JUNE 6 – 9, 2024
Sarasota, FL
SYMPOSIUM ORIGIN
In the summer of 2022, two Ringling staff members met over coffee to wonder about wonderment. As the hours wore on, Jennifer Lemmer Posey, Tibbals Curator of Circus, and Katie Nickel, Head of Educational Programs, suspected wonder was a rich and rewarding philosophical topic to explore at The Ringling as a site rich with sights and experiences that are extraordinary, unusual, and wonderful. The two brought the idea to a larger group of staff, asking the questions: what is wonder, why is it important to museum work, and why is it important here at The Ringling?
much doing a symposium,” with the end goal of a program in mind, all ideas and brainstorming were welcomed. Over time, we felt the work towards a symposium was also an excuse to gather and think together about museum topics both big and small. For many of us, the magic of creating something together, in a true collaboration, was the real wonder at The Ringling.
Staff at all levels and multiple departments similarly found wonder to be a captivating topic. Together, we decided to explore this concept further and invite in others who are similarly interested in wonder, curiosity, awe. To this end, we launched a weekly gathering called Wonder Lunch, where colleagues connected across departments and siloes working on the puzzle of wonder and building relationships among teams—and sometimes playing a game or two.
This report will share important details such as how money was spent, what attendance looked like, how participants responded to the symposium – all important items to report upon. But we also hope a key institutional takeaway is the fruitful working relationships tendered during a year-long collaborative process.
It’s been a joy to work on this project with staff, volunteers, vendors, board members, and community members. As Katie would say, we very much did a wonder-filled symposium!
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Wonder Symposium was a wide-ranging exploration of wonder, an emotion recognized for creating a sense of openness and fostering curiosity and empathy. Art historians, artists, scientists, historians, museum professionals, educators, and circus performers came together to engage with scholarship, enter in discussion and participate in mediated and spontaneous experiences with wonder. Leveraging what museums can do—thoughtful scholarship on important cultural topics, meaningful encounters with art, and perfectly coordinated events set in the most unique and beautiful spaces—the Wonder Symposium showcased the very best of The Ringling, its grounds, collections, and staff. Across two and a half days attendees engaged with thought leaders, the performing arts, and museum collections in a gathering that opened minds and inspired opportunities for future collaboration and exploration.
SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW
Keynote Speakers
• Kaywin Feldman
Director of the National Gallery of Art
• Shinique Smith
Prominent LA-based Artist
• Dr. Erin Clabough
Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, University of Virginia
Symposium Sessions
• 28 sessions spanning 2.5 days
• 47 speakers from multi-disciplinary fields
• Art & Art History
• Astronomy
• Circus Arts & History
• Disability Studies
• Interior Design
• Library Services
• Linguistics
• Magic
• Museum Studies and Education
• Neuroaesthetics
• Public Health Services
Public Events
• Ringling WONDERground
Modeled on the popular Ringing Underground, WONDERground invited local community members to enjoy the Museum of Art Courtyard through the lens of wonder and light in this free event.
Performances by:
• Sarah Santiago
• No Filter
• Brooklyn United
• Wonder Walk @ FAM
This free family program invited exploration of the galleries and grounds. Families used a guide to frame their experiences with collections and with each other around the experience of wonder.
SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Welcome to Wonder
Jennifer Lemmer Posey, Katie Nickel, EdD
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Curiosity, Wonder, and Museums
David Berry, PhD | Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Collection Walks and Co-Curating a Digital Wunderkammer of Place
Sue Uhlig | Purdue University + Penn State University
Exploring the Wonders of The Ringling Ringling Staff
KEYNOTE
Living in a Material World: The Wonder of Human Creativity
Kaywin Feldman | National Gallery of Art
WELCOME TO WONDER DINNER
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
WONDER WORKS
Wonder in Language Invention
Carolina González, PhD, Gabrielle Isgar, Susan Cox
Florida State University
Photopoetry Recess
Emily Carr, PhD | Southern Illinois University
Tricia Tondryck | Artist
Move Through: Embodying Visual Art through Movement
Jess Pope | Artist
Connie Cuadrado | Sarasota Art Museum
Community of Wonders
Steven High | The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Carla Johanns | Forty Carrots Family Center
Evelyn Almodóvar | UnidosNow
Jennifer Mitchell | Circus Arts Conservatory
Ross Egan | Asolo Rep
Tom Waters | Easterseals SWFL
PERFORMANCE AND THE BODY
Victorian Wonders
David London | Independent Scholar & Magician
Electric Wonder: Loïe Fuller and the Serpentine Dance
Kat duPont Vecchio | Independent Scholar
Living Wonders: PT Barnum and the Language of Sideshow
Betsy Golden Kellem | Independent Scholar
LIGHT, THE UNIVERSE, AND THE SUBLIME
Exploring a Queer Sense of Wonder in the Arts
Hunter O’Hanian | Independent Scholar
Andy Johnson | Georgetown University
Respiration Meditation
Natalia Guererro | University of Florida
Introduction to Joseph’s Coat: A Skyspace by James Turrell (2011)
Ola Wlusek, Glenn Hendrick
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
KEYNOTE
Black Wonder and Rainbows
Shinique Smith | Artist
WONDER RECEPTION
RINGLING WONDERGROUND
SATURDAY JUNE 8
EMBODIMENT, DISABILITY, DIFFERENCE, AND DISPLAY
Finding Wonder in the Disability Archives
John Gulledge, PhD | Wittenberg University
Ephemeral Wonder, Curiosity, and Discomfort in the Archive
Maggie Vanderford, Matthew Solomon, PhD
University of Michigan
The Wonder of the Art of Circus
Lisa B. Lewis | Omnium Circus
WONDER WORKS
Thought-stopping Wonder: Proposed Solutions to Alienating
Awe in the Special Collections and Archives Classroom
Rachel C. S. Duke, PhD, Taylor Henning
Florida State University
Making Space for Wonder
Erin Clabough, PhD | University of Virginia
Creative Flow: Poetry and Partner Yoga
Emily Carr, PhD | Southern Illinois University
Tricia Tondryck | Yogi
WONDER IN THE DETAILS
Experiencing Wonder Within the Walls: A Video Journey of the Second-Year Students’
Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) Models
Kelley G. Robinson | Florida State University
Close Looking in the Galleries
The Ringling Education Department
PRESERVATION, ASSURING ACCESS AND AWARENESS OF WONDER
Wonder Under Siege: Resisting the Exclusionist Agenda
Victoria Eudy, PhD | Missouri Historical Society
Jaimee Jensen | University of Aberdeen
Christina Alderman | Rhode Island School of Design
Jay Boda, PhD | The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The Virtual Wunderkammer and Embodied Neuroaesthetics: A Proposed AI-Augmented Exploration of Neuroarts and the Neural-Physiological States of Wonder
Piper Hutson, PhD, James Hutson, PhD Lindenwood University
Wonder in Native Nature: The Connections
We Make Experiencing Untouched Places
Pamela Elisabeth Lindeback | Florida State University
Preserving Material Objects of Wonder: A Conservator’s Perspective
Emily Brown | The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Collection Walks and Co-Creating a Digiital Wunderkammer of Place
Sue Uhlig | Purdue University + Penn State University
KEYNOTE
We are Built for Wonder: A Neuroscience Perspective
Erin Clabough, PhD | University of Virginia
WONDER SUNSET CELEBRATION
SUNDAY, JUNE 10
WRAP-UP BREAKFAST
“The interplay of intellectual community building/ knowledge production and art/play/performance was truly amazing,” – Symposium attendee
“[As] volunteers who were given full symposium tickets the opportunity to connect with our community and each other!!
Thank you!!”
“This symposium was such a powerful activation of the Ringling museum and complex, and provided optimal conditions for deepening collaborations and celebrating commonalities between scholars and thinkers across disciplines. These opportunities are rare and special.”
“Being part of this conference was such an incredible experience: inspiring, thoughtprovoking sessions; kind, interesting people; the extremely beautiful venue. I am in awe of everything the organizers, staff and volunteers have done to have this conference not only running smoothly, but also being one of a kind.”
“Thank you for changing the script on attending conferences. By providing a stipend and hotel, you made it possible for me to attend.”
“This was the most magical, energizing conference event I think I have ever attended.”
SYMPOSIUM ATTENDANCE
In its inaugural year, the success of the Wonder Symposium is best measured by the experiences of the participants, particularly in the commitment of time given by those in attendance. Full symposium registrants and many invited community collaborators joined us for most of the scheduled sessions and events, deeply engaging with the exploration of wonder at every turn. This metric is possible due to the generous funding provided by the single, visionary donor identified as FORE (Friend of Ringling Education). Without their support, the scope and scale of the event would have been significantly different.
1,666
372
325
–Child 6-17
–Walk ups (ages unknown)
1045 WONDERGROUND
117 Attended Members
412 Attended Non-Members 96 Did Not Attend Members
420 Did Not Attend Non-Members
RESEARCH + FEEDBACK
A full Executive Summary and Survey Results can be found in the Report Appendix.
Immediately after the symposium and public events, staff, speakers, and attendees were invited to complete a 21-question survey reflecting on their experiences with wonder. From a pool of 526 people, 133 people responded (25%). The following survey summary represents an overwhelmingly positive response to the symposium’s topics, presenters, and events and shows the impact of The Ringling’s first-ever symposium focused on Wonder.
• 98% would recommend the symposium to a colleague, friend, or family member; one responded asked “When is The Ringling going to do this again?”
• 89% reported the symposium fulfilled its promise to explore wonder as a source of creative inspiration, artistic medium, and well-being.
KEYNOTE SESSIONS
The Wonder Symposium was designed to offer a variety of wonder-filled experiences to appeal to people from all walks of life with varied interests. Activities ranged from academic presentations, workshops within The Ringling’s inspiring venues, and yes, a party or two. Symposium impacts were quantified with several opportunities for participants to provide written feedback.
• 92% said the symposium was an artistically or culturally meaningful experience.
• 62% experienced one or more moments of wonder, curiosity, or awe.
• 50% had a special moment with a Ringling staff or volunteer.
• 42% made a new friend or colleague.
The symposium’s three keynote speakers were a special highlight for most respondents. Among written feedback, 87% of respondents expressed positive messages including:
• “I loved how the presentations built upon one another to fully unpack the idea of Wonder.”
• “In all three cases, excellence was the rule… They offered a level of public discourse not always available in Sarasota.”
• “Each speaker gave me new insights into the idea of wonder.”
“I appreciated Kaywin’s encouragement to choose enlargement over temporary happiness.”
Kaywin Feldman discussed wonder in the context of her personal experiences and why she believes it’s an important concept for museums to explore. Feldman introduced wonder as a vehicle for inspiring curiosity, awe, and empathy, that when taken together, form our shared humanity.
“Smith was authentic, humble, and confident.” Her art has many moments of wonder.”
Shinique Smith discussed wonder rooted in her personal experiences as a child, student, and adult. She calls us to examine the microcosms of everyday life which surround us. Smith explores wonder in her artistic practice and shared how her work embodies her own wonder and inspires wonder in others.
“My most wonder-filled moment during the symposium was Dr. Clabough’s talk.”
Dr. Erin Clabough introduced the scientific side of wonder; how wonder is experienced by our brains and bodies, and why wonder is good for us. Dr. Clabough asserted that wonder is a state of being, and is a practice which can, and should, be cultivated.
SYMPOSIUM SESSIONS & EXPERIENCES
One of the goals of the symposium was to inspire wonder. When asked to highlight “the most wonder-filled moment,” many respondents reported struggling to pick just one.
• “that’s not fair... so many of those moments... the student exhibit of Extraordinary Bodies... discovering the teahouse... the live entertainment.”
• “There were so many! The entire symposium was wonderfilled, and within it, I have to say that the keynotes by Shinique Smith and Erin Clabough tie for “MOST” wonderfilled of all.”
The survey’s positive results are a testament to the hard work, collaboration, and creativity of The Ringling’s staff, volunteers, and the symposium’s presenters and participatory attendees. Respondents also suggested improvements for future symposia:
• “The wonder of [all of] our senses. Sight was the emphasis.”
• “Perhaps more “unstructured” time for playing, sensing, being inspired.”
• “A chance to dream big and swap ideas. Like: speed dating conversations with other people in the symposium about what this weekend is bringing up for them, what ideas they’re thinking of trying out where they work, etc.”
IMPACT
STAFF CULTURE
Wonder has changed how many staff approach collaboration and shared responsibilities. From the beginning, the Wonder Lunch group recognized the only folks who could gather during the lunch hour were those who worked in the back of house. Front of house staff were involved through a comprehensive button campaign. Security were invited to send photographs of things they found wonderful, which were then made into buttons for Security to wear and distribute in the year leading up to the symposium.
Decisions regarding the symposium were made by committee, a democratic process which continues to be used on other projects at the museum. The “chip in” attitude is observable in other contexts including planning large scale events more collaboratively and preparing for the centennial.
• “Seeing my Ringling colleagues bring their ideas and energy together to support the symposium [was my most wonder-filled moment.] The symposium helped bond and unify staff across departments and supervisory levels.”
• “The “one team one goal” energy was evident and a huge contribution to the success of Wonder.”
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
The Ringling has positioned itself as a thought leader in the realm of wonder in the museum field. While we have much more to discover, we have hit upon something important to museum work. Inspiring wonder in our visitors is just as important as learning to maintain an openness to wonder as a museum professional. Staff are continuing to explore wonder through an upcoming publication and subsequent symposia. By including an interdisciplinary group of thinkers, the Wonder Symposium generated fruitful ideas, conversations, and new ways of thinking. Museum professionals at The Ringling and beyond benefited from concepts introduced by scientists, performers, and community activators outside our field, and in turn provided a lens for inspiring wonder at museums.
The generous grant from FORE empowered The Ringling to provide accommodation and travel stipends for each speaker. Without this support, some speakers may not have been able to attend and the rich academic and artistic exchange which took place would have missed crucial voices.
• “Thank you for changing the script on attending conferences. By providing a stipend and hotel, you made it possible for me to attend. I had to cover some things on my end due to the price of the flight, but no stipend or hotel coverage would have meant that I had to miss entirely. Academia is so full of unpaid or underpaid time—so I deeply appreciate being compensated for time and talent.”
COLLECTIONS DEVELOPMENT
The Wonder Symposium led to new donations, projects, and a fresh approach to collections work. Jennifer Lemmer Posey states, “I am forever changed; wonder will be a cornerstone of my curatorial approach moving forward.” When examining collections through a lens of wonder, staff and visitors alike have a fresh perspective on what makes art and culture so powerful. Moreover, recognizing the arts as important sources of wonder can redefine and magnify the museum’s role as a place of learning. The Wonder Symposium inspired members of the circus community to connect with the museum to discuss potential donations and exhibition opportunities. Donors in our community recognize the wonder of objects and trust The Ringling to care for their wonderfilled stories.
• “This symposium was such a powerful activation of the Ringling museum and complex, and provided the optimal conditions for deepening collaborations and celebrating commonalities between scholars and thinkers across disciplines. These opportunities are rare and special.”
COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP
This symposium intentionally paired scholarly, artistic, and public perspectives. Executive Director Steven High kicked off the first full day of the symposium with an energizing community panel. He was joined by representatives from Asolo Rep, UnidosNow, Forty Carrots Family Center, Easterseals of SWFL, and the Circus Arts Conservatory in a dynamic discussion on how wonder is critical for both arts and human service organizations. Throughout the symposium, wonder was a thread of humanity which bonds us together. Ringling WONDERground was introduced to include all community members in an exploration of wonder. This free event brought many not-yet-members to The Ringling and
introduced a serious topic in a fun atmosphere. Visitors left their definitions of what wonder means on a community board at this event.
Wonder Walk intentionally invited families to join in the wonder. This free family event catered to visitors of all ages, inviting them to use wonder as a lens as they explore all areas of The Ringling Estate.
Building relationships with all community members, including vendors, was important through this process. Due to the strong connections between Ringling staff and our vendors, everyone pitched in to bring Brooklyn United, a New Yorkbased youth drumline, to The Ringling. The Ringling paid for their WONDERground performance, and symposium vendors heard about their mission and went above and beyond to support their visit. Our lunch vendor, Cafe L’Europe, paid for Brooklyn United’s meals, and So Staged, our furniture vendor, covered their hotel.
• “Although my participation was limited to few events/ activities, my favorite event was the WONDERground. The bands, the performers, the special decoration and overall vibe was really amazing! I had a lot of fun that night.”
• “What I love most about this event and the Ringling in general is how connected with the community it is: most of these talks would not normally reach a general audience, but for the amazing work being done at the Ringling. Everyone should be immensely proud, and the donor who made all of this possible should know they are helping pioneer a return to wonder, which is to say, a return to things like human care, presence, love, art, and creative passion (not to mention the catalyst for science and all things knowledge-making). What a joy and honor: my gratitude endless.”
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AN INVITATION TO WONDER
As staff settle back into the day-to-day task of caring for Florida’s artistic and cultural heritage, wonder continues to inspire and ignite change. Discussions are underway for future iterations of the symposium – envisioned at scales that are sustainable with current staffing. Additionally, Wonder Lunch continues with conversations about how upcoming programs, events, and exhibits can be sparks to keep Wonder at the forefront of our work.
As we continue to explore wonder through academic examination, artistic expression, playful experiences, and a dedication to curiosity and empathy, staff invite you to join us in wonderment. Stay in touch with us at wonder@ringling.org or online at ringling.org/wonder.
• “This WONDER-filled experience should definitely happen again. The flexibility of the Ringling Museum and the various spaces for presentations and experiences is a perfect place for this type of symposium.”
“Wonder always registers as learning.”
–Erin Clabough, PhD.
“To wonder at a work of art is to marvel.”
–Kaywin Feldman
“Wonder is subjective the same way that 100 people viewing the same sunset all perceive 100 different sunsets.”
–Shinique Smith
ringling.org/wonder