SCMAinsider
SCMAinsider offers dynamic perspectives on the diverse collections and visions that shape the
Smith College Museum of Art.
We welcome contributions from all members of our community and seek to cultivate a range of
voices and experiences. If you want to contribute to the blog, please contact us at scmacuratorial@smith.edu.
Welcome to the People's Pop-Up!
Spring Cleaning: A Student's Look Into The Cunningham Center's Renovation
Meredith Diamond '23 is a computer science major and Cunningham Center Assistant. Join her as she reminisces over her museum experience through the lens of the renovations.
As the Cunningham Center prepares for renovations this summer, my coworkers and I have been clearing shelves, cleaning closets, and ensuring everything is accounted for. In my excitement for the new and improved space we’ll have, I forgot the most important part: the collection is going into storage.
Interactive Art: Engaging Children in Museums
In this blog post, recently graduated Smith student Kandy Wan ‘22, talks about her museum education capstone project (MUX) in which she playfully engages children with art through interactive digital activities.
Local Teachers Tour Maya Lin's Mappings Exhibition
Local teachers from the Mill River educator network gathered at the museum in March for a curator's walkthrough of the Maya Lin: Mappings exhibition. The event was organized by Gina Hall, Educator for School and Family Programs and Carol Berner, Lecturer, Department of Education and Child Study.
What Belongs in a Museum?
Meredith Diamond '23 is a computer science major and Cunningham Center Assistant. Join her as she talks about a surprising series in the SCMA Collection.
What Does It Mean for a Painting To Be "Mughal?"
In this blog post, Shreya Dwibedy ‘22, discusses questions raised by museum database categorization. During her year-long internship with SCMA’s Jane Chace Carroll Curator of Asian Art, Yao Wu, Shreya has been working on the planning of an upcoming Indian and Iranian painting exhibition.
One Day This Kid Will Attend The Met Gala: David Wojnarowicz and the Fashion World
Grace Ettinger '22 examines how celebrities and the fashion world interact with queer art. She is currently a Student Assistant at the Cunningham Center for Works on Paper within the SCMA.
Reclaiming Language with Marlene McCarty’s Perfect MX Girlfriends (Won’t Smell When Abused)
In this post, Brooklyn Quallen '25 discusses a painting from Marlene McCarty's Crash and Burn series. Brooklyn is a STRIDE scholar currently working with Emma Chubb, Charlotte Feng Ford ’83 Curator of Contemporary Art.
“WON’T SMELL WHEN ABUSED.” “IF IT’S GOT TITS OR WHEELS IT’S GONNA GIVE YOU PROBLEMS.” “BEND OVER, I’LL DRIVE.”
Stack Town and the Floating Files: A Comic Adventure Through Storage
Ariella Heise '22 shares her experience at the Cunningham Center inspired by the artwork of Trenton Doyle Hancock.
A Brief History of Mohan Samant's "Three Queens"
In this post, Brooklyn Quallen '25 discusses her research of Mohan Samant's Three Queens. Brooklyn is a STRIDE scholar currently working with Emma Chubb, Charlotte Feng Ford ’83 Curator of Contemporary Art.
Ghosts in the Streets: Whistler and Photography
Amanda Shubert was the 2010-2012 Brown Post-Baccalaureate Curatorial Fellow at SCMA. This article was originally published in the summer of 2012.
A New Perspective: Visiting the SCMA Through my Parents' Eyes
Meredith Diamond '23, a computer science major and Cunningham Center student assistant, explores her experience of visiting the SCMA with her parents. She meditates on her own experience with two specific paintings her parents enjoyed.
A J-term Class about Painted Wood
In a recent J-term course inspired by a forthcoming exhibition at SCMA, Smith students learned about historic painted wood sculpture and tried their hand at painting on wood using traditional materials and techniques. Danielle Carrabino, curator of painting and sculpture, shares her experience teaching this class.