Captured Creatures - an interdisciplinary exhibition seminar

Consider animals through a number of different disciplinary approaches.

Be able to look at and analyze a work of art.

Learn the rudiments of curating an exhibition.

As a group, create an exhibition about animals, using works of art and other sources, that presents animals through different disciplinary lenses.

Prepare and teach a class.

Work together in teams.

Create a written piece of scholarship that can be published.

Be able to "see" like an art historian, a biologist, and an anthropologist.

Read, analyze and discuss material about animals from many disciplinary approaches and apply that material to works of art.

I recommend working with juniors and seniors. They need to be able to bring disciplinary training to the course so that there are viable differences in the discussion. I asked each of them to take a topic and teach it from their subject area. They also need to be able to engage with unfamiliar material and move quickly, since there are a wide range of tasks required to curate an exhibition in one semester. And their writing needs to be proficient enough that they can write for publication in a catalog.

While I did not require any background in art or art history, it would have been helpful for some of the students. Instead, I wanted a range of backgrounds (history, biology, anthropology, art) at the table. Strong speaking and writing abilities were important, along with a willingness to conduct research in what was for some an unfamiliar discipline.

As often as possible, hold class sessions with the works of art or objects. The students' understanding of the works will deepen as they look, and look again, and hear their peers' insights.

Introduce the idea of careful looking and analysis of a visual object early in the class, particularly if not all students have had art or art history classes.

Provide opportunities for writing about art, and give guidance on how to use art as evidence.

Bring in outside experts from other disciplines to enhance the interdisciplinarity.

Draw on the students' expertise.

Books assigned for this class included a text on exhibition design, which is typically the most difficult part of curating for students.

Plan to present the exhibition in the following semester to provide time to matte and frame works of art, finalize the catalog, collect works from other campus collections, organize programming. Some students may stay involved while others will be unable (or unwilling) to put in more time. Encourage their participation in the exhibition installation and in programming if possible.