Arts & Culture

Art History & Biology Majors Lend Expertise to Audubon Exhibit

Audubon_HiResAt a small liberal arts university like Oglethorpe, students have opportunities they may not get elsewhere. In this case, it was the chance for a biology student and an art history graduate to impact a public art exhibition.

Holly Bostick ’15 and Jessie Gregerson ’16 were enlisted by the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art to assist with researching and curating the exhibition John James Audubon: Swift Birds of Passage, on view through August 23, 2015.

Holly graduated this spring with a degree in art history. While interning at OUMA, she helped to draft loan agreements and assisted with condition checking and installation of the artwork.

“These contrasting viewpoints have been intriguing and enlightening,” says Holly, “and it has been a fascinating experience getting to learn about the exhibition from both ends of the spectrum. I am very proud to have been able to help behind the scenes in prepping for the Audubon exhibition.”

Audubon opening day

President Larry Schall gets a closer look at one of the Audubon pieces.

Holly, who came highly recommended by arts faculty Professor Collins and Professor Loehle, spent last summer working on archaeological digs in Belize, and now works with art appraisal company Hardy & Halpern.

Jessie, a biology major, volunteered to conduct the majority of the research about the bird species depicted in the artwork.

“Jessie has a passion for ornithology,” says Elizabeth Peterson, director of OUMA. “(She) worked diligently to write scientific and anecdotal descriptions of each species of bird on view in our Audubon exhibition.”

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The Audubon exhibit includes an image of a stormy petrel, Oglethorpe’s tenacious mascot.

OUMA is a teaching museum and, as such, identifies opportunities like these, where students can connect their classroom learning with the exhibitions. OUMA offers gallery assistant internships, independent study, and work study opportunities each semester. OUMA also collaborates with faculty and staff to develop curricula in conjunction with exhibitions to give students an immersive experience.

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