A Photo Teacher |

© Paul Turounet, view of Estamos Buscando A – We’re Looking For exhibition in Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Galleries, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, 2006

The photography exhibition, whether in a gallery or museum setting, provides an audience the opportunity to experience a photographer’s work as it was conceptualized and conceived. The physical space is activated by the presence and scale of photographs on the wall. Within the gallery setting, the viewer experiences the completed vision of the photographer’s intentions and efforts – the finished photographic image. The work is considered in relationship to its physicality of scale, whether it be large or small or a combination of sizes. However, because it is viewed in a public space within the context of strangers, the sensation of intimacy with the work can become diminished compared to say a photography book.

The Fraenkel Gallery website is a tremendous resource for viewing how they’ve conceived and hung exhibitions.

In creating a space for an exhibition, it is necessary to take into account various considerations as part of the preparation process. This includes the following:

• Number of images to be shown.
• Presentation strategies being utilized (framed works with or without matting, floating mounted works including UV lamination, Plexiglas (Acrylite), and Diasec facing with aluminum, dibond, Sintra, Masonite or Foam core backing, and backlit transparency). For more information, the Laumont Studio website provides an excellent overview on the various presentation strategies.
• Overall physical dimensions and layout of exhibition space, including running length of wall feet available for the installation, wall height and the layout of walls within the space.
• Sequencing and overall structure of work in exhibition.
• Wall backing considerations to determine how work is secured to wall.
• Lighting considerations – number and type of lights available.
• Design considerations, including wall and exhibition color schemes, type of flooring, and use of text pieces and exhibition materials that may require the use of display cases, floating/movable walls and/or pedestals.
• Marketing and promotional considerations, including design and production of exhibition announcement card and/or brochure, and exhibition checklist.
• Crating and shipping considerations, including how the work will be packaged, installation instructions, domestic and international shipping considerations.
• Budget, including costs of presentation, marketing and promotional considerations, and crating / shipping / installation considerations.

Once these considerations have been accounted for and incorporated into the planning process, the actual preparation in creating the exhibition and space can begin, including the development of a two-dimensional gallery layout, a three-dimensional, scaled gallery model as well as the design of the exhibition announcement card.

2-D Gallery Layout

2-D Photoshop gallery layout for Estamos Buscando A – We’re Looking For exhibition in Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Galleries, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, 2006. Click on the Adobe Acrobat PDF file to download an enlarged version of gallery layout: Estamos Buscando A Exhibition Gallery Layout.pdf

The 2-D gallery layout provides for an initial starting point in developing and envisioning how work will be exhibited. The layout can be produced a couple of ways and it is important to develop a means of scaling between the layout and the actual dimensions of the space:

• Scaling: 1 inch = 1 foot
• Draw the dimensions of the exhibition space on gridded paper to assist in scaling. Print scale representations of the images / pieces that will be included in the exhibition. Once printed, the representative images can be trimmed out, allowing for movable placement on the gridded paper layout.
• In Photoshop, create a new document with a grid (under View > Show > Grid). Like the gridded paper, it is important to maintain a sense of scaling when creating the document as well as determining the resolution (it will be necessary to insure that the resolution of the document is the same as the images that will be used later in the layout. Using the the Line tool, draw the dimensions of the exhibition space. Proceed to scale images and move each scaled image to the layout as a separate layer. With each image being a separate layer, images can be easily moved and multiple versions of the layout can be saved for future review. In addition, the layout can be saved as a PDF file and emailed for review purposes.

3-D Gallery Model

Once a 2-D gallery layout has been developed, it can function as a working document for building a 3-D scaled gallery model, which will provide for a more refined look at how the exhibition will look in a particular space. In addition, the model functions as a reference point for how the exhibition will be installed, including the height and spacing for each piece to be hung and overall structure of the exhibition.

The model is constructed utilizing the following materials and as with the 2-D layout, it is important to develop a means of scaling between the model and the actual dimensions of the space:

• Scaling: 1 inch = 1 foot
• Balsa Wood (sheets) made by Midwest Products, which can be purchased in San Diego at Blick Art Materials, Artist & Craftsman Supply, Michaels, and Hobby Central. The following dimensions will work depending on scaling considerations: (3/16″, 1/4″ or 3/8″ thick | 2″, 3″, 4″ or 6″ high | 24″ or 36″ length)
• Carpenter’s / Wood glue
• Toothpicks for attaching pieces of wood together when gluing
• Spray paint (neutral color) to paint finished model walls

Announcement Card

Front and back of announcement card (6″ x 11″ postcard printed by Modern Postcard) for Estamos Buscando A – We’re Looking For exhibition in Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Galleries, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, 2006.

The announcement card functions as a marketing tool to promote the exhibition. Typical announcement cards and materials can range in size from 5″ x 7″ and larger to folded brochures and are printed professionally with offset printing presses. It is important to follow postal regulations when creating the design and to include the following information:

• Title of exhibition and name(s) of artist(s)
• Name and address of exhibition location
• Dates exhibition will be on view, including opening and closing dates
• Days and hours the exhibition location is open for viewing
• Exhibition location contact information, including phone number and website
• Dates and times for additional events, including reception and artist talk and lecture presentations

Assignment

The presentation assignment is divided up into two parts – constructing a scaled exhibition space model and an exhibition announcement card.

Part I

Develop an exhibition based on work being produced for the final photographic print portfolio (15  – 20 images) and construct a scaled model based on one the following exhibition space layouts. The model is required to be made of balsa wood, finished with paint and include representations of the photographs to be included in the exhibition. Be sure to take into consideration the scale of each piece and the sequencing structure of how the work would appear on the walls.

The model will be presented during the Final Projects Presentations at the end of the semester.

The scaling for the model is required to be 1 inch = 1 foot

Each of the exhibition space layouts includes detailed information on the following:

• Name of exhibition space
• Running wall feet, working wall height and layout of space
• Days and hours of operation
• Contact information

Surface Gallery Layout (Small) – this layout is suitable for exhibitions of smaller scale work, including 11″ x 14″ and 16″ x 20″ works. Click on the Adobe Acrobat PDF file to download an enlarged scaled version this gallery layout: Surface Gallery Layout (Small).pdf

Surface Gallery Layout (Large) – this layout is suitable for exhibitions of larger scale work, including 20″ x 24″ and 30″ x 40″ works. Click on the Adobe Acrobat PDF file to download an enlarged scaled version this gallery layout: Surface Gallery Layout (Large).pdf

Part II

Utilizing templates from the Modern Postcard website, design and print-out the front and backsides of an announcement card for the exhibition and include all pertinent information as described above when designing an announcement card.

The exhibition dates are: May 8, 2009 – June 7, 2009

The reception for the artist will be on: Friday, May 8, 2009 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Requirements

For the critique and evaluation, please complete the following:

• Scaled exhibition model of an assigned exhibition space with a minimum of 20 representative images from the final print portfolio sequenced and attached to model walls.
• Exhibition checklist (numbered to corresponding exhibition sequence), including the title of work, date created, medium, dimension (height x width in inches).
• Print(s) of the front and backside of an announcement card based on templates from Modern Postcard.

The exhibition space model and announcement card will be presented along with the final print portfolio at the end of the semester.

Click on the Adobe Acrobat PDF file to download: Creating A Space Assignment.pdf