Czarshaw Accepted to Johns Hopkins

It was a chance visit to a special exhibition at the Field Museum in Chicago in 2005 that changed the course of my life. The Field Museum was hosting Pompeii: Stories from an Eruption telling the tale of the Roman city’s final hours before being covered by a thick layer of volcanic ash. The well-preserved artifacts recovered from Pompeii, including bright frescoes, polished jewelry and somber body casts, illustrate how a once thriving city was destroyed and recovered. I was in awe at the fact that these precious artifacts could stand the test of time, and captivated by the fact that people 2000 years ago lived so similarly to people today. The exhibition inspired me to understand how major exhibitions like Pompeii were produced and toured, and I set out on a journey to explore roles in museums and be a part of something as amazing as what I had experienced.

My museum career spans almost 8 years now and I have been fortunate to meet a lot of amazing people on this journey. From the Museum Program Specialist group at the Indiana State Museum, to my rockstar staff at Cincinnati Museum Center, I have appreciated everyone’s support as I worked through professional, personal and educational challenges. With that said, I am happy to announce the next step of my professional career.

I have been accepted to the Johns Hopkins Master of Arts in Museum Studies Program and will be starting classes this fall. I am extremely excited about this opportunity, and am looking forward to interacting with a variety of people at different stages in their careers. While I have enjoyed much success thus far in my museum career, I enthusiastically welcome this next phase of my life in personal and professional growth. I would like to thank Johns Hopkins University, the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Advanced Academic Programs, and Ann and Claire for their amazing recommendations.

Click here for more information about the program!

Have a message of support? Leave a comment or email me directly at mharsha1@jhu.edu!

 

Gold: The Exhibition – The Field Museum – Chicago, Illinois

Gold banner at Field Museum

So, from time to time I revisit an exhibition that I have seen or have gotten to work with myself. In this instance, I was privileged enough to visit my former special exhibit over this past spring Gold: The Exhibition on display at The Field Museum, at Chicago, Illinois beautiful museum campus. Gold: The Exhibition was developed by the American Museum of Natural History in New York, New York, and is nearing the end of its tour.

As I mentioned when I wrote about Gold in Cincinnati, one of the unique design challenges of Union Terminal are the hallways that separate the front 5000 square foot exhibit hall from the back 10000 square foot exhibit hall. We get to create exhibitry in those hallways that prepare the visitor for what they are about to see with artifacts and content relevant to the main exhibition. This was not the case in Chicago. The exhibition space only houses the exhibit proper and there is no need for additional complimentary items.

Entrance to Gold

Seeing the usual suspects like the Seahorse Nugget in Aurum Naturae, the gold room in the Incomparable Gold gallery, and the Eureka bar from the wreck of the SS Central America on September 12, 1857 was like visiting old acquaintances on the road. There were a few new items in the Golden Ages gallery where the ladies can find plenty of things to add to their Christmas wish lists courtesy Cartier and Tiffany’s. If you are into coins, then look no further than the Gold Standard gallery featuring many coins from all around the world spanning dozens of centuries. Lastly, stop by Gold Achievement if you have ever wanted to see an Oscar, Emmy, or a Golden Globe statuette up close, or find out what your weight is worth in gold, now is your chance! For local ties, Chicago also added a Grammy won by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as well as the Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series Trophy.

IMHO (In my humble opinion)

The content is still exciting, the exhibit is still spacious, and as a White Sox fan, seeing the trophy just makes the exhibit totally worthwhile. Taking the time to visit Gold in addition to the Field Museum’s Grainger Hall of Gems makes the trip doubly worthwhile. While Gold: The Exhibition is at the end of its tour, you have until March 6, 2011 to see it!

For More Information:

Website: http://www.fieldmuseum.org/gold/#index Twitter: @fieldmuseum