Project Highlight: Crew in Quarantine

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

THE BLOCK INSTALLATION “CREW” IN QUARANTINE – A DIGITAL PROJECT

SPRING 2020

When the Spring 2020 exhibitions could not go forward as planned due to COVID-19 closure, The Block Museum and its scheduled installation team found innovative new ways to make meaning together.

When the ripples of the current COVID-19 pandemic were starting to be felt in mid-March, it became clear that we would have to temporarily shutter the museum. Our spring exhibition could not be installed in a pandemic. How could we honor our commitments to our loyal Crew of temporary workers and enable them to also honor their commitments to us; commitments that had been made many months prior to the pandemic’s necessary shelter-in-place response? How might we engage The Crew with our galleries closed?

The Block knew that our Crew, as gig economy workers, would be especially impacted by the pandemic because they could not perform their work from home. We also recognized that these individuals, so important for what the public experiences in museums, are often invisible to visitors. How could the Block raise awareness of their contributions and also draw attention to the fact that so many preparators are artists who support their creative practices by working behind-the-scenes in museums?

As a response to these questions, The Block suggested The Crew create new work using their originally scheduled hours. The Block proposed documenting this new work on the museum’s website along with profiles and statements introducing The Crew to the public.

This project became a special opportunity to learn first-hand how working with objects in museums impacts the creative process. We could not have wished for better collaborators as we entered into this first-of-its-kind endeavor. Our colleagues on The Crew not only embraced the unknown, but used this project to create inspiring, thoughtful projects; meeting the challenge of this moment with a spirit of inquiry, innovation, and generosity. We conclude the project with a renewed gratitude for The Crew's contributions to the mission of The Block and with deeper appreciation of their collective work in the museum and in their individual work as artists.

SEE PROJECT

“This project acknowledges the crew of artists who are often invisible to the public, but without whom, exhibitions would not exist. These profiles on the Block Museum’s page serve to support us as skilled artists and preparators, and we are grateful to be included in the Northwestern community in this manner.” –Christina Warzecha, artist, Block Museum preparator

Clockwise from top left: Work by Harry Kutter, Dave Ford, Ty Wubbenhorst, Christine Wallers, and Steve Lalik