Museum Professions Graduate Collabo

Emily Rainbolt

In collaboration with her internship at the Morris Museum, Emily Rainbolt will be participating in a new exhibit focusing on the sculpture works of Jack Rosenfarb in spring 2023. A current graduate student in the M.A. in Museum Profession program, Rainbolt has had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with the collections at the institution since August 2022. Her first assignment at the Morris Museum, A Contemporary Spin/Guinness Collection, involved the collaborative work with other Museum Professions graduate students in a reinterpretation of the Guinness Collection through the perspectives of personal identity, music, technology and memory. The upcoming exhibition, Counter-Balance: Order and Disorder in 3 Dimensions, highlights the whimsical and disordered aspects of Rosenfarb’s work, drawing from his background in engineering.

"I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity to work with the Morris Museum," said Rainbolt when asked about her experience. "Everyone has been incredibly kind, and I have learned a lot about art handling and curation in a hands-on environment, which is invaluable. I have been invited back as a Collections intern next semester and am very excited to continue this experience."

The Morris Museum offers an extensive array of experiential learning for a diverse crowd of all ages and backgrounds. One impression Rainbolt hopes audiences take away from this exhibit is a revitalized perspective of art as fun and out of the ordinary. Although much of Rainbolt's background is based in art history with a focus on collections management, much of her work at the Morris Museum has been within the realm of curatorial practice.

"The opportunity to co-curate an exhibition is thrilling, and a lot of work," said Rainbolt, who described her time at the Morris Museum as informative and educational. "We have worked to build the show into something visitors of all ages can enjoy. Everything — from the pieces selected to the lighting and paint colors in the gallery — must be considered and adjusted to create a cohesive narrative and an enjoyable, educational experience."

Rainbolt connected with the Morris Museum through her exhibition class, recognizing the opportunity for the skills learned within the course to intersect with projects at the museum. She further highlighted Seton Hall University’s partnership with the Morris Museum, noting how the Museum allows for students of the program to "explore real-world examples of career principles" through the guidance of their staff while also becoming more acquainted with independent work. Rainbolt reflected on her internship as an experience that allows her to get involved with a wide range of tasks within the field from exhibition design to curatorial practice and becoming familiarized with the varied functions within the museum field.

The Communication, with the opportunity to pursue specialty areas of study, including options in Public Relations, Digital Communication/Communication Technologies, and Communication in Organizations. In addition, four dual-degree options, including three accelerated M.A./B.A. programs and a dual M.B.A./M.A. degree with the School of Diplomacy and International Relation are offered.

For more information about Graduate Studies within the College of Communication and the Arts, please contact Dr. Ryan Hudes.

Categories: Arts and Culture