MHCAM Blog

Welcome to mhcameo, the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum blog. Here we post about unique happenings, including behind-the-scenes looks at our exhibitions, close examinations of objects from the collection, and art-related chats with alumnae, faculty, and students. Sign-up below for blog alerts and take a regular peek at mhcameo!

  • Uncategorized

    People Will Know Our Names

    Relatively little is known about individual early 20th-century Navajo weavers and the creative and economic choices they made with their work. While the maker of MHCAM’s weaving with Yei figures remains unidentified, Lynda Teller Pete, a fifth-generation weaver from the Newcomb and Two Grey Hills areas of the Navajo Nation, shares her perspective on its origins, and the Navajo weaving tradition. 

  • Teaching with Art

    Art on the Brain: A Conversation with Professor Sue Barry

    This fall, Mount Holyoke Professor of Biological Sciences Sue Barry taught her groundbreaking course “Art, Music, and the Brain” in the Museum for the last time before her retirement from teaching. Her students—along with the entire MHCAM staff—will miss having an art-savvy neurobiologist in our midst. 

  • From the Director

    Oh Miami!

    Florence Finch Abbott Director John Stomberg describes his recent visit to Art Basel Miami Beach with members of MHCAM’s Friends of Art. John traveled to balmy Miami and first explored the fair on his own, making note of interesting and eye-catching artworks. He then lead the group—made up of more than 30 Mount Holyoke alumnae and Museum donors—on a two-day expedition through the hundreds of gallery booths, collections, and exhibitions that comprise this annual, art-world extravaganza, stopping along the way for illuminating discussions about his favorite discoveries.

  • Multimedia

    Thinking Through Images

    Video recording of artist Mel Bochner in conversation with Thomas E. Wartenberg, Professor of Philosophy

     

  • Multimedia

    From the Beginning

    Video recording of a lecture by artist Judy Pfaff

     

  • Objects of Our Affection

    Emily Dickinson's White Dress, The Homestead, 1989

    Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquerella has provided the first post for the mhcameo column Objects of Our Affection, a series of personal reflections about works of art in the MHCAM collection. Here, President Pasquerella meditates over a photograph by Jerome Liebling (American, 1924-2011) of poet and Mount Holyoke alumna Emily Dickinson’s ethereal white dress.

  • Storage Segments

    Installing Wallabout

    In this first post for the mhcameo blog column Storage Segments, which covers fascinating behind-the-scenes and collections management topics, Museum Preparator Jacqueline Finnegan describes the challenging but rewarding process of installing Judy Pfaff’s Wallabout for the exhibition betwixt: Judy Pfaff 1985/92.

  • Uncategorized

    Beautiful Cacophonies

    Professor Jim Coleman describes a recent student dance performance at the Museum inspired by the artworks of Judy Pfaff. Three art majors, three experienced dance improvisers, and 20 beginning dance students participated in the performance. 

  • From the Director

    Working with Artists

    John Stomberg reflects on the enriching, educational experience of working with artists, specifically on the Museum’s current roster of exhibitions.