Each time one of the art history faculty teaches the Curating an Exhibit course it is a little different. We draw on our professional connections and expertise to make it memorable and rewarding for the students. This year, the class under the guidance of Dr. Robert DeCaroli hosted as their final project a student-curated exhibition titled Loving Krishna: Four Centuries of Indian Painting.
The class was fortunate to partner with the National Museum of Asian Art for this exhibition through the generosity of the Curator for South and Southeast Asian Art, Dr. Debra Diamond. The students researched paintings from India and met with museum staff - including curators, designers, and conservators. These painted miniatures and manuscript pages are products of the Rajput and Pahari Courts and date from 1500-1800. Collectively the students created both an online exhibit for these paintings and a physical exhibit in Fenwick Library using scale photos of the paintings. They designed all the museum-related materials necessary for their display - labels, wall texts, catalog entries, educational programming, and gallery talks. The library installation received a great deal of support from Research Librarian Stephanie Grimm (who is also a George Mason Art History MA student).
Dr. DeCaroli noted that "It has been a joy watching the students feel connected to their paintings. That enthusiasm provides motivation for excellent research into the history and meaning of the artwork. I have also been impressed with the class's professionalism and collaborative spirit. Exhibitions are group efforts and good communication skills are vital to a successful project. This class has been exemplary in that regard."
Loving Krishna was on view in Fenwick Library from November 22, 2024 through February 15, 2025. The online exhibition can be viewed at this link: https://lovingkrishna.com/loving-krishna.
Dr. DeCaroli and students in front of the Loving Krishna exhibit
Dr. Debra Diamond and students at the National Museum of Asian Art
May 28, 2025