Curator Katie Dillard Will Share Expertise and Tips at the Workshop
Saturday, Sept 30 | 10 AM-Noon
For many people, hanging artwork, whether it is a painting or a photograph, can be downright frustrating. Is it too high or too low? Is it centered correctly? Why can’t you get it to look “just right”?
On Saturday, Sept 30, at the Albany Museum of Art, you can unlock the secrets of displaying your home artwork with the finesse of a professional art museum curator at our Hang Art Like a Curator workshop. The 10 am-noon class will be taught by an expert on hanging artworks, AMA Director of Curatorial Affairs Katie Dillard.
“The secret to hanging artwork like a pro is this: there is no secret. Only math,” Dillard said. “If you’re like me, you hate math and never want to use it, but during this workshop, I will share my painless mathematical formulas which work every time, and then we can all hang artwork like a pro. We’ll address what exactly is ‘eyeballing’ and when it’s appropriate to use, tool safety, my least favorite type of hanging hardware, and more. I’ll share all my little tips and the tricks I’ve learned over the years.”
At the AMA, Dillard has planned and hung hundreds of artworks in the museum’s four rotating exhibition spaces, from the massive Haley Gallery to the intimate McCormack Gallery. For each exhibition, she expertly tailors the presentation of the artwork to its gallery to ensure the best experience for art lovers who visit the AMA.
As a participant in the workshop, you will benefit from her experience. You will explore the art of arrangement, balance, and visual storytelling. You will learn the expert techniques for selecting the perfect placement, and the hands-on skills needed to hang your favorite pieces. You also will learn about the different types of hanging apparatus, which tools and hardware to use, how to patch any mistakes made on a wall, and about materials budgeting for all your big projects.
Along the way, you will discover ways that will ensure your satisfaction when you transform your home into a gallery that reflects your life and style.
The workshop is open to all ages, though participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dust or paint on. Also, the workshop is BYOH (bring your own hammer). Participants are also encouraged to bring their own special artwork (18” x 24” or smaller) to practice hanging. It must be framed, or a canvas. It is requested that participants bring their own eye protection (sunglasses will do), and please observe the no food or drinks rule in the workspace. Closed-toe shoes are recommended, but not necessary. Other materials will be provided.
The cost of the workshop is $35, or $30 for AMA donors. You can register for the workshop HERE.
Dillard has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., and a Master of Exhibition Design from the Corcoran College of Art & Design in her native Washington, D.C. She began her museum career and gained new perspectives by working in large museums, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, before transplanting to the South to work for some of Albany’s finest cultural institutions.
She worked at the Albany Museum of Art from 2015 until the January 2, 2017, storms that devastated the facility and forced it to close for nine months. Dillard then spent four years working in various roles at the Flint RiverQuarium and, later, the Artesian Alliance before returning in August 2021 to the AMA as the director of curatorial affairs.
AMA EXHIBITIONS
- Land That I Love, works by Ashley Cecil, is in the Haley Gallery Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
- Familias, works by Ramiro Davaro-Comas, is in the East and Hodges Galleries Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
- Southern Visionaries: Self-Taught Artists From the AMA Permanent Collection is in the McCormack Gallery Sept 7, 2023-Jan 6, 2024.
- Escape Plan, installation by Elinor Saragoussi, is in the West Gallery.
AMA EVENTS
- The HeART of Albany Festival is 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, Nov 4, 2023, at the Albany Museum of Art. Admission is free for everyone.
ABOUT THE ALBANY MUSEUM OF ART
The Albany Museum of Art is located at 311 Meadowlark Drive in Albany, Ga., adjacent to Albany State University West Campus just off Gillionville Road. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Albany Museum of Art is open to the public 10 am-5 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
For more information about the AMA please visit our website, www.albanymuseum.com, or call 229.439.8400. Be sure to follow the Albany Museum of Art on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
