Staff Connections: Zachary Harper, Collections Management

Running a museum takes a whole team of professionals whose different skills help make the Rubin Museum of Art an exciting place. To get to know us a little more, and to explore different careers in the arts, each month we will be asking a Museum staffer/intern to answer a few questions about their work at the Museum, their favorite artworks or exhibitions, and…well, life in general!

As the first installment of we’re going to be introduced to Zachary Harper!

EDUblog: What is your title and what do YOU do here at the Museum?

I am the Collections Preparator & Art Storage Coordinator. Keeping the artwork organized and safely stored is key to my position! I prepare Rubin Museum collection objects for in-house and traveling exhibitions and I am frequently preoccupied with packing artwork (requiring framing or conservation work) for travel. I also maintain the art storage facilities where the Museum houses its collections (two of these locations are offsite).

EDUblog: Where are you originally from and how did you end up at the Rubin?

I am originally from Dallas, TX. I have migrated around a bit, studying art and working in various museums and galleries throughout the US. My interest in collections care and cultural artifacts directed me to the Rubin Museum of Art.

EDUblog: What is your favorite thing about your job?

Working directly with the artwork is the best part of my job! I also enjoy making color enhanced Excel documents and gleaning cool bits of information about symbols & imagery from the curators.

EDUblog: What is your favorite work of art or exhibition in the Museum and why?

It’s too difficult to pick only one piece of art because that changes so often.  Visions of the Cosmos was a great exhibition because it showed me other possible worlds outside my own. I also enjoy seeing people’s expressions when they enter the Tibetan Shrine Room… it completely envelopes them!

EDUblog: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to follow the same career path?

Always have a plan in mind but also be willing to improvise… and wear gloves.

EDUblog: Do you have a secret talent or a hobby that you enjoy?

I’m a vintage scooter enthusiast (New York Scooter Club & Lambretta Club USA member).
I also enjoy collecting old books and art-making (www.zacharyharper.com).

EDUblog: If you could travel anywhere in the Himalayas where would you go and why?

I have a post card depicting Lamayuru Monastery in Ladakh… It’s an amazing image that I would like to someday experience first-hand. Curator, Elena Pakhoutova told me that planning a visit in May is the way to go.

 

This entry was posted in Staff Connections, Uncategorized and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.