Reflection 5

Describe something fun or pleasantly unexpected that happened: Something that happened that was pleasantly unexpected was that I got to propose a lot of what has made it to the final Kelli Connell show. As previously mentioned, DJ let me design/curate a layout for the upcoming Kelli Connell show in moCa's first floor gallery. I met with DJ and the Progressive curator, Scott, in the space for a couple hours, and majority of what I picked made it for Kelli to approve, which she did! We talked through everything and really tried to see how the space would be used for the works. While doing this we had to imagine the new wall and paint job that would come. This collaborate experience helped me get a serious glimpse into what DJ does as curator. He has to work with so many different people with different roles and personalities. He juggles so many moving parts.

Overall, I didn’t expect was how much technical planning goes into even small adjustments within an exhibition space. We had to consider lighting angles, how the natural light would shift throughout the day, and how reflections might impact certain photographs. I also hadn’t quite realized how much time is spent discussing viewer experience, such as where people might naturally pause or how the layout encourages movement through the gallery. It surprised me how often logistical constraints, like outlet placement or ceiling height, shaped decisions. 

Once again, the logistics behind exhibitions really amazed me. It’s so easy to walk into a gallery and not think about how much coordination goes into every detail. I did not know that even something as simple as a freight elevator would stand out to me, and make me so impressed with the behind the scenes.






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