This summer the Bowdoin College Museum of Art (BCMA) offered an educational opportunity for two Bowdoin students to become engaged in museum work from the other side of the velvet ropes.
Juniors Molly Clements and Max Brandstadt served as student educational assistants and assisted Curator Joachim Homann in preparing the exhibition, "Along the Yangzi River: Regional Culture of the Bronze Age from Hunan."
The show, which is running from September 1 to January 8, features artifacts from the Chinese Bronze Age, many of which come from 2000 to 221 B.C.E.
"This gave the students the opportunity to understand how a museum works on the inside," said Homann. "The students [had] access to the museum behind the scenes."
Brandstadt and Clements were involved in a variety of tasks at the museum. One task was to immerse themselves in research to create a timeline of each individual artifact and formed a presentation for it.
"Working at the museum this summer was an invaluable experience," said Clements. "It was so fun for me to research some of my favorite pieces in the museum."
In addition, Homann took Brandstadt and Clements to New York City to visit the Chinese exhibit first-hand at the China Institute and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Homann reflected on the experience as a great opportunity to see how the BCMA has a place in the network of the world's museums.
While only a select number of students are able to work at the museum during the summer, there are other opportunities to become involved with the collection during the school year. Homann said the museum wants to "integrate students as much as possible."
The Student Museum Advocacy Cooperative (SMAC), led by Elizabeth Tarr '12, supports the BCMA by creating events and tours and by inviting classes to the museum.
Joining SMAC or becoming a student educational assistant like Brandstadt and Clements are just a few ways to become involved with the museum.
Homann said that the BCMA wants to make opportunities that "allow students to be a part of museum work." The museum is in the process of opening positions for curatorial assistants this year.
Homann, who said he has had many positive experiences working with Bowdoin students, believes the students' perspective enhanced the Yangzi River show for the better.
The student assistants helped with the technical aspects of the exhibition's cell phone tour. The tour consists of text messages that are sent to visitors' cell phones, providing descriptions of each piece
The tour contains audio featuring the narration of Director of Safety and Security Randy Nichols. Homann marveled at the creativity of the students to obtain such a beloved College employee as Nichols for the narrator.
"It is so amazing," said Homann of the tour. "You can't tear yourself away."
In describing who makes a good assistant, Homann said that he looks for a student who "understands procedures and planning and constantly adjusts to demands."
Other attributes of an effective assistant include people skills. These are important, because of the interaction with visitors.
Homann emphasized the fact that assistants at the museum work with faculty, students and the Maine public. IN addition, students have the opportunity to interact with the national and international public due to the BCMA's reputation.
A successful summer leaves Homann anticipating working with more Bowdoin students in the future, adding that the museum "wants to build on working with students with energy and ambition."