Hurrah for the Art Handlers!

As is often the case with academic collections, galleries, or museums, collaboration is key to accomplishing a wide variety of tasks. The care and management of Wheaton’s Permanent Collection involves many forms of collaboration between students, faculty, staff, and, of course, donors. Some of these efforts, such as student-curated exhibitions, are highly visible, while others are not as publicly celebrated, although no less important. For example, we rely on the Carpentry Shop to help transport and install artwork in various locations around campus, ranging from the May Room in historic Mary Lyon Hall to the Math/Computer Science Department office suite in the Mars Center for Science and Technology.

In Spring 2012, Lead Carpenter Jeff Dalrymple helped install the outdoor sculpture Key Angel in Haas Courtyard, and Chris Robbins has also lent a hand hanging artwork over the last few years. The Curator of the Permanent Collection and the work-study team of Collection Assistants collaborate most closely, however, with carpenters Mike Yelle and Chris Chaves. Their careful handling of objects, ability to calculate measurements in the blink of an eye, and wicked sense of humor make our job much easier. They’ll even wear the infamous white gloves! Hurrah for our art handlers, the Wheaton College Carpenters!