Maine School of Artwork & Design hires new exhibitions director

Iris Williamson, director of exhibitions on the Maine School of Artwork & Design’s Institute for Up to date Artwork. Picture by Mitzi Davis

Iris Williamson doesn’t begin her new job on the Maine School of Artwork & Design till Feb. 6, however she’s already enthusiastic about methods to attach with college students and the higher arts neighborhood.

“I’m a community-driven curator, so the very first thing I would like is to study sense of place,” Williamson mentioned in an interview final week. “What’s great about this college is the power that’s already there. I get the prospect to work and collaborate with people who find themselves so inspirational and with artists who’re wonderful.”

Williamson was chosen in a nationwide seek for the director of exhibitions on the Portland college’s Institute for Up to date Artwork, which hosts 5 exhibitions every year, in addition to different public occasions and artist talks. She succeeds Julie Poitras Santos, who moved right into a full-time instructing place at MECA&D.

“We had been honored to have so many great folks apply. I feel that speaks to the historical past of the (institute) as a spot of creativity, innovation and collaboration and to Portland generally as a lovely place to reside,” mentioned Ian Anderson, dean and vp of educational affairs on the faculty. “What stood out about Iris is that she’s extremely artistic, diplomatic, brilliant. She’s each a instructor and a curator and has proven a willingness to attempt issues and create her personal forms of exhibits.”

Williamson involves Maine from the New Concord Gallery of Up to date Artwork on the College of Southern Indiana however has held positions in Portland, Oregon, as effectively, the place she earned her grasp’s diploma at Pacific Northwest School of Artwork.

The president of that college on the time, Don Tuski, was beforehand the top of MECA&D.

The Maine School of Artwork & Design in Portland. Brianna Soukup/Employees Photographer

The varsity, positioned on Congress Avenue within the coronary heart of downtown Portland, serves greater than 400 college students every year and its historical past dates to the late nineteenth century. It’s one in every of 42 personal, nonprofit skilled artwork schools within the nation and awards bachelor’s levels in 11 studio majors and likewise provides grasp’s in effective arts and grasp’s in instructing packages.

The Institute for Up to date Artwork serves as each a gallery for residing artists and a type of studying laboratory for college students.

“We do all the pieces from quick exhibits to longer nationwide exhibitions which are interwoven into our curriculum,” Anderson mentioned.

Williamson mentioned MECA&D and Portland at massive each have reputations within the artwork world that stretch past Maine.

“I began as an artist, so I really like artwork and artists,” she mentioned. “Having the ability to assist them stretch creatively and take into consideration what they want subsequent of their profession is essential.”

MECA&D has continued to increase its choices during the last decade, together with in 2016 by integrating the beforehand unbiased Salt Institute for Documentary Research.

Early subsequent month, the varsity will open 49 Oak, a brand new, street-level house for college students and alumni to exhibit work and maintain public-facing occasions simply across the nook from the varsity’s foremost constructing on Congress Avenue.

The 470-square foot gallery house is supposed to provide college students a possibility to curate, set up, promote, doc, promote and workers exhibitions.

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