Reflections
Following the Grand Opening of the long-awaited exhibition, hear what the cohort has to say. This post will reflect on how the opening went, what each person learned, and how they will apply their newfound skills in their professional lives. We want to thank you for following along as each post lead up to the presentation of three semesters of hard work.
Emily Senn
I could not have been more elated with how the exhibit opening turned out. Having any event via Zoom usually presents more than one technical snafu, but this event ran as smoothly as possible thanks to Liz monitoring the event behind the scenes. Even though I am sure we would all rather have had the event opening in person, due to COVID-19 that was not a possibility and I believe that we played the hand we were delt with grace and efficiency. I hope that one day soon I will be able to visit the Historic Magnolia House to see the finished exhibit up close and in person.
The takeaways from this project are overwhelming in number, to list them all would be an entirely different post in itself. One of the most profound experiences I will take away from the project is how to communicate and work as a team through the trickiest of circumstances, such as a global pandemic. I have learned that working as a team is a much smoother process when face-to-face meetings are an option as well as highly encouraged while working together via Zoom and through email presents challenges all their own. I have definitely sharpened my communication skills over the past two semesters and I hope those skills stay with me when it is time to enter the professional field.
Over the past three semesters I have learned that I am capable of far more than I give myself credit for. Prior to joining this program I had never researched and created an exhibition before, I had only monitored my personal budget, and the only blog I had created centered around my own travels. Participating in every aspect from research, conception, writing, and documentation has better shaped into the professional I am and hope to enter the professional world as. I could not be more honored to have participated in the creation of this exhibit for a community partner, and I could not be more proud to be a part of this cohort.
Maizie Plumley
I thought the exhibit opening went well. The audience asked many great questions, which allowed us to give more insight into the project and all the work that went into it. Because the exhibit opening was virtual, I think we could reach a wider audience, and people will be able to view the opening whenever they like. While I am upset, COVID-19 did not allow us to have any in-person events, and I have not been able to see the printed panels in person, it has allowed us to learn to be flexible and work around obstacles that are out of our control.
This project has shown me all of the work that goes into creating an exhibit. I have also learned how to work well with various groups. By creatively designing the panels, I have also learned to be confident in my work and have developed a passion for design. I think I will use the skills I gained from designing the panels in the future. Because of this project and the work I was able to do while creating the panels, I hope my jobs in the future will allow me to use my design skills and explore the artistic design side of museum work.
Evan Williams
I think the opening went incredibly well. We were able to start the unveiling on time, a significant number of people participated and stayed for its entirety, and we were able to answer multiple great questions about the exhibit and my cohorts’ experience preparing and crafting it. We did experience a few technical difficulties in the Zoom meeting, but overall, we accomplished everything I expected us to in an ample yet concise manner. It was a great experience that I am proud to have taken part in it.
There is so much this project has taught me. Firstly, it gave me a knowledge of vital historic properties in North Carolina and throughout the country that went unjustly undervalued and need to be protected and interpreted. Secondly, the project exposed me to many different areas involved in creating an exhibit outside of research, such as design, event planning, and marketing. I had limited experience with these aspects going in, but nothing of this magnitude and complexity. Lastly, the project was a prime example of the importance of adaptability. The emergence of COVID-19 two-thirds of the way into the creation process presented potential challenges and obstacles that required new approaches to success.
The effort and focus this project needed from me has left crucial marks on my professional life that I plan to use in the future. Most importantly, I took several lessons from the work of the project including more ways to compile research, scholarship on the museum profession, how to draft panel text, and options for designing and arranging an exhibit. I will also take away the more general concept of adaptability from the project. The restrictions imposed by the spread of COVID-19 while our group worked on the project forced us to plan differently despite still implementing a physical exhibit. Our event and unveiling moved online, we had to communicate as a group over Zoom, and we had to be careful with how we interacted with and set up the exhibit panels in the Magnolia House. Our largely successful efforts to work around these realities was something that I have every intention of utilizing in my future endeavors.
Liz Torres Melendez
I think the exhibit opening went very well! I’m proud of the work we’ve done and the exhibit looks fantastic. Having all of our events be virtual was certainly a challenge, and none of us had any idea how they would go. Thankfully we had great attendance at the events and all the tech went smoothly. My biggest takeaway from this project is that it is very important to lean on other scholars or organizations doing similar work. What took our programming to the next level was bringing in folks from outside our cohort or even institution who had a great amount of knowledge about the Green Book and local preservation.
I will absolutely use that knowledge moving forward. This project also cemented for me the importance of planning ahead. Our programs were great because we planned them out, beat by beat, and practiced beforehand. I will never take rehearsal for granted, and have always been a big believer in over-planning!
Casey Landolf
I think the virtual exhibit opening went really well! I was afraid the event would be too short, but the length turned out to be perfect at around 45–50 minutes. Having worked in a theatre job where these types of things can be rehearsed, I thought the event went exceptionally smooth and that any issue that came up was handled well. We received some really well-thought-out questions from the attendees, and I thought it was amazing that Benjamin Briggs of Preservation Greensboro was able to join us and speak.
Having minimal previous experience in event planning, this experience proved useful as I did not just gain more confidence in this skill but also more experience. I’ve recently decided to change my goal for what my desired career is in the field, so having this previous experience will prove useful as I want to work more on community projects or on more behind-the-scenes projects such as editing. Collaboration is crucial when developing and editing projects, and collaboration played a key role when participating in the events committee. Overall, having this experience will give me more confidence when working on projects that require input from multiple people and making sure that each of their ideas and concerns are heard.
Sarah Maske
Reflecting on this project, my work, and the exhibit opening, I am happy with the outcome. From a facilitator/moderator perspective everything ran smoothly and the general schedule flowed well. The Exhibit Opening was well received. I was so glad to see the support and publicity coverage we received from the university and community. Casey’s video was a hit. Liz did a lot of the hard work behind the scenes making sure participants stay muted, and she handled all the questions thrown at us like a pro. Liz, Casey, and I worked well together, and I would be happy to work on a project with them again.
One of the main takeaways I learned from this project is the research and curatorial process to building the framework and historical interpretation of an exhibit. Knowing how to start research and build a framework on a grassroots level project is so helpful to me as I create an exhibit for my capstone. I can see this knowledge aiding me as I build the research and framework for all my future projects whether they are physical exhibits, walking tours, or education programming.
The experience of creating events that engage with the community, and introduce our exhibit is invaluable. This was great practice identifying our audiences and building programs that appeal to them. We had to be creative in reaching our audience during the COVID-19 pandemic and our virtual solution resulted in two successful programs. For me, I really was able to build my zoom skills and continue to practice reaching out to community partners through cold emailing. Additionally, I can see the panel and the opening being great pieces to add to a digital portfolio. With my goal to work in a front facing and community engaging position, such as museum educator or outreach coordinator, I can see using the lessons I learned from our planning throughout my career.
Matthew McCarthy
Well, the exhibit opening day has come and passed. It seems more like a whirlwind, but the opening was a success! No hiccups with technology, which can sometimes be the case with Zoom. Personally, I am very proud of the work we have done over the last three semesters. I learned a lot about my cohort and myself, especially that procrastinating is not an option. Also, I am good at marketing strategies. This is certainly something I did not expect, but I enjoyed the whole experience.
Lastly, this is really the point when it becomes real for all of us that we are about to begin our lifetime careers. This may be the first time our name is on an exhibit, but it will most certainly not be the last. We often get distracted by the career aspect of the public history realm, but the history we worked with at the Magnolia House show us the importance of Green Book sites, and those alike, to our local and national history. These business are too often being demolished or overlooked, but this is one step in changing the narrative.
Kurtis Rogers
The Magnolia House exhibit was a rewarding experience that will help define my professional career for years to come. Being a part project that focuses on a building having the power to be a cornerstone of the Greensboro African American community was incredibly rewarding. I am proud of everyone that contributed to the research and the eventual exhibit installation. This project has taught me to be patient and understanding with however you are working with. Does not matter if it is with my classmates or the community partner, being able to collaborate with individuals proved to be most helpful. I have always believed the strength of any museum or house museum is their relationship with the surrounding community members.
The Magnolia House has served as a refuge for the African American community for decades. Generations of Greensboro’s African American families know the history and importance of preserving the rich history of this building. Preserving the memories and the importance of this house and its deep roots in the community is needed more than ever. I believe our partnership with the Magnolia House has strengthened the bond of UNCG and the surrounding community and preserved a vital story for the city of Greensboro.
Melissa Huggins
I was so excited for the exhibit opening last week and I think we truly nailed it! I made sure that all my friends and family tuned in and from what I heard, we did a fantastic job given the circumstances of the pandemic and really were able to reach a varied audience. Despite the bumps that came with interrupting questions, Liz handled everything majestically along with Sarah and Matthew. Before working with the Historic Magnolia House, I really didn’t have much knowledge of the Green Book and had a minimal understanding of the Civil Rights Movement because of my educational background in classical archaeology. Now I feel more confident in this field of history and I’m able to use my newfound knowledge in everyday contexts, particularly within the political climate we’re in today.
There’s a lot I’ve gleaned from this experience! Particularly: I’ve learned a lot about how to research and design things for an exhibit, and definitely feel like my knowledge of exhibits has been enriched. I now feel much more confident writing my thesis and preparing the exhibit I’m creating on Etruscan miniature vessels! Since I’m going forward with goals to be a professional archaeologist and curator, this exhibit is pushing me toward the future and was truly educational. I’m thrilled about the finished product and I’m really proud of our cohort!!
Summer Crews
Last Saturday revealed the culmination of the last year and a half of hard work from the cohort, and it was a relief to see come together. The video by Casey encompassed this well, since it was my first time seeing the exhibit panels up in the Magnolia. It was a bit nerve wracking to see how people would respond since this was the first public look at the exhibit but seeing questions from the visitors and the UNCG History department was a joy to experience. It’s a shame not to get to speak directly to those with the time to tune in (and my microphone not cooperating), but the feeling wasn’t diminished.
For me, this project has helped emphasize the full range of responsibilities involved in an exhibit. In my experience, you are not always privy to what everyone else is working on aside from what is said in emails and meetings. This is more attributed to the exhibit being coursework and let us witness the exhibit’s development. I was involved in forming the narrative script, so I was able to learn history about the Magnolia I was not studying for class. This forced me to look at word choice and details to maintain consistency throughout the exhibit, and personally, I enjoyed it for the opportunity to learn everything we found about the house. These emphasized the importance of communication in public history that I have not always found in my experiences, but I aim to encourage them between me and my team and the institution.
The Historic Magnolia House is ingrained in the history of Greensboro, and I felt thankful to be able to work with community partners and show this history. As a member of the Education Committee, I worked closely with Ms. Melissa Knapp, the curator of the Magnolia, on lesson plans for the home and how to translate the significance of this house in lessons. We discussed how to make activities fun for younger students as well as how to make them more nuanced for older students, and we’re excited to see how it will be received in the future. This partnership is ultimately what I enjoy about public history and what I will focus on in my future. I hope to continue working closely with the community I end up in and cultivating narratives for these institutions that do them justice. Respect is inherent to public history for me, and I hope we achieved it for the Magnolia House.
If you were not able to attend the exhibit opening live, follow the link bellow to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/MagnoliaHouseGreensboro/videos/1060476314405771
