Students gain hands-on experience curating exhibits in VisCom Focus Gallery

The next time you go into The VisCom Focus Gallery, located on the first floor of the Schoonover Center, as you take in the work created by the featured photographer, also look around and take in the curation and display of the exhibit, which is created by a group of Scripps College of Communication Visual Communication students.

“Students have been on the gallery committee since 2017,” said School of Visual Communication Director Timothy Goheen. “Involving students directly in the operation of the gallery is an invaluable opportunity for hands-on learning and professional growth. It’s a collaborative experiential learning opportunity that allows students to engage with every stage of the exhibition process, from selection and curation to the practical aspects of printing and framing. Working alongside faculty, students gain insight into the strategic decision-making and creative thought that go into building a cohesive show. This exposure not only reinforces classroom knowledge but also enhances students’ skills in teamwork, critical thinking, and project management.”

Student Gallery Manager Prince Amoa-mensa is a second-year graduate student from Ghana who is studying commercial photography. His role is to make sure there is good communication and coordination between faculty and students working behind the scenes in the gallery.

“It’s been a very great experience for me,” said Amoa-mensa. “This gallery serves as an inspiration to me when I feel a creative block. It’s also giving me experience and technical know-how. Prior to this, I didn’t know how galleries were put up. It has taught me a lot.”

Working with the photographer, faculty and other students, Amoa-mensa coordinates the printing and hanging of each show. For the Lawrence Hamel-Lambert exhibition in October, there were close to 100 photos to pick from, and the committee had to narrow it down to 30 for display.

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“A lot goes into it,” said Amoa-mensa. “We got the pictures and then asked everybody on the committee to select six. It was tough because all the pictures were so good. We all laid our selections on the table and made the final selections. Then we had to decide how to display them, in frames or hung by clips. There are a lot of meetings behind the scenes and a lot of deliberations.”

Zoë Cranfill is a senior photojournalism major and serves on the committee. She enjoys being able to put together the exhibits while having access to faculty for advice and input.

“I had seen other students working on the committee in the past,” said Cranfill. “I want to be a picture editor when I graduate, and I figure this would be a great way to test skills picture editing that are not in a newspaper but on a wall. It also opens up the opportunity to think about being a curator one day and helps me to understand the photographer’s work more in terms of where it comes from and the process.”

“This setup builds a bridge between theoretical study and real-world application, that we believe helps prepare students to navigate similar professional environments after graduation,” said Goheen. “The sense of ownership and contribution in creating gallery-worthy presentations helps students build confidence and pride in their work. Being part of a team where faculty support and mentor students encourages a learning culture that values experience, collaboration, and artistry which are qualities that are essential for a successful career in visual communication.”

The current exhibit in the VisCom Focus Gallery opened on Thursday, Nov. 7, and runs through Nov. 29. It features the work of Dan Dry, who has won more than 500 national and international photography, advertising and design awards. In the 1970s, Dry studied photojournalism and photography while working on a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Ohio University.