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Hayes acting assistant curator of Jones Collection
To better utilize the Paul R. Jones Collection of African American Art at UD as an educational resource for Spelman and UD students, the University of Delaware/Spelman College Partnership Committee, which was formed in 2001, has agreed to create a joint faculty institute. The Partnership Committee was formed in 2001 to help create educational opportunities for students and faculty from both institutions through collaborative efforts and programs, the partnership growing from the gift by businessman Paul R. Jones of Atlanta of his extensive collection of African American art to the University of Delaware. Originally from Orlando, Fla., Hayes recently graduated from Howard University with a master’s degree in art history and has held positions as an archive and photographic librarian in the Art and Architecture Program at the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C.; as an intern at both the Library of Congress and the National Gallery of Art; and as a moderator at the James A. Porter Colloquium at Howard University. Hayes’ duties at UD will include promoting programming in connection with the Paul R. Jones Collection, coordinating and moderating lectures with guest artists and historians, creating program materials for tour groups and researching artists for the fall 2007 exhibition. “It has been made clear that programming is very important at the University, so I am working on bringing a group here in the spring from the Yale Black Alumni Association, as well as a group from the Washington, D.C., chapter of ArtTable Inc. [a national organization of women in the arts],” Hayes said. Inspired to stay connected to her recent alma mater and strengthen what she perceives to be a traditionally weak link between art historians and practicing artists, Hayes also said she has plans to establish a program that would bring members from both groups together for tours and dialog sessions. “As members of the art world, both groups need each other,” Hayes said. “Fine artists need art historians to write about their work, and art historians need something to write about, so I’d like to create a program that could generate dialog between the two groups at the student level. Master of arts candidates and master of fine arts candidates could come up together and then, at the end of the tour, dialog could be generated.” Hayes said that a particularly enjoyable aspect of her position is the support and enthusiasm she gets from colleagues. “I’m staying in touch with Amalia, and everyone I speak with at the University is very open to programming ideas,” she said. “Right now, I am getting to know the collection, but I have colleagues here already whom I can approach for guidance on ideas.” Hayes, who received her undergraduate degree from Florida International University in 2000, said that this same spirit of openness and enthusiasm is what inspired her to strike up a conversation with Amaki during a visit in 2004 to see the Paul R. Jones Collection. “I did my thesis on Southern iconography in African-American art, looking particularly at the shotgun shacks and conjure woman,” Hayes said. “Several artists in the Paul R. Jones Collection used the shotgun shack image in their work. Amalia and I got to talking and really connected on a research level, and when this position opened up, she let me know about it. “I’ve always wanted to curate and teach, so I’m excited about the opportunity and very pleased to have a chance to work with the Paul R. Jones Collection,” Hayes said. “Paul Jones has made it clear that African-American art shouldn’t be marginalized, and I think it’s great that the University of Delaware is taking that charge seriously.” Article by Becca Hutchinson To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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