This activity was designed to encourage visitors to interact with one another and be more present in the space. Located at the entrance of the exhibition, visitors were invited to take a small card with a detail of Jordan Casteel’s work on one side and a prompt on the other. Prompts included: ask someone a question, make eye contact with someone and smile, take a second look and see something new, say hello to someone you don’t know, and be present and listen. The hope was that these prompts would activate the gallery, but could be applied outside of the gallery as well. We loved the idea of someone finding one of these cards in their wallet or purse later on and reflecting on it.
“The question for me is, what does it mean to be a part of a community? What does it mean to really open myself up, to be vulnerable enough to stop and say hello?”
The Artist’s Voice
“Being an empathetic observer in the world will always be valuable, whatever your practice may be.”
Jordan Casteel’s voice was embedded into the gallery through a short 3 minute video, but also through quotes. This particular quote quickly became the favorite among visitors and was shared widely through social media platforms like Instagram.
Sitter narratives
It was also important that visitors heard from a few of the sitters as well. Three individuals shared how they first met Jordan and what it meant to have her paint their portrait. These were located on a blue label next to their painting.
Jordan Casteel, Marcus and Jace, 2015. Oil on canvas; 72 x 54 in. Adam Green Art Advisory on behalf of a private collection. Image courtesy of Sargent's Daughters, New York © Jordan Casteel.
What students had to say:
For this exhibition, we developed a new in-gallery experience for students. During these 75-minute workshops, a facilitator engaged students in conversations around identity and visibility, then coached them through self-directed activities. At the end of their visit, each student was asked to write a letter to a future student. These were passed on to other students visiting the exhibition and helped serve as an evaluative tool. The letter was inspired by the Rubin Art Museum.
What Visitors had to say on instagram:
Institution: Denver Art Museum | Design: McGinty Co.