Farewell from the TACs

Hannah Lukanuski

Hey blogosphere!

Nearing the end of our time here at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, I wanted to take some time to appreciate the learning I’ve done thus far. This internship and the specific apprenticeship I had with the curatorial department have both been invaluable experiences that I hope to carry with me when I leave for University of Washington (!) in the fall.

            As an apprentice, I’ve learned to navigate a computer and the various printers of the CJM like no other. The abundance of knowledge I’ve gained and the information I’ve gleaned cannot, however, be captured by a statement of my current Microsoft Word prowess. By engaging directly with materials for upcoming exhibits, and more often than not for Gertrude Stein: Five Stories, I’ve come to a huge appreciation for the effort that goes into assembling such an exhibit, even with other institutions as collaborators. Organizing photos of Gertrude and listening to her poetry readings truly brings history alive, as corny as that sounds. Hearing the voice of a close friend of Matisse and Picasso gives a life and voice to masterpieces I’ve encountered on multiple continents. For some reason the technological aspect – that she could record her voice and that these recordings are now online- makes her presence and therefore the presence of those artists feel much more recent. That’s really the beauty of the Contemporary Jewish Museum and indeed the entire art world- the constant addition of perspectives to a growing network of opinions and approach to art and its history.