SUSAN LOFTIN
[email protected]
2000-2003 EXHIBITION DESIGNER / CHIEF PREPARATOR
Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, New York
Designed and directed installation/deinstallation of 5 international exhibitions,
working with the exhibition staff and guest curators:
Print, Power and Persuasion: Graphic design in Germany, 1890-1945
Hungarian Ceramics from the Zsolnay Manfactory, 1853-2001
Quiet Beauty: Fifty Centuries of Japanese Folk Ceramics from the Montgomery Collection
Thomas Jeckyll: Architect and Designer
Marimekko: Fabrics, Fashion, Architecture
Assisted outside designers with their presentations.
William Beckford, An Eye for the Magnificent, 1760-1844
Le Corbusier Before Le Corbusier: Applied Art, Architecture, Painting, and Photography, 1907-1922
Utopia and Reality: Modernity in Sweden, 1900-1960
Collaborated with graphic designers on design and production of text panels, label copy and other
visual displays such as videos or photographic blowups
Developed budget for the installation/deinstallation for each fiscal year
Hired and supervised crew; 15 - 20 art handlers, painters, mount makers and carpenters.
Managed payroll for art handlers and maintained their employment records for Human Resources
Office. Paid all bills relating to exhibition expenses and managed petty cash for the exhibition office ..
First on call for emergencies that related to artwork in the galleries.
Coordinated with Security on the placement of guards within the galleries and gave them a walk through of
the space once the artwork was in place.
Maintained galleries during exhibitions and exhibition supplies inventory.
Oversaw the warehouse spaces used to store crates, exhibition furniture, and catalogs.
Directed the move of our warehouse space and designed of the new space.
1999-2000 EXHIBIT DIRECTOR
Spruill Arts Center Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
Curated four group exhibitions designed to feature Georgia artist and to introduce emerging
national/international artists. Designed and installed each exhibition.
Spruill Retro 1975-2000
Personal Circumstances: Georgia Artists at the End of the Century
Take a Second Look: Art from recycled materials
Remnants: Threads of Memory
Created strategy for publicity as well as designed invitations. Developed support materials such as
catalogs, brochures and text panels.
Planned workshops, lectures and demonstrations featuring both regional and national artists.
Redesigned gallery gift shop to expand the retail space and promote sales. Oversaw retail operations
and supervised Gallery Manager
Taught classes for the Spruill Adult Education Program: An introduction to the galleries and museums
in Atlanta.
1999 DIRECTOR CHASTAIN ARTS CENTER
Bureau Of Cultural Affairs, Atlanta Georgia
Planned and coordinated efforts of BCA and Parks Department to upgrade the facility and grounds,
installing new fire and personal safety procedures and equipment.
Functioned as office manager, calculating payroll, and purchasing equipment and supplies. Formu-
lated budgets and projected expenses for long range planning.
Actively researched the historical significance of Chastain Art Center. Documenting its origin as an
African-American almshouse, one of the few such structures in the States.
Recruited and hired instructors for educational programming. Worked with instructors to create new
classes and a series of gallery and museum visits.
Supervised Art Technicians and instructors. Acted as a liaison for the BCA with both instructors and the
students.
1996-1999 EXHIBITION PREPARATOR
Guggenheim Museum, The New Museum. Exit Art, The African Museum and Historic Design; New York
Clark Atlanta University, Chastain Art Center and Sandler Hudson Gallery: Atlanta Georgia
1998 GALLERY ASSISTANT
Kiang Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
1998 ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR,
Atlanta College of Art, Drawing, Sculpture, and Art History
Chastain Art Center, Drawing and Ceramics.
1995-1996 GALLERY DIRECTOR Zinc Gallery, Seaside, Flordia
Researched and located new gallery exhibition space in order to develop a larger art market for the original
Bluewater Bay gallery by creating a second location at Ruskin Place Artist Colony in Seaside
Designed, coordinated and installed exhibitions at Seaside and Bluewater Bay Galleries;
Maintained the everyday operation of both galleries.
Curated seven group exhibitions designed to feature the established gallery artists while introducing
the work of 10 new artists to the gallery.
Developed and curated a special exhibition, Second Sight, which featured a diverse group of artists
whose work, explored the concept of magic realism.
Brought writers and visual artists into the community for monthly lecture series.
1993-1995 CHIEF PREPARATOR
Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, New York
Created Bard Graduate Center's Installation Department and implemented its management plan.
Planned and directed installation / deinstallations of 7 intemational exhibitions:
Along the Royal Road: Berlin and Potsdam in KPM Porcelain and Painting, 1815 to 1848
Cast Iron from Central Europe, 1800 to 1850
Form, Function, Beauty: Early 19th Century French Watercolors
Borders of Eclecticism: French Wallpapers 1789 to 1830
Baroque Splendor: The Art of Hungarian Goldsmiths
Crosscurrents of Modernism: Selections from the Virginia Museum of Art
English Silver: Masterpieces by Omar Ramsden from the Campbell Collection, and Arthur J. Stone:
Designer and Master Silversmith
Coordinated the delivery and unpacking of crates, the conditioning and installation of the art
Supervised lighting and signage design.
Worked with the design team to restructure the main galleries creating a system of exhibition furniture;
pedestals, wall cases and movable walls.
Recruited and supervised crews of 15-20 art handlers, painters, lighting designers, mount makers,
carpenters, and photographers.
Formulated budgets and projected expenses for long-range planning
1990-1992 GALLERY MANAGER
The Alternative Museum, New York
Designed the conceptual presentation of 10 thematic exhibitions exploring issues of race, gender, and
national/international politics and directed the installation of all artwork. Supervised interns and art handlers
With the museum director, co-curated annual juried exhibition and special exhibition " Beyond
Aesthetics"
Functioned as the liaison between artists and museum director Geno Rodriguez by arranging and participating in studio visits
Developed and managed annual slide review for exhibitions
1988-1990 CHIEF PREPARATOR
American Craft Museum. New York
Collaborated with curators in overall design of exhibitions
Planned and supervised 12 installation / deinstallations of such diverse shows as:
The Language of Wood: Finnish Art & Architecture
Confectioner's Art
George Ohr: " Madman of Biloxi"
Umbrella: Works from the Fabric Workshop, Philadelphia
Formulated budgets and projected expenses for long-range planning
Hired and supervised art handlers, mount makers, riggers, carpenters, and photographers.
Purchased and maintained exhibitions furniture, tools and lights.
Organized warehouse for permanent collection.