ARTH1104 Art of the U.S. (Gillaspie)
MUSEUM EXHIBIT PAPER GUIDELINES
Outline DUE: April 26th by 2:30pm on Blackboard (Turnitin)
Paper DUE: May 17th by 2:30pm on Blackboard (Turnitin)
TASK:
• Students will conceive of a thematic gallery display consisting of 5 artworks of their choice
selected from at least 2 different units of our course content.
• Students will write an introductory text (approx. 2 paragraphs) that explains the thematic
concept of the gallery.
• They will then write brief didactic (wall label style) text for each of the 5 artworks selected that
will relate each artwork to the overarching theme of the gallery display. (1 paragraph per
artwork)
• Information should be drawn from class content, American Encounters (textbook), and
Smarthistory Seeing America or other reading assignments.
PURPOSE:
Students will use what they have learned about themes in United States art history, individual
artworks, and critiques of museum exhibitions to propose their own exhibition gallery display
concept. This paper will allow students to think critically about how museum’s display artworks
and what message or argument may be conveyed in a gallery.
FORMAT:
• Approximately 1000 words in total (approx. 3.5 double-spaced pages)
• Typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced
• 1-inch margins on all sides.
STRUCTURE:
I. Come up with a title for your gallery exhibit
• It can be clever, creative, informative, descriptive… Whatever you think suits your point
of view and the exhibit theme you have chosen.
II. Introductory text and thesis statement (approx. 300-350 words / 2-3 paragraphs)
• Your introductory text should clearly and persuasively introduce the “viewer” of your
exhibit to the main point or theme of your gallery display. You should have a specific
point of view or purpose for selecting each of the 5 artworks to address this theme, so let
the viewer know what this point of view / argument / thesis statement is.
• Why is this gallery theme particularly relevant to the study of art of the United States?
• What is the time period that is covered by artworks in your display and how does the
theme emerge in artworks over the course of that time period?
1
MUSEUM EXHIBIT PAPER GUIDELINES
Outline DUE: April 26th by 2:30pm on Blackboard (Turnitin)
Paper DUE: May 17th by 2:30pm on Blackboard (Turnitin)
TASK:
• Students will conceive of a thematic gallery display consisting of 5 artworks of their choice
selected from at least 2 different units of our course content.
• Students will write an introductory text (approx. 2 paragraphs) that explains the thematic
concept of the gallery.
• They will then write brief didactic (wall label style) text for each of the 5 artworks selected that
will relate each artwork to the overarching theme of the gallery display. (1 paragraph per
artwork)
• Information should be drawn from class content, American Encounters (textbook), and
Smarthistory Seeing America or other reading assignments.
PURPOSE:
Students will use what they have learned about themes in United States art history, individual
artworks, and critiques of museum exhibitions to propose their own exhibition gallery display
concept. This paper will allow students to think critically about how museum’s display artworks
and what message or argument may be conveyed in a gallery.
FORMAT:
• Approximately 1000 words in total (approx. 3.5 double-spaced pages)
• Typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced
• 1-inch margins on all sides.
STRUCTURE:
I. Come up with a title for your gallery exhibit
• It can be clever, creative, informative, descriptive… Whatever you think suits your point
of view and the exhibit theme you have chosen.
II. Introductory text and thesis statement (approx. 300-350 words / 2-3 paragraphs)
• Your introductory text should clearly and persuasively introduce the “viewer” of your
exhibit to the main point or theme of your gallery display. You should have a specific
point of view or purpose for selecting each of the 5 artworks to address this theme, so let
the viewer know what this point of view / argument / thesis statement is.
• Why is this gallery theme particularly relevant to the study of art of the United States?
• What is the time period that is covered by artworks in your display and how does the
theme emerge in artworks over the course of that time period?
1
