

By GLEE | Published: August 26, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Lucas Gonzalez

LUCAS GONZALEZ
Audio Visual

Title at MoMA: Audio Visual Technician
Been working at the museum for: 6 years
A brief bio: I was born in Bogota, Colombia, but grew up in New York City. Came up as an audio engineer in live venues in the city, before transitioning to audio visual at MoMA.
Passion outside of MoMA: Outside of MoMA I play music and dabble in writing and drawing. I used to travel quite a bit and want to get back to it. I like food.
What I did in Talk to Me: We prepped, wired and installed most monitors, projectors, iPads, itouch, and kiosk stations in the gallery. We maintain them throughout the show.
Curatorial Team says: We’re talking about more than 80 monitors. In the hectic lead up to Talk to Me, the whole A/V crew and Lucas in particular were the ones that kept their cool, and got us all through.

David Hart

DAVID HART
Digital Media

Title at MoMA: Media Producer, Digital Media Department
Been working at the museum for: 5 years
A brief bio: I work on projects across the museum with an emphasis on online video and education. I am stopped on the street for directions in any country I visit.
Passion outside of MoMA: Food, comedy, occasional doodles.
What I did in Talk to Me: David planned the upcoming free live video-streaming walkthroughs on September 6 and 13. He also provided voiceover for a secret Talk to Me project.
Curatorial Team says: David is the most enthusiastic colleague–he is happy to work with us on any idea we might have, from interviewing objects to whispering sweet words throughout the whole museum. Only recently did he learn to say no, and we are all very proud of him for that.

John Wood

JOHN WOOD (Woody)
Carpenter

Title at MoMA: Carpenter
Been working at the museum for: 6 years
A brief bio: I grew up in Texas and moved to New York about 20 years ago. I played percussion with a touring band called Native for 10 years. After that I worked as a cabinet maker for 12 years before coming to MoMA.
Passion outside MoMA: Science, space, human-space flight, birds, rocks, geology, planetary science. I’m a big NASA enthusiast and was able to attend the last space shuttle launch in July.
What he did in Talk to Me: I built the cabinets and mock-ups and was involved starting from the designing process.
Curatorial Team says: Woody, along with the entire carpentry shop, is a miracle worker. Please notice the rounded edges (a toast to Talking Carl) and other breathless details in the installation, the revals, joints, corners that make the exhibition design so elegant.

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The Exh Files: Part 4

By GLEE | Published: August 25, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Roger Griffith

ROGER GRIFFITH
Conservator

Title at MoMA: Associate Sculpture Conservator
Been working at the museum: 13 1/2 years
A brief bio: I am one of a two-member team whose main responsibilities include the evaluation of the condition of design objects in the Collection and on loan for exhibitions, their conservation treatments, their packing and storage, as well as research and publishing of scholarly work related to these same subjects. I received an MA in Objects and Furniture Conservation from the Royal College of Art in London in 1998, but prior to this I obtained extensive experience in the field of Objects Conservation through fellowships and internships at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Victoria & Albert Museum, London; the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam;  and the University of East Anglia: Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, England.
Passion outside of MoMA: Gardening and Cooking…I have a small bungalow in the Catskill Mountains. I go every weekend to tend to my garden where I grow my own food to prepare delicious meals.
What I did in Talk to Me: I was the conservation point person on the show and when things needed repaired I assisted the artist or jumped in to repair the object.  For example, the Tweenbots have needed some conservation since they interact a lot with the public.
Curatorial Team says: let us give you some more examples of what an expert like Roger deals with on a show like Talk to Me: rewiring Tio, vacuuming El Sajjadah, taking care of the sneezing, glowing, crying, twitching and blinking objects as if they were his own. An expertise in Design Conservation entails flexibility and inventiveness.

James Heck

JAMES HECK
Information Technology

Title at MoMA: Network Systems Manager
Been working at the museum for: As a full time employee only 7 months as I joined at the end of January 2011.  However I was also here for roughly 8 months as a consultant with the infrastructure team that did the network design for the new building project (ed’s note: the new bulding opened in 2004).
A brief bio: I manage MoMA’s Network Systems group which 6 main focus areas: All Wired and Wireless Networks (Local or Wide area), all server infrastructure administration and support, Messaging (email) and Directory services, Database design and support, storage and network security.  Our group is responsible for the architecture, design and support of these areas that support all departments within MoMA.  Before coming to MoMA I was a Managing Consultant and Architect for voice, video and LAN/WAN networking solutions for IBM Global Services and France Telecom/Orange.
Passion outside of MoMA: I am an avid technical scuba diver (deep, ice and cave), love boating or anything to do with the water, spending time with my family, and have been known to spend some time on the quarter mile drag strip.
What I did in Talk to Me: I determined and implemented the support strategy for all the communication and connectivity needs of the show. This included some pieces that just needed basic Internet access, as well as Peer to Peer/Machine to Machine connections and 802.11A/B/G/N wireless access for the public.
Curatorial Team says: the exhibition relies on connectivity, and James and his team souped up the galleries and made them into the most wired and connected space in the museum. They have guaranteed that every visitor has access to our new and improved wi-fi network. They also worked with individual design teams to network objects in the exhibition.

Artwork by Claire Corey

CLAIRE COREY
Graphic Design

Title at MoMA: Production Manager, Department of Graphic Design and Marketing
Been working at the museum for: 15 years
A brief bio: I  grew up in Southern California, studied Fine Art at UCLA and am an exhibiting artist. My art practice aids me in many aspects of my job at MoMA, including color correcting and producing materials which conceptually match the original art and ideas of both the curators and the designers.
Passion outside of MoMA: Art, gardening, my home, husband and animals.
What I did in Talk to Me: I worked with the Graphic Designer Sam Sherman, and the curatorial team to produce all the graphic materials in the exhibition. I planned the production of all the wallpapers, panels, labels, and signage; I color-corrected all the advertising, from banners and billboards to printed media; I generated all the production schedules for various graphic design elements; and I tracked the graphic design budget.
Curatorial Team says: We all know that ideas are the easy part; it is making them happen, on time and on budget, that is really tough. That is Claire’s job, and she is the best at it. Her background as an artist indeed infuses her efficiency with a deep sensitivity for the needs of artists and curators.

 

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The Exh Files: Part 3

By GLEE | Published: August 19, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Steven Burkart

STEVEN BURKART
Lead Preparator

Title at MoMA: Preparator
Been working at the Museum for: 9 years
A brief bio: Have a great interest in art (painting and sculpture) and a love of architecture and design. I studied Painting and Drawing at CCAD in Ohio and mix doing my art and spending time with my family.
Passion outside MoMA: One of my big passions outside of MoMA is Golf!
What I did in Talk to Me: During the installation of Talk to Me, I worked as Lead Preparator, helping to organize the installation and leading the team of preparators that installed the artwork.
Curatorial Team says: This is our second show in a year working with Steve as our Lead–and from typefaces to crowbots, he can HANDLE anything.

Mike Gibbons

MIKE GIBBONS
Audio Visual

Title at MoMA: Audio Visual Technician
Been working at the museum for: 6 Years
A brief bio: I have a B.A. in Communications Art. Before working at MoMA I worked for an Audio Visual Integration Company named A/V Services for about 5 years. I was one of the outside venders that helped with the renovation of MoMA.
Passion outside of MoMA: Working with rescue animals and doing home improvement projects.
What I did in talk to me: I worked closely with the Curator (Paola), Curatorial Assistant (Kate) and Exhibition & Production Manager (Betty) to spec out, install and maintain all the audio visual components of the gallery.
Curatorial Team says: Mike actually planned the show with us and coordinated the team that installed more than 80 pieces that amongst screens and kiosks in the show. He really makes EVERYTHING run here at MoMA, and like everyone else, he tends to be way too modest.

Allegra Burnette

ALLEGRA BURNETTE
Digital Media

Title at MoMA: Creative Director, Digital Media Department
Been working at the museum for: 9+ years
A brief bio: I oversee the design and production for the museum’s website, MoMA.org, as well as mobile devices, interpretive kiosks and digital displays. I also teach a graduate class on museums in the digital age in the online museum studies program at Johns Hopkins University.
Passion outside of MoMA: Ceramics (wheel-throwing).
What I did in Talk to Me: Creative oversight of the website—but Shannon did all the work! 🙂
Curatorial Team says: Allegra and Paola have worked together for eons and as usual Allegra was ALSO an invaluable advisor and the most creative and supportive colleague one could dream of.
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The Exh Files: Part 2

By kcarmody | Published: August 18, 2011

Everything you have always wanted to know about how exhibitions get done, but you’ve never dared ask. The Exh Files bring you into the belly of the monster, not only to shed light on the curatorial process of Talk to Me, but also to cast the spotlight on the unsung heroes and heroines whose work is critical to the success of a show. For the duration of the exhibition, twice a week we will post three profiles of MoMA colleagues that were involved in the making of this show, and of many other MoMA exhibitions.

Daniela Stigh

DANIELA STIGH
Communications

Title at MoMA: Assistant Director, Department of Communications
Been working at the museum for: 12 years
A brief bio: I have done publicity for approximately 100 MoMA exhibitions, programs, and events. To quote Edina Monsoon: “”I PR things: People, places, concepts!”
Passion outside of MoMA: I have three; Liam, Max, and Dylan—my amazingly beautiful boys.
What I did in Talk to Me: I pitch and work with journalists, editors, bloggers, and producers  to generate as much press coverage as possible for the exhibition. I set up interviews with Paola and Kate, and assist various journalists, photographers, and film crews during their visits to the exhibition. The articles (newspaper, magazine, online) that you read and the segments (on TV and online) that you see are the results of my work.
Curatorial Team says: Daniela is amazing, she is truly one woman who can do it all.  We love working with her!

 

Shannon Darrough

SHANNON DARROUGH
Website Producer

Title at MoMA: Senior Media Developer, Digital Media
Been working at the museum for: 7 years (!)
A brief bio: Shannon grew up in California and is getting old in New York.
Passion outside of MoMA: Tennis, tunes, Tanqueray
What he did in Talk to Me: Project managed the lovely website
Curatorial Team says: Shannon is too modest–he also was able to figure out an entire system for incorporating QR tags into the catalogue as well as QR tags and Twitter hashtags for every object on the labels in the galleries–all firsts for MoMA.

 

Corey Wyckoff

COREY WYCKOFF
Registrar

Title at MoMA: Assistant Registrar, Collection Management and Exhibition Registration
Been working at the museum for: 6 years
A brief bio: I have had the pleasure of working on a number of temporary exhibitions here at MoMA including Safe: Design Takes on Risk, Martin Puryear, Richard Serra Sculpture: Forty Years, Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling, and Bauhaus 1919 – 1933: Workshops Through Modernity.
Passion outside of MoMA: Music and Literature
What he did in Talk to Me: I am responsible for many of the logistics involved with the packing, crating, shipping and installation of works in Talk to Me.
Curatorial Team says: Corey does not mention one of the extra duties that he took on for Talk to Me that is above and beyond: that of Tweenbot guardian.

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The Installation Chronicles

By kcarmody | Published: August 12, 2011

If you have been to the show, then you have seen the monstrous feat accomplished by our team: transforming the 3rd floor exhibitions gallery from a space that held Picasso’s Guitars to a space full of moving, crying, tweeting, singing, sneezing, crowing, and blinking objects.  There were many challenges that we had to consider–from the practical needs like power, network and size requirements–to more aesthetic concerns. We knew we would be using monitors as one of the main ways to display projects and didactic videos about the objects, and were afraid that the space might end up looking like an electronics trade show, a Best Buy store, or a Pachinko parlor.  We also had to consider that many of the pieces were interactive–whether via headphones, smartphones, tablets, mice and keyboards or joysticks–meaning that the displays had to allow for close personal contact.  Most of the projects are also quite small–the opposite of our usual problem of fitting giant objects like cars and helicopters into the galleries–necessitating more intimate spaces.

Hiding Electrical Wiring and A/V Equipment

At first, to achieve such intimacy we thought of pod-like structures and we collected images and inspiration along those lines here.  We also thought of minigolfs, in the attempt to articulate the space and mold the circulation. The final design for the show gave order to these unruly organic structures by adopting a modular grid that could handle the diverse requirements of the show.

We have asked Betty Fisher, the Exhibition Designer and Production Manager of Talk to Me and many other shows as MoMA, to give us a concise description of the way she developed the design for the installation:

Label mock ups for Unit 5

“Well over a year ago, Paola, Kate, and I met to discuss the overall concept for the exhibition. There were a number of challenges to designing this show that made it a bit atypical for MoMA. To begin with, Paola did not want to have our carpenters build normal sheetrock walls and we needed to find a good design solution for incorporating about 80 monitors, interactive kiosks, projections, casework, a fully-functioning MTA MetroCard Vending Machine and Talking Carl (an interactive app that has become the mascot of the show, ed’s note).

Construction Phase

Then there were the electrical issues: early on, we realized that the electrical power setup for the gallery would not be able to support the show’s needs. Working with our amazing A/V, electrical, and IT departments, we figured out that we would need to pull an additional 21 circuits of electrical power and completely overhaul the wi-fi in the gallery. While working on this, Kate, Mike Gibbons (from A/V), and I started talking to the designers to figure out the best way to install each work and to make sure we would take into account what each piece required.

Color Test for Unit 1

With all of this information coming in, the design of the exhibition started pulling together. We came up with the idea of a modular 30” unit that could act as casework and hide electrical and A/V equipment, and also that we could stack high to make tall elements on which we could even hang works. From this idea, the orange/red wall units came into being. Instead of creating rooms, these units act as dividers between the six sections of the show, and the space in between is more corridor-like than typical gallery space. The units stop short of the ceiling and are made out of MDF, with all of the equipment hidden within each one. Paola wanted the color and rounded edges to look like Talking Carl, and everything else seemed to fall into place. Above are some images showing the various construction phases.”

Future Home of the Tweenbot

Thanks Betty!  Even after all of our careful considerations, measurements and many many hours spent in the model room and at Betty’s desk hunched over the computer (we admire Betty’s newfound Rhino skills, by the way) there are always things that have to be figured out on the spot.

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