Exhibition Organized by Area Students Explores Various Influences on Artists

Under the Influence, an exhibition of fine and decorative arts open in the Museum of Art, examines works from the Museum of Art permanent collection that consider many various forms of influence, from supernatural intervention to an artist’s frenzied reaction to a letter from a parent.

The exhibition is organized by students in the Exploring Museum Careers High School Partnership program and features objects that were created over two centuries including a statue portraying the divinely inspired warrior Joan of Arc and a Victorian-era “Intemperance” tankard plastered with a host of raucous inebriated figures. All the objects involve forms of persuasion, inspiration or reverie, induced by forces depicted or implied.

Students in the Exploring Museum Careers High School Program are seen here leaning about objects in the museum’s collection with Museum Director and Chief Curator, Dr. Paul Schweizer.

The students, Ashleigh LaBarge from Herkimer High School, and Arijana Ajdinovic, Glenda Colon, Christian Jones, Carly Karas, Mike Ortiz, Lena Pollard and Caitlin Sbrioli from Proctor High School in Utica, worked together with MWPAI staff on all aspects of producing the exhibition, from selecting the objects to leading tours. After meeting with the museum curators and reviewing the collection, the students selected works for their exhibition. In subsequent meetings, students worked with other staff members to learn about each person’s career background and role at the museum. The students completed regular assignments and participated in art research, publication design, marketing, exhibition layout and installation, arranging public programs and tours, and producing a podcast.