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Martha Bordwell

Guides to Guides in Galleries (G3)



In August, Kit Wilson and Rose Stanley-Gilbert launched Guides to Guides in Galleries (G3), an initiative that emerged from discussions among buddy groups and the Mia Guides Council. It was developed to fulfill a desire among guides to more directly share their deep well of experience and knowledge. The details of G3 were presented by Kit Wilson, Bill Wilson, and Lyn Osgood at the celebration for guides on June 5.

 

Guides were invited to attend the first G3 tour on August 28. Interest was strong, so much so that Kit and Rose added a second session. The two explained that their goal was to demonstrate ways of creating audience engagement through two very different tour styles. It is their hope that other guides will volunteer to present their own tours. Bill, Lyn, and Susan Drummond offered to go next. Their tour took place September 28.

 

For the August session, each guide presented two pieces. In keeping with good touring practices, each tour had a theme. For Kit, the theme was Moment in History. The  pieces she chose were Reduction One, a sculpture by Kando Takahiro, created in response to the Fukishima disaster in 2013, and Portrait of Albert Paris von Gutersloh by Egon Schiele, painted in 1918, shortly before the influenza epidemic of 1919.


Left: Reduction 1, 2013 • Kondo Takahiro • Porcelain with blue and green underglazes and "silver mist" overglaze The P.D. McMillan Memorial Fund • 2014.64

Right: Portrait of Albert Paris von Gütersloh, 1918 • Egon Schiele • Oil of canvas Gift of the P.D. McMilland Land Company • 54.30


For Rose, the theme was Storytellers. She presented Untitled, 1967, by Yayoi Kusama and The Betrayal of Christ, 1618-1620, by Anthony van Dyck. Both presenters used inquiry as a means of encouraging careful observation of the work as well as engagement and also provided extensive background research about the artists and/or the art movement each was a part of. Guides in attendance readily shared their own reactions to the pieces as well as what they had learned from their own experience using these works on tours.


Left: Untitled, 1967 • Kusama Yayoi • Oil on canvas The John R. Van Derlip Fund • 2010.7

Right: The Betrayal of Christ, c. 1618 - 1620 • Anthony van Dyck • Oil of canvas The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund and The John R. Van Derlip Fund • 57.45

 

Following their tour, Kit and Rose emailed the notes they used in planning their tours, including specific questions, transitions between pieces, background information, visuals, and sources.

 

I would add a fourth “G” to this guide initiated endeavor: Generosity. The willingness of Mia Guides to share both their time and insights with other guides is another testament to the level of commitment we have to creating an engaging visitor experience for our museum community!

 

Please contact Kit or Bill if you are interested in presenting a G3 tour.

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