Description
Background: Glenstone, a museum of modern and contemporary art, is integrated into 200 acres of gently rolling pasture and unspoiled woodland in Montgomery County, Maryland, less than 15 miles from the heart of Washington, DC. Glenstone strives to provide visitors with a unique experience through the seamless integration of art, architecture, and landscape. Established by the not-for-profit Glenstone Foundation, the museum, known as the Gallery, opened in 2006 and provides a contemplative, intimate setting for experiencing iconic works of art and architecture within a natural environment. Glenstone presents extraordinary outdoor sculptures and installations within a landscape designed by Peter Walker and Partners and selections from an art collection of significant depth and breadth in the Gallery building by the late Charles Gwathmey of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects. Admission is always free, and visits are scheduled by appointment to encourage an unhurried, intimate engagement between the viewers and their surroundings.

Glenstone is now in the midst of constructing a second museum building, The Pavilions, measuring 170,000 square feet and designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners, as well as a new public entrance, an arrival gallery with a bookstore, a café and an expanded landscape. These new facilities will enhance the visitor experience and provide significantly more space for exhibiting Glenstone’s superlative collection of post-World War II artworks.
Job Purpose: The Head of Installation will play a critical role in the opening of Glenstone’s expansion, overseeing and participating in all aspects of the installation of the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions in the galleries. Supporting the Director of Registration, the Head of Installation will be responsible for packing and crating works of art and all matters pertaining to the safe handling, movement and care of artwork in the collection. The Head of Installation will manage temporary and contract art handling personnel, delegating work assignments among installation staff in order to assure the timely completion of all work at the highest level of quality.
Requirements
Essential Duties: Art Handling

  • Recruit, hire, train, and supervise contract art handlers and staff as needed
  • Work in partnership with registration, conservation, curatorial, operations, and grounds departments to ensure the overall care of the collection

Exhibitions

  • Oversee and participate in the installation and deinstallation of exhibitions, which include artworks of varying size and weight (up to 20 feet high and 40,000 pounds)
  • Assist with exhibition design
  • Supervise and carry out the packing and unpacking of artworks
  • Design and fabricate bases, pedestals, cases, mounts, and other supports for display of the artworks
  • Collaborate with the curators on exhibition lighting
  • Oversee audio/video and multi-media installations
  • Prepare estimates and track installation/deinstallation-related expenses
  • Compose installation/deinstallation instructions

Equipment

  • Procure and maintain equipment, tools, hardware, and other supplies

Maintenance

  • Assist in the design of building maintenance plan and schedule
  • Conduct and supervise routine gallery maintenance
  • Perform and supervise outdoor sculpture cleaning and maintenance
  • Monitor environmental conditions in the museum galleries and storage spaces

Crating

  • Oversee and participate in the design and construction of crates
  • Manage a sustainable plan for the repurposing of empty crates

Storage

  • Move works of art of varying sizes and weight in and out of storage areas
  • Assist in the maintenance of art storage areas in the museum and at off-site facilities to assure safety of works of art
  • Keep art storage clean and make repairs as needed
  • Assist with inventories and surveys
  • Assist in developing storage label systems and object checklists

Shipping

  • Arrange and oversee rigging
  • Supervise the loading and off-loading of trucks
  • Assist with shipping arrangements
  • Courier works both domestically and abroad as needed for complicated installations
  • Prepare condition and packing reports
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Architecture, Museum Studies, or a closely related program from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum of four years of experience in art handling of a wide variety of media: painting, sculpture (including glass and stone), works on paper, multi-element installations, time-based media
  • Extensive understanding and experience with current museum professional standards for handling and packing works of art
  • Proficiency in configuring exhibitions and exhibition lighting design
  • Detail-oriented and focused
  • Ability to both take direction and work independently
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
  • Ability to prioritize and manage a variety of activities with shifting deadlines
  • Experience supervising contractors and interns during routine work and special projects
  • Experience using a variety of hand and power tools, hydraulic lifts, dollies, and other specialized equipment.
  • Excellent dexterity and hand-eye coordination
  • Ability to climb ladders and work on them for extended periods of time
  • Experience operating a fork lift safely
  • Ability to lift heavy objects (up to 70 lbs.) and to stand or walk for an eight-hour day
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • Working knowledge of art information systems and computerized collection management databases
  • Excellent organizational and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree program in Art History or Fine Arts, or equivalent experience
  • General knowledge of contemporary art, art history, and artist’s materials relative to the collection
  • Experience using Adobe Suite Design for exhibitions
  • Sensitivity to sustainable practices in the reuse of materials
  • Experience with archival matting and framing
  • Experience installing time-based media works
  • Rigging experience
  • Personal transportation means to Glenstone, as no public transportation is available
Job Information
  • Potomac, Maryland, 20854, United States
  • 28707145
  • May 25, 2016
  • Head of Installation
  • Glenstone Foundation
  • Registrar/Collections Management
  • No
  • Full-Time
  • Indefinite
  • BA/BS/Undergraduate
  • 3-5 Years
  • 10-25%