Museum to host Feb. 16 label writing workshop for new ‘Object Lab’ series

Members of the Auburn Family and museum enthusiasts are invited to join Assistant Professor of History Elijah Gaddis at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art from Noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16, to learn how to write about objects on display.

“What Does a Quilt Mean? – Writing About Objects” focuses on the interpretation of Catherine Somerville’s “Log Cabin quilt,” which is on loan from the Montgomery Museum of Arts. A primer is available on The Jule Museum Podcast.

Participants will think about the quilt’s composition and history before being guided in writing their own, short interpretations. All interpretations will be posted alongside the quilt as part of “Object Lab.” Object Lab is a new gallery-classroom initiative to develop multi-disciplinary inquiry and encourage people to think differently about Auburn’s collection of more than 2,500 objects.

Museum staff selected works for the winter/spring semester along with Gaddis, who studies the spatial, material and cultural histories of the 19th- and 20th-century South. Faculty and students interested in using the collection for research or instruction may contact Chris Molinski, director of education, engagement and learning, at chris.molinski@auburn.edu.

Submitted by: Charlotte Hendrix