Museum exhibitions owe their existence to artist anniversaries, artistic discoveries, brainstorming, chance encounters, but rarely — I think — from corporations. But that was a hook I used to write about Nur: Light in Art and Science, a sweeping presentation of Islamic art organized by Sabiha Al Khemir, who signed on as a senior advisor to the Dalllas Museum of Art in 2012.
The story, headlined Shedding a Light on Islamic Art’s Great Treasure, was equally about Al Khemir. a multitalented Tunisian who in addition to her art scholarship and curatorial activities, has also written two novels, including The Blue Manuscript.
One particular thing she said, which I quoted in the article, really hit home with me — and has relevance for the whole museum world:
There are days when I wonder why I do this, and then I see it in the eyes of people looking — sight becoming insight.
Sight becoming insight — what a great goal for curators to have when they plan their exhibitions.
Photo Credit: Karsten Moran, courtesy of The New York Times