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| Vol. 17, No. 19 | Feb. 12, 1998 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 19 | Feb. 12, 1998 |
Belena Chapp, director of the University Gallery for 12 years, has been appointed director of University museums, which includes the University Gallery and the Mineralogical Museum in Penny Hall.
The appointment reflects the University's "confidence in Chapp's professional expertise and her talent in developing and managing the University's museum collections," Margaret Andersen, interim dean of arts and sciences, said.
"As director of the University Gallery, she has brought new distinction to the institution, both in quality and diversity of exhibits that she has presented. I know that she will continue to enrich the educational opportunities that our collections provide for students, faculty and the surrounding community," Andersen said.
Although the mineralogy museum is science-oriented and the gallery focuses on the visual arts, the procedures for caring for collections, displaying exhibits and the outreach mission of the museums are similar in many ways, Chapp said. "Our staff is small but dedicated, and we can apply the lessons we have learned in the gallery to the mineralogical collection."
Chapp, with 18 years of museum experience, said she is looking forward to the challenge of increasing the use and visibility of the resources of the University. "The University has many important collections to share. My goal is to encourage the University community and the public to become more aware and take advantage of what we can offer. Interacting with the faculty, students and community at large is part of our educational mission at the University," Chapp said.
One of her first tasks, however, is dismantling the mineral collection because of a systems renovation scheduled this summer in the Irénée du Pont Room in Penny Hall which houses the museum. The museum is currently closed while this project is going on.
"Moving and storing the mineral collection is comparable to moving thousands of Fabergé eggs," Chapp commented. "As there are more than 700 fragile and delicate specimens to move, this will be a formidable undertaking."
However, by next fall the museum should be up and running once more. Future plans for the museum include interpretive exhibits to help viewers gain a better understanding of the earth sciences and taking traveling exhibits out into the community.
The University Gallery, which owns more than 6,000 works of art, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. A showcase for the University, it has offered a variety of exhibitions and cultural and educational programs for different audiences, from school children to art aficionados.
For example, the current exhibition of photographs by African- American photographer P.H. Polk has attracted new viewers to the gallery and inquiries from other museums, which are interested in showing it, Chapp said.
M.I.M. (Museum in Motion), the "time machine" used at school presentations on art, also has been successful. "Kids are so interested in the past and history, and when you let them handle an Egyptian object made centuries ago, it's very exciting for them. It makes learning come alive," she said.
During this anniversary year, creating closer ties with the many supporters of the gallery by establishing a friends group is being planned.
Upcoming University Gallery exhibitions include a collection of propaganda art from the Spanish Civil War and early tintypes in decorative frames, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and drawings of the dancer Isadora Duncan, by Abraham Walkowitz.
The University museums are an extraordinary resource for teaching students, for training students in museum standards and practices, for educating school children and the community and for sheer enjoyment and appreciation, Chapp said.
-Sue Swyers Moncure
