Progress Update #1 (09/25/25)

 Hi everyone! I am currently in the midst of confusion for thesis...I feel like my idea is too broad; should I focus on the US or on a global scale? What key features of each subculture should I highlight? What time period should I focus on? I think after next week, I'll have somewhat better footing on understanding what path I need to take after going through my sources in depth. I'm still hopeful this thesis will turn out well; I just need to lock in...

Progress Update #2

 Hi Everyone! 

As the end of the semester nears, the thought of completing a thesis becomes a bit scarier... I feel like I definitely need to research for more sources, because I don't think 15 sources is enough with my topic, and maybe look for writing that focuses more on the fashion aspect of Afrofuturism and Afropunk subcultures. I also still need to reach out to my potential exhibition space, so that is also on the upcoming to do list. I'm sending good vibes to my future self so that I lock in and get this all completed in time!

Some Mood Board Inspiration:

   

Mid Semester Update | Bella Paniccia

Happy October! I can't believe we are halfway through the fall semester already! I've been making progress on my literature review, accumulating tons of sources, and organizing everything on index cards, something that Dr. Decker recommended I do to help organize everything. I will say that my notes and index cards are starting to look like a crime investigation board (all I need is some pins and a red string), but I am starting to see more connections between each of my sources and topics, which is super exciting.

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Bella

Update

 Hello, this is my mid-semester update. Right now, I am working on finishing up my literature review and reaching out to The Cary Collection here at RIT. I am planning to get in contact with Professor Galbraith to see how the collection currently displays and educates on medieval manuscripts and art. Something I've learned recently is that many different museums approach manuscript digitization and education in different ways.

Mid-Semester already!? Let's see some updates.

     Hello again,

As everyone else has already posted, it's been a wild ride during this process, but I feel the fire that remains constant in my belly has gone from a low and slow burn, to a Molotov. 

Rain and I have a meeting with a prospective exhibition space, and I have emailed SO many more. Be persistent, be annoying, go get what you want, because it will come to you. 

I'm currently starting to sketch out some potential pieces for the display, as well as working on my final Lit review to submit. Today I was the sacrificial lamb in a peer review, and the feedback was wonderful. I feel like I'm right where I should be.

I hope you all do too.

Until next post...

-Lee

Thesis Advice and Slight Progress Update! :)

 Good morning everyone!!

The semester has been picking up speed and that hasn't helped my scattered brain really prepare to climb the massive mountain that sits in front of me that is this thesis exhibition. Rather than having a bunch of updates on what I am doing I more so have advice... DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP!!! I have had the pleasure of working with the curator of the Watts Museum at the University of West Virginia to include some editorial cartoons from a traveling exhibition on the Mine Wars of West Virginia designed to commemorate the centennial of the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed uprising in American History since the Civil War, for those who are unfamiliar, thanks to the people at the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum in Matewan, WV who I reached out to and got me in contact with her. Make this a project you love to have in your portfolio and reach out to anyone who you think could help make it exactly that; something you love. As for my thesis exhibition itself, finding a location has been the biggest struggle but struggle is a part of the process; nothing good comes easy. Overall not much has changed since my last update just a constant brainstorm that would probably give anyone who could hear the inside of my brain a heart attack as well as some object curation which I will not be sharing because that's spoilers! Also, literature review is due Tuesday and I don't know about everyone else but to me that is absolutely TERRIFYING so keep pushing forward and make this something you're proud to talk about!!

A Brief Mid-Semester Update

 Hello, I'm back again with another update on my thesis progress!

Everything is going smoothly so far, and I'm working on my final literature review. The draft is finished, and now it's all about putting what I have in my brain onto paper. 

I'm still feeling great about my topic, but it's a bit too broad. I narrowed down the overall subject to museums in the United States because it is what I'm most familiar with, and it would add importance to the paper. 

Something I've learned throughout this process is how to manage one large thesis project alongside my other classes and their smaller, yet equally essential, projects. 

Overall, I'm confident about my thesis and its importance to the museum and archive community as a whole.

Till next update,

Jacob M

Mid-Semester Update! | Sophie Abatiell Tommola

 Happy Week 8, MUSE-ers!!

Things are definitely picking up with the school year and thesis research, and I'm very much feeling the stress of senior year right now. But on the bright side, we're almost to the quarter-way mark of this year-long project!

I want to compliment all of my peers for their hard work. I've really enjoyed talking through and reading everyone's work so far. You all are doing great! I also want to thank you all for giving me constructive feedback in return. I find it super helpful to get a fellow peer's perspective when troubleshooting, rather than just getting advice from our faculty members who have already gone through this process at least once.

Final drafts of Lit Reviews are almost due, so there is still a lot of work to be done, but we're getting through it! I'm still really enjoying my research and prep for my project, so I'm excited to keep chugging along to the finish line, even though it isn't easy.

Best of luck to everyone!

Updates!

 Currently revising my literature review which will be done next week! I am looking forward to sharing my work with everyone :) I found plenty of great sources, and even watched an online seminar about social media use in museums and cultural heritage institutions, which helped me a lot with understanding social media usage better. I think that this information will definitely be helpful when I start working on the actual project itself. 

A Mid-Semester Update!

Hello all! 

Here is a quick mid-semester update on my thesis project! Currently, I am working on revising my literature review! This process has really made me analyze the sources that I am referencing and has encouraged me to do more research to find more diverse sources that cover different perspectives on my main topics.  

Something I have learned recently is that there are so many different ways to write the same document! After doing a peer review and looking at different versions of reputable documents, I have seen that there are so many ways to write credible documents. This has opened my eyes to the idea of "perfectionism" in my work, and seeing that just because I do something a different way, it doesn't mean it is incorrect. 

Good luck with the rest of the semester, 

Alice 

Christis Shepard - Mid Semester Update

 Good afternoon, everyone!  Hope you're having a wonderful day today, I certainly am! :D

As of right now, everything's going perfectly for my Capstone Thesis.  There's enough literature to create a comprehensive Lit Review, which will be finished - fingers' crossed - no later than this Tuesday evening.  So that's exciting!

The rest of my classes are starting to assign more work, so I now also have the task of managing my thesis alongside my other classes and their work.  It's hectic but a good challenge in time management and allocating resources.

Overall, it's been a good semester.  There have been a few hiccups; I was out sick for a week, but other than that, things have been smooth sailing.

 I can't wait to see where my research and work take me next! 

A Topic Has Been Chosen! | Sophie Abatiell Tommola

 Hello everyone, I hope you all are having a great start to the fall season! It's my favorite time of year, so I want you to enjoy it as well!

Since my last blog post, I have made my decision on what my thesis topic will be. It took about a week of introspective thinking and deliberation with friends and family, both within and outside of the world of museums, to come to a conclusion. After sitting with these thoughts, I have decided to go through with the oral history project on positive posttraumatic growth.

My reasoning for choosing this project path over the technical documentation idea has to do with the resources I will have available during my last year here at RIT. I am confident in my abilities to execute a technical documentation set for smaller institutions at a later point in my career, since I already have a great grasp on how those documents are made. I felt that the databases and faculty/staff connections I have access to this year are more valuable to the oral history project, so I decided to use my resources to the fullest while I still have them at my fingertips.

With my decision, I have jumped right into my research, and I have to say that I'm really happy with my choice! 

Best of luck to the rest of you!

Thesis Progress Update #1 | Bella Paniccia

Hi again, everyone! Over the past few weeks, I’ve finally made some progress on my

thesis and decided on the direction I will take. I’m focusing on how institutions can

effectively exhibit and preserve time-based and performance art pieces. What excites

me most about this topic is the inherent ephemerality of the art involved, and the

challenge that comes with creating an exhibition after the original performance or

installation that still feels authentic to the artist’s original intent, while also creating

a meaningful experience for today’s audiences.

Drawing on Walter Benjamin’s and John Berger’s ideas surrounding aura, authenticity,

and reproduction, my goal is to better understand how museums and galleries

can balance honoring the artist's original intent behind their work and adapting

it for new audiences and contexts during the curating and conservation process.

Now that I’ve decided on a topic, I’m looking forward to delving deeper into my research!

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Bella

Minor additional update

     I've been creating what looks like the inner monologue of a madman and just getting all of my thoughts on paper and what may be a layout? 

I'm not sure but I've started to make webs of all the things I'm looking to do with this exhibition space and seeing how they will interact and so far it's working out!

It's been helpful to have a general idea of the components and a concept on a tangible surface, it feels like it's no longer just in my head, but an achievable goal that will one day come to life. 

I attached an image of the mot recent scribbles if you want to take a look.

Getting the ball rolling

 Alright,

As some of us have talked about, it's time to start sending out emails and solidifying a space for exhibitions, which is scarier than expected.

I've been making a list of all the places and people to contact, and it's daunting. However, I feel like I'm finally in a place where I'm doing what it is that I love. Although this moment feels like a mountain, I've never been more ready to scale it.

Wish me luck, I hope you all get the answers you're looking for. Remember what Justin LeBlanc said and keep pushing for what you want.

-Lee

Update on thesis- FH

 I have recently narrowed down my research topic to focus more on RIT's Cary Collection's illuminated manuscript inventory and educational methods. I think the thesis statement is have settled on is, "How does RIT's Cary collection and other museums educate the public on medieval art and history through illuminated manuscripts."

My current abstract:

The paper examines how RIT'S Cary Collection and other museums educate the public on medieval art through illuminated manuscripts. In this paper, I consider how these institutions balance medieval history with explanations of the production techniques used at the time, such as calligraphy, painting, and gilding. Ultimately, my research paper argues that the Cary Collection's approach to teaching about medieval art and history through manuscripts preserves scholarly integrity on the subject and helps foster a broader appreciation of manuscripts as an art form. 

Thesis Progress Update :)

Good Morning Everyone!

    My thesis scope has shifted a bit since my last post. My research will be looking at graphic communication throughout American history, from 1776 to 2026, for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The question that informs this research, which is still subject to change minimally, is "In what ways have themes of resistance shaped graphic communication in the United States since its founding, and how can reexamining these often-forgotten works help contemporary grassroots movements convey their messages with greater force and clarity?" My hope for this research is a culmination in an exhibit that takes the viewer through a journey detailing a bottom up history of resistance in the United States by tracing how themes of dissent have circulated through both celebrated and overlooked works, this study underscores the power of graphic communication to preserve cultural memory while mobilizing people toward action. My hope is to categorize the exhibit into four overarching themes; Freedom, Peace, Solidarity, and Memory. Within each of these themes will be pieces from various resistance movements throughout American History as well as supplementary quotes from overlooked or underappreciated figures throughout American History that inspired those movements, and possibly photographs from rallies or marches led by resistance movements here in the US. My hope for this exhibit is to engage Americans with a history that is rather direct while pushing back against this idea of a resurgence of 1960s politics that we have been hearing a lot lately, it is my belief that dissent is a core piece of American culture that can be traced back to before 1776. However, since the founding document of this nation declared "...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..." the fight to make those words ring true across this land has continued to this very day and I believe that is something many Americans have not reckoned with or at least not beyond what they have learned in formal education settings.

Thesis Progress Update!

Hello, I'm back!

I am fully committed to the topic of "The Importance and Role of Museums and Archives in the Future." I like this topic because it is current and relevant, and all the reasons and facts I will include in the final paper are crucial for the future of museums and archives. I have also completed most of my annotations for my sources and have a working abstract that needs editing. I am also working on my topic, less "broad", but I'm still chipping away at that. In all, Everything is going well, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work on this project!

Progress Update 1!

Hello everyone! 

Since my introduction, there has been a ton of development on what my actual topic will be. I have learned through my research and work on campus that I am really passionate about education and how the way we educate children at a young age can affect how they learn for the rest of their lives. 

When I was a kid, my mom took my sister and me to probably every museum in NYC, and the ones that stick out to me still, as a senior in college, are the ones where we got to play, explore, imagine, and interact with the exhibitions and experiences. Her commitment to getting us out of the house and learning is the reason why my topic touches on how important incorporating museum visits is in a child's education. 

Through writing my draft abstract and finding some sources, I have realized that my original research question is too broad, so I am working on narrowing and specifying my topic. Now that I know that I want my end goal to be a project/exhibit, some next steps would be exploring potential spaces.

See you next time!

-Alice

Update #1

Good Morning,

As previously discussed, I will be working on a marketing campaign for MISHA on campus. I have met with the team and learned of a few of their marketing related needs, including assisting with an upcoming event. I have also completed research on marketing within museums to learn more about what those institutions highlight for their visitors, to gain a better understanding of what they view as important, as a way to understand how to market towards these institutions. Overall, I feel that I have a better plan for my project and will be able to move forward with research.  

Christis Shepard - Topic Chosen :D

Hello everyone! Hope you're all having a great semester. I've been enjoying my semester with my research projects and school work.

For my topic, I've chosen to focus on the status of women in the Aegean from the Bronze Age to the city-state, Polis Age. It's a subject that has interested me for quite some time, so I thought it would be a good idea to pursue something that interests me for my Capstone Thesis.

My research has proven fruitful, and I'm excited to see where it leads!

Words from the Wise

     Hey everyone,

I wanted to pass along some wise words that were given to me recently, and it helped a lot with the overwhelming feelings. 

They said "it’s good at this stage to read a bit widely, find what speaks to you and helps sharpen your ideas, and put down what doesn’t. Dead ends are OK". 

So put down the readings that don't serve you, hitting a wall is a good thing. It means you're that much closer to getting out of the maze.

Good luck

Introductions! | Sophie Abatiell Tommola

 Hello MUSE Bloggers!

If you don't already know me, I'm Sophie! I'm a fourth-year Museum Studies major, and I'm also double-minoring in History and Art History. 

Before jumping into some ideas I have for my thesis, I think it would be nice to de-stress with a critter break!

Here is my lovely cat, Boba Joe, whom I am more than willing to share more of once this class starts to get stressful! She is 3 years old and a very silly creature!

Intro: Gabrielle Payne

 

    Hi Everyone! I'm a 4th year (ish) Museum Studies major, and Metals and Jewelry minor, and I'm so excited for thesis! I know for a fact that I want to go into curation as a career after grad school, so doing an exhibit for my thesis would be perfect for me. Regarding topics, I'm set on the idea of doing something regarding alternative black fashion (Afrofuturism or Afropunk?) and interviewing artists/musicians and showcasing clothing as parts in my final presentation. Thesis seems a bit daunting, but I know that this project will turn out great, and I'll learn so much on the way!

Current (in progress) portfolio below:

https://gabrielleapayne.cargo.site/

Anddd pictures from the MET Superfine Exhibit (which is also a bit of inspo for my thesis)

Introductions

Hi!  I'm Christis Shepard, a fourth year Museum Studies major and Archeology minor!  I've focused heavily on archives, collection management, and archeology while here at RIT!  I plan on graduating this May so that's exciting!  I hope to go onto graduate school for my Masters in a few years.

 I plan to do my final thesis on the evolution of the cultures of the Aegean from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic Era and how it's reflected on the literature and the archaeological record, with a focus on how it affected women.  The culmination would be a exhibition proposal mock up done in Sketchup!  

 I've linked my website if anyone is curious about some of my other work:

  https://christis-shepard.squarespace.com/

Thesis Introduction :)

Hi everyone!

I'm Rain, I'm an Anthropology and Museum Studies double major. I am doing my thesis on graphic communication as a form of resistance, with most of the focus likely being on North America and the Caribbean in the 19th-21st centuries. I came into MUSE-489 with a rough idea (and it very much still is) for my thesis that I was very passionate about doing and can't picture myself doing anything else. I feel very strongly about this topic because I believe that it would allow me to bring my majors together, through my love for research, in a way that also connects with my interests in bottom-up history and politics generally, which has followed me my whole life despite the amount of frustration it causes. The goal of this project is to understand how have ordinary people across North America and its margins have used forms of graphic communication as a way to resist oppression, express emotions, and exert agency over their own lives in times when they have felt powerless, divided, or outright ignored, and what lessons can we learn from these people to better convey our messages in a time where many feel the same? A few of the topics I would personally like to explore are poster art in post-revolution Cuba, anti-war art in the U.S. and Canada, Labor Union prints (specifically those of the Industrial Workers of the World), and I would like to incorporate anecdotal graphic communication (e.g. Diaries) as an example of resistance against manipulation of legacy, because resistance isn't always about resisting a tangible thing.

My Introduction- Faith Hurst

 Hello! I am Faith Hurst and this is my 4th year at RIT. I was considering doing my project on zoos and aquariums, but I took a class on illuminated manuscripts this summer and im really interested in those right now. I'm particularly interested in the materials and inks/colors used when creating the illuminations. I was thinking my topic could be centered around museums research on conservation efforts surrounding illuminated manuscripts or maybe on museum's display and educational methods of illuminated manuscripts. I also thought I could do something relating to the Getty museum's vast manuscript collection. 

Week 1 Blog Post

Hello! This year I am in MUSE 489 and starting work on my thesis. As a Museum Studies and Advertising and Public Relations double major, I was a bit stuck on my idea. Last spring, I helped Dr. Decker with a sticker design for the MISHA Lab on Campus for their table at Imagine RIT, and I spent my summer co-op working on marketing. I decided that for my thesis I would like to create an advertising campaign for MISHA, as it would help me gain experience working on advertising and marketing, but from a cultural heritage perspective as I plan to work in the museums field. I enjoyed working with MISHA in IMGS 115: Cultural Heritage Imaging during my Fall 2024 Semester, as well as another project I worked on using MISHA during the Spring 2025 Semester. I feel that with my experience through class (while minimal) provides enough context and understanding for me to create an effective advertising campaign for the program. I came up with this idea over summer, and felt that a more hands on project would help provide real world experience and allow me to understand the function of advertising and marketing in a cultural heritage setting. I am looking forward to sharing my progress this semester!

A Little About Me!

Hello World! 

My name is Alice! I am a 5th year Computer Science and Museum Studies double major with a recently declared (woah) cluster in cybersecurity! I started my MUSE journey as an immersion during my 1st year at RIT, and fell so in love with it that I decided I HAD to major in it, and with Dr.Decker's help, I was soon enrolled.

Jacob Mutton: A Brief Intro

Hello! My name is Jacob Mutton, and I am a 4th-year Museum Studies major. I also work here at RIT in the RIT Archives!

For my topic, I'm currently narrowing down my options and ideas, and I should be making a decision soon!

Can't wait to start!

-Jacob M

Week 1 Intro - What Am I Doing Here?

 

    Hi everyone, this semester is going to be a wild ride and I look forward to the discoveries we'll come across in the development of my thesis. 

My main focus is to address the fragility of memory in the conversation of museums and history. How does nostalgia play a role in the power of display, and does it cloud our judgments both as the curatorial and museum staff, and has the viewer/visitor? These are just a few of the many questions I'll be tackling in my thesis and hopefully find an answer to. 

"History 'does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past... historically it comes from he fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it... present in all we do.'" - Eric Foner 

Introduction | Bella Paniccia

Hi readers! My name is Bella Paniccia, and I am a fourth-year Museum Studies major, anticipating graduation at the end of the Fall 2026 semester. 

Currently, I am in the process of selecting a topic for my thesis. Since being here at RIT, I’ve developed a strong interest in art forms and materials and their connections to culture and society. I’ve particularly enjoyed studying conceptual art of the 1960s and 1970s, examining how cultural heritage and collecting are represented in film and media, and identifying pigments in artwork. Despite my indecisiveness, I am eager to start on this journey, as soon as I make up my mind, of course.

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Bella

Completing my First Draft!!!

 Right before spring break, I completed my first complete rough draft. It felt very satisfying to complete a good rough draft. I am working on strengthening my main argument by digging deeper into the analysis of my oral histories and primary sources. Also, just getting better at explaining my thought process and reasoning. Since I've worked on this project for so long, some details are so obvious to me. I am working on making my writing more detailed and accessible. 

Overall, I am really excited about completing my thesis and my poster session. I am looking forward to the poster session because I love to share my thoughts with the public. I also hope to get more feedback in the coming weeks. I haven't got a lot of engagement on my blog, but a significant amount on Facebook. I love sharing local histories and engaging people. I hope my thesis can help preserve the memory of The Castle on the Hill and help local historical societies. 

Below is a picture I am planning on using for my poster session. 

Picture of the Castle in 1989, Courtesy of Livingston County Archives

I can't wait to see everyone else's project!

Completing a Rough Draft

     It has taken quite a bit of time, research, writing, and caffeine, but I finished the first draft of my thesis. It is the most amount of pages I have written to date and I am proud of this fact. Though it took quite a bit of time to complete, I found that the actual writing of it, was not as challenging as I had thought originally. I have become so familiar with the topic that formulating my thoughts into words was not horribly difficult. 

    I still have plenty of revisions to make and more to add, but I will continue to work on it. Through peer revisions and my professor’s suggestions, I have noted what I need to change, clarify, correct, and expand upon. It has allowed me to look at my thesis from a new perspective. It is exciting to see what we are capable of when we challenge ourselves. I could not have completed the first draft of my thesis without the support of my professors and advisors, my peers, friends, and family. I am thankful to have those around me that push me to do my best and guide me toward reaching my goals. I will continue to work diligently toward completing these goals.

Updates and Awakenings

 Okay! This is my first post in awhile. I’ve been thinking about rewriting, thinking and rewriting and repeat. I’ve had a couple of revelations. 

First, both museums I am case studying are old and new construction. This is great in comparing the thought process behind their new additions and the ADA/thoughts on universal design. George Eastmans addition in 2021 was focused on accessibility, so this is easy. But, I still haven’t heard from GCVM after multiple attempts to ask them anything. However, this goes into my second revelation. 

Secondly, George Eastman is accredited by AAM and GCVM is not. A huge part of being accredited is public trust and transparency. George Eastman is showing their transparency by being forthcoming to me, and they even have a blog telling people about their additions, and constructions, etc. GCVM has a lack of transparency with the amount of times I haven’t been able to reach them. I also can’t find any information about their additions like the gallery…

…stay tuned for when I go to GCVM and try to make contact…

Rough Draft & Recreations

 Hi Everyone,

I am excited to share that I completed the second tempera painting and am starting to work on the experimental set up, which will begin this upcoming weekend. This is very exciting news because the experimental portion of my project is the key to my thesis. I have created charts that will help me further organize the data I collect, and determine a result to my processes. I am expecting this to take roughly two weeks, which will be perfect in timing for finishing up the posters as well.

In other news, I have also finished my first draft of my thesis, which was nerve wracking, but overall extremely exciting. It ended up being around 50 pages alone, and I still have more data to add, but it is all necessary, I promise. Thank you for everyone who has come along on this journey, as well as my fellow classmates, who have continued working hard on their exhibitions and their projects!

In addition, I find myself looking forward to the poster short course we will be having in class, as I have never made one at this scale for such a big project. We have all invested so much time, and sometimes money, into these, and seeing them come to fruition has been very satisfying. Being able to present with my fellow peers at the end of this long year is something I am most looking forward too. 

Below, I have attached some of the old process photos of the painting, because I want the finished outcomes to stay a surprise for my poster and thesis! Stay tuned!

Traditional Process

Contemporary Process

Rough Draft = Done!

      Even though I am proud of the research I am doing, having to sit down and write this 25 paged paper was something I was not looking forwards to. It took longer than expected and I am not sure I conveyed all the information I wanted to, but it is a good push off point! 

    My favorite part about this whole experience was being able to learn about a topic that interests me so much. Looking at the different museums and seeing their unique collections as well as how they store/ display them made me realize I made the right choice for my thesis topic. I was impressed with how both museums handled the calling change for updates in human remains display and storage standards. Both included the public opinions in the forms of forums and surveys asking advice on what they would like to see and to ensure comfortability. 

 Don't forget the poster session is coming up soon! That is where we all design posters according to our topics and talk about the main themes in our papers. Can't wait to discuss anything you may have questions about or other inquiries :)

 

Exhibition Recap & Thoughts

 Hi everyone!

As you know, Gabby and I had our exhibitions on display beginning February 12th, which will be de-installed March 17th. Our opening reception, which included Dr. Decker's exhibition, was February 18th. 

Overall, I was very happy with how Ruffles and Rebellion turned out. I ended up having to push the installation time over a bit, which was originally supposed to be Monday and Tuesday, with the exhibit ready to be displayed Wednesday. I simply could not make time in only two days to set up everything with just myself and my friend Bo without missing class, especially with the Gallery only being open until 5 pm. There was someone else I planned to have help us set up, but they had to cancel last minute. This honestly caused me a sufficient amount of distress. In the end though, everything turned out okay. 

After installation, I kept thinking about what I wish I would've done. For example, including a list of terms used in the Lolita community, or expanding more on the origin of the name. Even though the exhibition was supposed to essentially be the visual component of my thesis, I thought more about how I could've added things to make it more informative for the viewer. At the end of the day, though, we're always thinking about things we would've done differently and I'm thankful how this experience will prepare me for future exhibitions. 

My favorite thing to come out of this exhibition was the impact it had on other people, and the way it made them feel seen. I was a little afraid of possible critique, especially with many rules in the Lolita community, but when I posted videos of it on social media, everyone was really kind and appreciative. Many Lolitas thanked me for bringing the niche fashion to a wider audience, and a lot of people had questions. I'm proud of my work and hope to do future exhibitions such as these.

- Carolyn

Finished Thesis (For the Most Part)

 Hello!

    I am proud to announce that I finished writing my thesis. I still need to do a few things before submitting, like reading it over, correcting any mistakes I made, and properly citing everything. When I finished up the draft of my last section, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Since starting this project, I have been excited to see where it goes, what I will do with it, and how it will impact my community in Ogdensburg, New York. Regardless, like any big project, it can be stressful at times. Some things may not go to plan, and your vision may not be exactly what it originally was. In the end, like Professor Newman has said time and time again, "you get to do this." That repetitive statement helped bring me through any mishap, and like my excitement about wrapping up on my draft, I am ecstatic to see where the future of my exhibition goes.  Everyone in my thesis group is doing a wonderful job, and they all deserve a round of applause. 

Happy Writing,

Finn

Updates and my own blog!

 Hi everyone! Here is the link to my blog- https://castleonthehill4.wordpress.com/

Feel free to comment and share! I finished transcribing all of my oral histories and will have them up soon. Editing the transcriptions is taking a little bit longer than expected, but things happen. My main goal right now is to get a first draft of my whole thesis done. Also, figuring out the conclusion/ message I want to get across with my thesis. 

Overall, I am so thankful to have this opportunity and am looking forward to getting feedback from the Dansville Community. 

Interactive Change Update

 Hello!

Since the last post, I have had an update on my interactive. Prior, the curators and I wanted to make an Adirondack lean-to. However, in the process of construction, we realized how difficult and time-consuming it would be for the children and the curators to design. Because of this, we decided to make a waterfall interactive instead.

The interactive will be constructed from wood and chicken wire. Here the visitors will tie recycled blue and green fabric to a wired piece. In the end, it will create a waterfall-like structure. This structure will be completed by the Art Club and the sculpture class. On the fabric, visitors will answer the question, "What does environment mean to you?" This collaborative piece will make visitors feel like they are part of the exhibition along with the children displayed. A visual example is pictured below.

Updates

    Hi everyone! A lot has happened after winter break, I have been very busy, and I apologize for the late updates.

    To begin with, I have been workshopping and reiterating my thesis proposal based off Dr. Newman's feedback. 

    A challenge in my thesis project as I move forward on a rough draft is clarifying in my abstract what exactly my thesis and exhibit will be about. I believe last semester, I was slightly confused on what my thesis statement had to be about and thought it had to clearly demonstrate action and directly involve my exhibit. My thesis is not focused around student-curated exhibitions, or even exhibitions, but Lolita fashion holistically.

    I will be workshopping my thesis statement for the next draft in order for my project to be more cohesive and understandable. I don't mention student-curated exhibitions anywhere else in my thesis, so there's nothing for me to cut out regarding that. However, it would be worth mentioning other exhibits that were displayed about Lolita fashion as well as sources that include public perception of the fashion to an "outsider."

    These modifications will help my project advance because they will narrow and concentrate my thesis, while at the same time expanding it and giving it more context in a way that is relevant. There's so much I want to include in my thesis, but not super clear, accurate information and most of it I have to extrapolate or get a sense for by looking inwards on communities. I do think there will be enough to reference, though, as the paper is aimed more toward those who have little to no knowledge about Lolita fashion.

See you in the next update!

- Carolyn 

Exhibit Opening and small updates!

    Jerrold Smith: The Student, The Craftsman, The Drifter is officially installed. I would like to thank all of those who came out on Tuesday, the 18th, to celebrate the opening of the Surfacing exhibit show. It was great to see everyone and converse with others about my project. The exhibit is up from February 12th to March 8th in the University Gallery at RIT. If you haven't seen it yet, I encourage you to stop by and check out all of the shows happening.

Close-up of The Student & The Craftsman Case

Extended shot of Jerrold Smith: The Student, The Craftsman, The Drifter

    Recently, I have been chipping away at my thesis draft. The exhibition was the last big part of my project that I needed to complete before finishing up my paper and finalizing certain details. I am focused on my methodology section and building it into the practical side of my paper. I can't wait to see where this project goes in the end.

Case Studies Introduction

    When discussing human remains on display in institutions, it is important to look at what is being displayed as well as where. Mummies, bog bodies, and cadavers all serve different purposes when displayed, and the museums that display them have different purposes also. Looking at international and national museums and comparing their policies regarding human remains curation will allow for a deeper understanding of how various institutions approach the ethical, legal, and cultural complexities surrounding the handling of human remains.

    For the national museum, I will be looking at the Mutter museum in Philadelphia as they have an extensive medical collection. Recently they have been in the news for the displaying of remains, particularly those of indigenous descent which is subject for repatriation. There is the American Alliance for Museums which set policies and talks of restitution and repatriation for human remains following NAGPRA. Human remains are also supposed to be taken care of with "dignity and respect" which is the first line discussed under the Human Remains Curation section, but one can argue (me) the dignified response to acquiring human remains is to not display them. This museum and the code of ethics will be compared to the international museums Museo Egizio in Torino, Italy and the Hungarian Museum of London, England. 

There is lots more to discuss next time including details on the international museums! See you then.

Updates and Small Changes

 Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm a little late with this update (by a few days), but I've made a not-insignificant amount of progress on my thesis! I recently just rewrote my abstract, and it looks much cleaner than my old one, although I know it will likely get another revision at the end when I am about to submit, and I have a decent chunk of my methodology written! It's going to be long, which I was nervous about, but it's necessary as I have two sections in it: my exhibit and my survey. I've also created a new, more detailed outline which has a lot more boxes for me to tick (a good thing). Next week I have a class visit, where I will finally get responses to my survey, and I get to send another email to COLA about posting my survey in the newsletter, as I only got half a response the first time.

Otherwise, things are going good, just really need to lock in and really hammer out paragraphs.

That's all for now!

Nic Feldman

Exciting News!

 Hi Everyone,

Sorry for this delayed update, but I have some exciting announcements!

1.) I have decided on the reference for my reproductions: The Lobsterman (The Doryman) by N.C. Wyeth

    I have chosen this piece because I believe not only is it of substantial size, around 2 x 4 ft, it shows good characteristics of tempera layering which is crucial to the process. It contains a good mixture of historic techniques with contemporary techniques in application and scaping, and believe it fits well with my thesis. Originally, I wanted to reference The Vision of Saint Eustace by Pisanello, but have come to realize its complexity in nature may make it hard to produce two reproductions.

2.) I have started the preparation process.

    As of now, I have created a digital, gridded reference for The Lobsterman (The Doryman) using the application Procreate and scaling it so it was an accurate representation. I then began to start the sketching process on transparency paper. Since the sheets I was using were only 18 x 24 inches, I taped them together to meet the 2 x 4 ft measurement and then began gridding, using 4 x 4 panels. This weekend, I will cut the wood, and began priming and painting.

3.) I have almost all my materials

    Since I was originally planning on an alternate piece, I only bought one board of wood, so I am planning on going to the store to buy another panel this weekend and will cut them both to size using a table saw. I also ordered traditional calcium carbonate off of a small business for the traditional gesso using animal glue. Additionally, the rabbit skin glue I ordered came in, and the eggs I ordered from a local farm will be ready to be pick up Saturday.

Overall, I find myself extremely excited to finally begin the recreation and experimentation process. Photos will come in the next update!

Castle on the Hill Oral History Interview #1

 Hello Everyone!

I will be providing some details about my first Oral History Interview with Howard Perry! Howard reached out to me from my request for an interview on a local Facebook Page. Howard worked at The Castle on the Hill as a Waiter in the Summers of 1962 and 1963. Howard has also lived in Dansville his whole life and worked at Noyes Hospital. 

Shout out to Howard for being my first interviewee and sticking with me through some technical difficulties. It was my first time using my voice recorder and it took some getting used to. I also recorded on my MacBook as a backup. We ended up doing our interview in the Dansville Library. 

I specifically picked some old photos of the dining areas of the Castle on the Hill as memory aids. Howard had such a great memory of the Castle on Hill layout and even drew me some sketches! He told me about all of his interesting interactions with guests and some teenage antics he and his cousin got up to. The Castle on the Hill is a very important place to him. It is a place where he grew as a person and connected with families and friends. He also talked about the importance of sharing stories with the younger generation. He thinks it is important for people to learn the history about the town they were born in. He hopes that the Castle's memory can live on; even if it is just in stories. 

Thank you so much to Howard for being my first interviewee! I had a wonderful time and learned so much!

Best,

Eliot Gavin 

Methodology and Outline

 Hello!

Since my last post I have completed my first draft of my methodology and have just finished my thesis outline. While completing all this work, I have been contemplating the work I have done up until this point. I have been working in a bit of a straight line up until this point. Completing one task and then moving on to the next, I feel I need to revisit and revise the work I have done up until now in order to stay on top of my work.

It is hard to contemplate revisiting past assignments when I have so many other upcoming assignment to do. I will have to use my time wisely and work in small increments during the next months. Time management will be key. I am excited to continue my work and revise my old work.

Until next time!

-Kaitlyn Troutman

Exhibit Time!

     We are currently one week from the opening of Surfacing: A Trio of Exhibitions by MUSE Faculty and Students. The show focuses on three exhibits Transgressive: From the Guerrilla Girls to Pussy Riot; Jerrold Smith: The Student, The Craftsman, The Drifter; & Ruffles and Rebellion: An Unveiling of Lolita Fashion.  The show in the University Gallery at RIT opens on February 12th and closes on March 8th, with an opening reception on February 18th from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm. 

    My exhibit, Jerrold Smith: The Student, The Craftsman, The Drifter, focuses on the life and creations of Jerrold Smith, following his artistic career as a student at the School of American Craftsman at RIT to his death. This week, I have been preparing the final touches to the exhibit and finishing up the last label copy before heading to print. 

    I am so excited to open this project up to the public and can't wait for everyone to see it!

The Last One (semester speaking)

    As the spring semester took off, so did our projects. After a comfortable break, we returned to full steam on our senior thesis projects. Over break, I had a few new revelations regarding my project and the Jerrold Smith Family Archive. The first one is a name change. I have decided to change how I had been regarding the archive I am creating, instead of its name being the Jerrold B. Smith Family Archive it is now the Jerrold Smith Family Archive. As I furthered my study of the collections I found that Jerrold was mainly referred to as Jerrold Smith, not Jerrold B.  Smith. This change would be a better representation of who Jerrold is and likely was his preferred name. 

    Secondly, I received more collection materials that I had the opportunity to add to the Jerrold Smith Family Archive. At first, I wasn't sure about adding new objects to the collection so late into the project and thought that it would be best to wait until the summer to add the pieces, but after reviewing them I found they added a lot to the overall archive and its story. 

Custom Coat Hook by Jerrold Smith

Jerrold Smith Custom Design Jewelry Box

        

       Lastly, I found new academic journals and sources regarding creating archives and the impact of family archives. I have been reviewing these over the semester and adding information that I find the most helpful to my project. 

Exciting Times Ahead

 I have made so much progress on my thesis! Last week, I conducted my final long-term interview for my thesis. I am so thankful for everyone who partcipated in my oral histories and the amazing community I am a part of. My next blog pot will focus more on my interview expierence but for right now I will talk about next steps and challenges I have with my thesis. 

Oral history is a quite a legtheny process. I am committed to the professional distrubution of these oral histories. I still have to transcribe and send them to interviewees for approval before I post them. I will post the link to my own blog very soon! A big focus of this thesis is analyzing the community's response and reaction to the oral histories. I hope that the community will engage with my work and am exicited to see what they think. 

Time is a big challenge. I always feel like Spring semester goes faster than Fall Semester. I have a lot I am trying to accomplish in a short period of time. I want to put my all in this project, but time can be constraining. I am also contuing to research the connetion between oral history and preservation. I am excited to keep working on my thesis!

Best, 

Eliot Gavin

A New Semester

 Hello everyone,

       I hope the start of everyones semester has been going well. It is our very last semester at RIT, time not only to work, but to appreciate the work we are doing. Professor Newman brought this perspective to my attention during our thesis classes, we are so lucky to be given the opportunity to conduct the research we are with the support of the staff and our classmates at RIT. I will not take this opportunity for granted and will be continuing my work on my thesis.

     Recently, we were given the assignment to come up with the next steps in our thesis and potential challenges we could encounter. My next steps include gathering more case studies on other museums Nazi-Era provenance. I will also be visiting the MAG to interview their provenance research on her work. I anticipate challenges in terms of time and research, however, I have come up with ways to combat these challenges. For now, I will work on the first draft of my methodology.

Thank you,

Kaitlyn Troutman

The Challenge Ahead

 As I begin to refocus on my thesis and see what I need to do in the months ahead, I realize that I have a big challenge that lies with my work from last semester. Specifically, my (newfound) desire to rewrite my lit review and abstract

 I knew coming into this that I would be making tweaks and edits, but I am realizing that it’s a much bigger task than I anticipated. Specifically, I am concerned about rewriting my literature review. I anticipated having to rewrite my abstract but didn’t realize that I would have or want to do major revisions on my literature review. However, after skimming through it, I realized that I need to, because it is roughly edited, and, as my thesis is altered and my goal becomes more clear, needs to be made to match that. I also don’t like how it’s currently organized, and I feel that some of the points made are weak.

Hopefully, most of what I’ve written can be reused in some way or another. I hope to deal with this challenge by first rewriting my abstract, and I want to (literally) highlight the key parts of it so I know what my lit review should focus on. I then want to go paragraph by paragraph (or maybe section by section) and do the same thing– highlighting what’s key, what could be reused, and what should be sent to my freezer document. This will help my project advance because it will clean up my lit review, but it will also benefit me in the long run, as it will make sure that my project is neatly tied together, and that the research I did is relevant and clearly shows how it helped to guide my project.

I know this isn't much of an update, but it is a small look ahead at some of my immediate concerns with my thesis.

See you next time!

Refocusing (Von Stevens)

 Hey, welcome back

    Coming back from winter break and talking to Dr. Newman, made me realize that while I am not too far off track, I do need to refocus some parts. The purpose of my capstone is to make an exhibit on Cambodian culture post Democratic Kampuchea, and most of my research and structure is centered around Cambodia right now. I need to work more on researching and incorporating exhibition design and museum educational methods such as object learning into my project. I somewhat neglected half the purpose of my thesis I realized and was in danger of just writing a research paper, not a proper original work thesis. So I think I can chill a bit in terms of looking at sources for Cambodia and look more for museum related and exhibit related sources. Along with finding new sources, I need to reorganize the outline and plan for my thesis. A lot of the body was, once again, overly focused on Cambodian culture and does not give enough highlight to the other half of my capstone project which is about exhibition design. I feel like as I troubleshoot I have a better image in my head of where I'm going though, and I do not really feel lost. I recognize I have work to do but I don't think I am behind or struggling (yet) with the work or task. Hopefully this semester goes well!

Von Stevens

Crunch Time!

    Hello and welcome to the end of this year long journey! Last semester I ended on a reflective note looking back on all the progress I made. Now starting this semester, I aim to use that progress and things I've learned to start putting together my whole thesis. Over break, I took some time to relax and gain a new perspective on what I had. I'm thankful to the break because I gained a new perspective and what I need to change to make this paper strong and effective. 

    Before I was looking at types of human remains on display and using them as case studies but now I realized I want to use some examples of different museums and their policies on the public display of human remains to compare and contrast. Why they're on display and what purposes they serve will help me with my research and where the parameters of ethical considerations are drawn. 

    See you next time!

                     - Cass 

Reevaluation and Immediate Goals

 Hello, everyone!

        While I am excited about moving forward on my thesis project,

I anticipate a few challenges that I will need to overcome. One of the first issues

that may arise is the complexity of the painting I chose. While I initially bought my

supplies based upon the artwork, The Vision of Saint Eustace, I am coming to the

realization that I may be putting too much stress on myself in order to be able to

effectively complete three recreations of it. I believe that within this next week, I need

to reevaluate what painting I will be recreating, one a little more simpler in content, solely

because of the time constraint in which I have on the project and experimentation.

I think I will have to try and research another tempera painting done on oak in

order not to waste the material I bought, or find the receipt and exchange what I have with another.

Another issue is coming down to materials too.

I was thinking about hand crafting pigments using raw

materials like pressed and dried flowers, stones, dirt, and further that

I would gather locally, but again, the time constraint may put a damper

on this as well as the weather. I may change my plan to focus on looking

for more mainstream manufactured paints that may not be ethically sourced

and compare these instead of mass manufactured egg tempera paint, and

compare it this way. That means I will need to first look into sourcing the

materials so they arrive promptly, as well as editing my literature review,

abstract, and content on my thesis to focus on this idea instead. If I have time,

I may look into adding the pre prepared paint back into this project, but for now,

I am thinking of scrapping this idea because I should not necessarily make things more

difficult for myself. I have begun looking up pigments on amazon that were not historically

made and been trying to find funding for this item as well. In addition, I have to also purchase

more animal glue, as the one I have thawed from my freezer is not in a usable state,

which I had hoped for. 

For the experimentation portion, I am most concerned about infestation/mold

growth for the paintings, as I don’t have enough context on how I will perform this.

I am going to be researching within this week is typical bug infestation or bacteria

growth that occurs in old tempera paintings, and reaching out to the biology department

at RIT to see if they have a culture of said bacteria/mold, and would let me use a space

in their lab to infect my painting samples in. I have to do this within the next week because

I want to give them enough notice. If they say no, then I will have to reach out to

neighboring schools, like MCC, Nazareth, Saint John Fisher, or other colleges

that may have access and allow me entry into their lab. By doing so, this will help me

ensure I have a contained environment to monitor progress. I think I will have to draft an

outline for my specific experiment and give them a summary of what my research should

entail in order to gain their approval, so this is something else I will work on in the upcoming

week and a half. I am hoping to have a full course of action by this weekend, to send out by

this Monday, and after hearing this response,

I believe I will have more confidence in having one part of my experiment set.

In general, this will also call for evaluation of my current timeline and revisions to

make sure it fits whichever dates I give them, or they give me. 

I believe that if I can sort out and finalize my materials list and get an order in,

reevaluate the recreation reference, edit my timeline, draft and email and reach out to

the biology department at RIT, and get a response, this will set me up for success within

the content of my thesis, as it is primarily experiment based. Overall, while I know there

is a lot of work to be done, I am very excited to see this project come to fruition, as I love

my topic and want to push myself in this final work I will do as a senior. Thanks for reading,

and stay tuned!