LEFT: Deb Slaney curated many exhibitions,
Slaney Retires Curator of history had an impact.
including the Route 66 exhibition (right). ABOVE: Radio artist Jules Allen in front of
the Firestone service building, ca. 1931. Photographer: Brooks Studio. Albuquerque Museum Photo Archives. Gift of Channell Graham, PA1978.151.327.
ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE CHANGE CAREERS multiple times
Rust, and Revival on the Mother Road,
catalogue, chronicling the Museum’s
which ran in 2016, told the story of
collection, took almost two decades.
in their lives, Deb Slaney has had only
the Mother Road through the eyes of
Casa San Ysidro now has a new strategic
one: museum professional. It was all she
migrants and African Americans, as well
vision that Slaney hopes will see it
ever wanted to do.
as the route’s early history as told by
into the future with more resources
Slaney retired in January from the
Hispano travelers. “I think we brought
for programs and collections. She
Albuquerque Museum after eighteen
a dimension of Route 66 the people
also worked to acquire items for the
years as curator of history. Slaney’s
didn’t expect, and that it also had a
permanent collection that fill gaps in the
curatorial philosophy can be seen in
serious side—and an aspect of diversity
Museum’s ability to present historical
the interactive, story-telling nature of
that made it unique.”
themes and narratives, including a
the Only in Albuquerque exhibition, in
Other notable exhibitions include
forty-seven-star flag, an early nineteenth-
the artifacts she acquired, and at Casa
Dreamscape Desperado: Billy the Kid;
century bulto of San Felipe de Neri, and
San Ysidro: The Gutiérrez/Minge House.
The Leekya Family: Master Carvers of
a Jemez black-on-white jar made around
Slaney curated or coordinated thirty-six
Zuni Pueblo; Hollywood Southwest,
the time of Diego de Vargas’ return to
exhibitions at the Museum.
and The Artistic Odyssey of Higinio
New Mexico after the Pueblo Revolt.
“My greatest joy is to create original
V. Gonzales, which she either curated
Although she’s leaving the Museum, it’s
research and make it visual,” she says.
herself or collaborated with guest
likely she won’t stray far from her career
Some of her proudest work stems from
curators to bring to life.
roots. Her retirement plan? She plans
telling stories through differing lenses. For example, Route 66: Radiance,
Some of Slaney’s projects have taken years to come to fruition. The history
to relax, research, write, and consult for museums around the Southwest.
AlbuquerqueMuseum.org
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