At the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, exhibitions are often shaped by individual disciplines such as art, history, or science. But Pieces of the Past: America at 250 Years is something different. This upcoming exhibition represents a true collaboration, bringing together voices, perspectives, and expertise from across the Museum to explore 250 years of American history in a new and meaningful way.
As the Museum prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibition reflects not only on the past, but also on the process of coming together to tell that story.
For Curatorial Assistant, Savannah Summerfield, the experience was both meaningful and memorable:
“As the Curatorial Assistant, I have the honor to work alongside members of the curatorial team to create exhibits. During the formation of Pieces of the Past: America at 250 Years, I witnessed the curatorial team work together to showcase the art, history and science of the United States. Each team member, Chey, Jaigan, Kaman, Karen, and Tom, balanced each other's passions, creative outlooks, and skills to create an exhibit that examines the nation and Evansville's impact within. This collaborative process reminded me of the many individuals who, over the past 250 years, have shaped the nation by bringing forward ideas to pursue a better society. Working with this team has been an experience that I will never forget. As we prepare for the momentous event of the 250th anniversary, where 56 individuals signed the Declaration of Independence, I hope that visitors not only see historical figures, events, artists, and scientists, but also feel a connection through time. But it is my greatest hope that we remember that what we do today impacts the future. As Americans, we have the responsibility to continue the ideals penned down 250 years ago and continually fight for the “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” for all Americans, regardless of one's creed, race, gender, or cultural background. (U.S. 1776)”
That sense of collaboration and of bringing together different perspectives to create something greater, was echoed throughout the curatorial team.
Virginia G. Schroeder Curator of Art, Cheyenne Miller, reflected on the unique challenge of working across disciplines:
“While this exhibition was not my first collaborative curation experience, it was my first foray into co-curating a multidisciplinary exhibition. All of my coworkers do incredible work, but our exhibitions typically look very different from one another. Jaigan and Karen are great at prioritizing interactive experiences that engage multiple senses, whereas Tom, Savanah, and I typically focus primarily on the visual. Karen is also a sort of Jack-of-all-Trades, who edited both our content and grammar to effectively synthesize our individual work into one cohesive whole, without being overwhelmed by the differences in the disciplines. Karen and Kaman did a great job of keeping the project organized and on track, despite our tendency to go off on tangents. Due to the scope of the exhibition and the spatial constraints posed by the gallery, we knew we would never be able to encapsulate the whole of the past 250 years. However, we were all able to shape and cull the exhibition around each other to make sure that multiple aspects of every discipline were well-represented. As someone who truly dreaded group work throughout my entire educational career, I could not have asked for a better crew to tackle this project with!”
Working within the constraints of space and scope, the team had to make thoughtful decisions about what stories to tell knowing that no single exhibition could fully capture 250 years of history. Instead, Pieces of the Past offers a carefully curated glimpse into the people, events, and ideas that have shaped both the nation and the Evansville community.
For The Ruby C. Strickland Curator of Education, Karen Malone, the process was as much about discovery as it was about collaboration:
“I am so excited for the community to see the final exhibition! One thing I loved about putting this all together was learning new stuff about our country. I consider myself decently familiar with art, history, and science concepts, but each of my co-curators repeatedly surprised me with fascinating facts, connections, and stories from their areas of specialty. No matter how much a guest feels they already know, I think they will be delighted to discover something new when they visit the exhibition.
It was a joy collaborating with my colleagues on designing this exhibition. They each come at problems with different perspectives and priorities, and it was fun to build off of each other. This is our first exhibition as a team, and I can’t wait to see what we do together next.”
That sense of discovery extends beyond the curatorial team to future visitors, who will be invited to engage with the exhibition in ways that spark curiosity and connection.
From a broader perspective, Chief Curator, Tom Lonnberg, sees the exhibition as a milestone not only in subject matter, but in the growth of the Museum’s curatorial team:
“It is a pleasure to watch the development of Pieces of the Past, an exhibition commemorating the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, produced by the talented young members of the Evansville Museum’s curatorial team. Their many hours of dedicated work on this ambitious project—spanning over 250 years of history—demonstrate both their commitment and skill. Their efforts make it clear that the Evansville Museum is in excellent hands as it continues to present thoughtful art, history, and science exhibits and engaging educational programs. I look forward to the public experiencing what they have created.”
The collaborative nature of the exhibition also prompted reflection on the themes within American history itself. For Director of Science Experiences, Jaigan Allport, the exhibition offered a new perspective on shared experiences and differing viewpoints:
“Working together on a collaborative exhibition like this one has been eye-opening for me. Immersing yourself in the history of our country reminds you that, even though we all see things differently, we still have so much in common. This exhibition taught me that even perseverance itself can be seen as a positive or negative thing. To some, perseverance has a positive connotation since it involves overcoming adversity, but to others, perseverance has a negative connotation because adversity is present.”
Ultimately, Pieces of the Past: America at 250 Years is more than an exhibition. It is a conversation across disciplines, across generations, and across time. It asks visitors not only to reflect on the past, but also to consider their place in shaping the future.
We invite you to experience the result of this remarkable collaboration for yourself. Join us later this June as Pieces of the Past: America at 250 Years opens to the public and discover the stories, perspectives, and ideas that continue to shape our nation.
