Preparation Makes Perfection

Posted by Mary Murray on June 10th 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: Wedded Perfection, Museum

Wedded Perfection

A monumental exhibition like Wedded Perfection requires monumental organization, monumental cooperation by a lot of Institute staff, and finally, monumental preparation. These are my observations, marveling from outside. I wonder what someone in the midst of it all has to say, hmmmm?

Moving risers in the front door.

Preparation is extraordinary efforts in carpentry, heavy lifting, sign installation, lighting, and lots of other duties by Museum Technicians Dariusz Sady and Rainer Wehner. They have been assisted by the great staffs in Maintenance, Engineering and Grounds.

That’s Rainer, left, and Dariusz, right, moving crates filled with wedding gowns onto the freight elevator. Hiding behind the crate is Registrar and Installation Manager Michael Somple, who with Assistant Registrar Lorelei Eurto and Preparator Tara Avella, is attending to all necessary installation details, from making labels to steaming wrinkles out of dresses, to hosting the Cincinnati Art Museum couriers, Curator of Costumes Cynthia Amneus and Preparator Marla Miles.

Preparation is testing several paint colors on gallery walls until, eureka! The perfect coral! Thanks to painter Jim Polizzi for rolling up a storm around the Museum of Art.

Preparation is marketing the exhibition with presentations to civic groups, area businesses, radio and television promotions, and print advertising. Thanks to Joe Schmidt, Public Relations Manager, Decorative Arts staff Paula Caruana and Ruth Thomas, Website Manager David McHarg, and Michele Murphy, Publications Manager, who calmly runs around making sure that every “t” is crossed, every “I” is dotted on every printed piece that accompanies the show.

Preparation is an unprecedented number of fabulous programs organized by the Education Department and Performing Arts staff.

Preparation is setting up ticket sales. Thanks to IT guys Bill Doherty and Ryan Aumiller, Retail Operations staff Bona Starring and Jennifer Sorrell, and the great team in Performing Arts.

Preparation is fundraising. Thanks to our generous sponsors: M&T Bank, The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc., and the F.X. Matt II Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation.

Marla Miles steaming a contemporary wedding gown.

It takes a village, but it also takes good leadership. Hats off to Anna D’Ambrosio, Curator of Decorative Arts and Museum of Art Assistant Director for organizing these legions of staff toward the successful presentation of this spectacular show.