>I am posting this question for an undergraduate student here at Babson >College. Perhaps those of you involved with the design and installation >of art exhibitions could recommend applicable literature or provide your >own input. I am not absolutely certain what the student is asking so I >hope that I am phrasing her question accurately. I believe that what she >is after is the history and philosophy of art installations in both >museums and domestic settings. > >The student is studying the business of interior design and has been >thinking in terms of commissioning and/or selecting art to meet the >dictates of a pre-existing space. The questions she has asked me to >pose the professionals deal with the reverse; conforming the space to >the art. "Basically I would like to know what criteria a curator might >use when designing or setting up an exhibit. Does one criteria have >precedence over another, for example is color more important than >scale. Is there a logical process that has been 'established' or do >they (curators) go with what seems right for the pieces in particular." > >Any references for the theory behind art installation and exhibit >design would be appreciated. I think she might also be interested in >the concepts behind site-specific pieces. Please send your replies to >me directly. Thank you in advance for your assistance. > >Andrew Martinez >Assistant Archivist & Exhibit Coordinator >Babson College >[log in to unmask] Mr. Martinez, Your student may find Michael Belcher's book "Exhibitions in Museums" helpful. It covers most of the issues state above. It is published by Leicester University Press. I think a copy of it could be found through the Smithsonian Institution Press. The ISBN mumber is 0 8747913 1