In February, Development Intern Brianna Lapwing sat down to interview Harn internship alumna, and current Harn Senior Registrar, Jessica Uelsmann, to learn more about her role at the Harn, as well as how her past internship with the Harn kickstarted her career in art museums. Read more below to learn more about this insightful conversation!
What does a typical day, and typical week, look like being the Senior Registrar?
My general duties are to oversee the functioning of the Registration department and staff, and then also ensure the collection’s preservation and care. So, to manage and process the permanent collection, loans that we have coming into the building, and loans that we have going out of the building. Other registrars in the department more acutely handle some of those projects, but as the supervisor of the department, I have awareness of them and can assist. Much of my day to day is spent communicating and planning, to make the jigsaw puzzle of our activities fit together for the projects we have going on.
What processes exist to take care of the collection and preserve the quality of each piece?
There are many processes and considerations when caring for the artwork at the museum. These are based in museum-field recognized best practices and recorded in the Harn’s collections management policy. The registration department is the “first line” in caring for the artwork, but all departments in the museum share in the responsibility. First and foremost, the registration team ensures that the art is handled, stored and displayed safely. Registrars work closely with the building’s Facility Manager to monitor and regulate the climate within the museum, including lighting, to minimize any deterioration that may occur due to environmental factors. We also work closely with the security department to reduce risk to the artwork- and museum visitors- when art is on display, in storage, and even while in transit from one place to another. Those are some of the department’s daily tasks, but there are also seasonal concerns, such as hurricanes, that the museum also has policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety of the collection.
What is your favorite part of this role?
The creative problem solving that occurs when acquiring and storing the museum’s art is complicated and fun, and I love working with my coworkers—we have an excellent team—but the way the registration department really gets to interact with the art probably has to be my favorite part of this role. In Registration, we really are the ones handling the art and taking care of its physical presence. That’s a real sort of honor, and a unique part of this job. I get to look at paintings and objects without the plexiglass and barriers up in the galleries. I’ve had such amazing experiences, like I’ve gotten to hold an ancient Greek vase. To have such an ability to personally interact with the collection is so special.
Do you have a favorite interaction with an art piece here at the Harn?
I think my favorite interaction with a piece here at the Harn is probably with the Monet painting, Champ d’avoine (Oat Field). It’s a real showstopper for the collection. I’ve worked with it for so long during my time here, and it is a real privilege to be able to care for that really special piece. There are some other great pieces here that are really interesting that I’ve been able to work with, like El Anatsui’s Old Man’s Cloth. I love learning about an artwork in a book, and then being able to see it in person and work with it just changes everything.
How did interning at the Harn help develop your career? What knowledge did you gain from that experience that’s been applicable through your career?
My internship here at the Harn was with Curation in Photography. In that role, I conducted a lot of research, did a lot of reading, and engaged in much discussion. On special days, we would come downstairs to look at the photographs, but it was more of an upstairs job, as opposed to being in the basement amongst the art in storage, like in Registration. I completed this internship while I was pursuing a graduate degree at UF in the Museum Studies program. In that program, my project in lieu of thesis was to curate a small show at the Appleton Museum. Through that experience, and with my background as an intern at the Harn, I was employed there as an assistant registrar. There, I realized I didn’t want to be a curator; I fell in love with Registration. I knew from that experience that I wanted to work within an art museum, specifically in Registration. My Harn internship was truly instrumental in providing exposure to the art museum environment and gaining an insider perspective into how it all functions. Prior to that internship, I didn’t realize how collaborative and busy working within an art museum truly is. I learned how the curators work with Registration and Development to acquire art, how Registration is responsible for care and access, how Curation works with Development in funding and donations. I learned that an art museum is a really dynamic place, that it’s actually pretty awesome. My internship with the Harn added to my credibility to land a job within my desired field; that’s big. I truly learned so much during that time.
Click here to learn more about internships and application deadlines. If you are interested in supporting paid internships at the Harn, please consider making a gift of any size to the Expanding Student Possibilities Fund (General Internship Fund) or additional internship funds. Please contact the Development office at development@harn.ufl.edu for more information about supporting paid internships or other ways to give.
