The Hunter Museum of American Art is the recipient of a 2020 Southeastern Museums Conference Silver Award for Exhibitions for its fall 2019 exhibition, “Noel W. Anderson: Blak Origin Moment” and Silver Awards for both gallery installations and campaigns in the technology category.
The SEMC competition recognizes excellence in the use of technology within southeastern museums and celebrates the accomplishments of their work.
“The Hunter has worked hard to better engage our diverse audiences through exhibitions and interactive opportunities that reflect a broad range of backgrounds and experiences,” says Virginia Anne Sharber, Hunter Museum executive director. “We’re honored to receive these awards, and are grateful that SEMC recognized our efforts.”
“Blak Origin Moment” featured distorted paintings and tapestries exploring the evolving makeup of Black male identity. This exhibition was closely tied to issues of racial injustice.
The Gallery Installation Silver Award in the Technology category was presented for a custom-built, interactive screen inspired by Glenn Ligon’s “Untitled (I Am Somebody),” a loan from Art Bridges now on view in the Hunter Mansion. The digital screen, which hangs next to the Ligon work, prompts visitors to reflect on identity and to fill in their own response to “I Am ___.”
As more people participate, their words accumulate and become muddled and illegible, mirroring Ligon’s original artwork.
Additionally, a social media campaign launched last year to engage the community with the same Glenn Ligon loan from Art Bridges was honored with a Campaign Silver Award in the Technology category.
By providing context for the artwork and comparing it to others in the collection, the campaign allowed audiences to learn more about the artist, the meaning of the piece and engage in critical thinking about the subject.
Recipients of the awards were judged by an appointed jury of museum professionals across the region who specialize in digital media and technology.
Source: Hunter Museum