JUROR
Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko
BIO
Working in museums for more than 20 years, Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko has served as a museum leader since 2001. Prior to joining the Illinois State Museum as director in 2019, Cinnamon was the director of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum where she led the organization to the National Medal for Museum Service in 2008. She then served as president and CEO of the Abbe Museum where she co-led their decolonization initiative and developed policies and protocols to ensure collaboration and cooperation with Wabanaki people. Cinnamon served as treasurer for the American Association for State and Local History (2012-2014) and was the founding chair of their Small Museums Committee. She currently serves as a board member of the American Alliance of Museums.
Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko is the author of Museum Administration 2.0 (2016), The Art of Healing: The Wishard Art Collection (2004), and co-editor of the Small Museum Toolkit (2012). In 2016, she gave her first TEDx talk, We Must Decolonize Our Museums (www.tedxdirigo.com). Coming up in 2021 is the release of The Inclusive Museum Leader, a compilation of essays she edited with Chris Taylor and published by the American Alliance of Museums.
JUROR's STATEMENT
Selecting finalists for this year’s student art show found me focusing on the emotional draw of art. How did I react when I looked at it? How did it make me feel? This past year of dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racism has changed the way we see art and gather meaning. As I started my review of the submissions, I wondered how this would show up in the work and would the feeling be palpable. I was not disappointed.
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In my selection process, I also considered the decisions an artist makes during art creation. The shading, the choice of line, the contrast of light, color selection – these decisions are plentiful in variety and originality. Much of the art in this year’s show employs techniques to evoke a feeling from the viewer. When done exceptionally well, that feeling sticks. These exceptional works can be found in this year’s show.
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It is truly my privilege to be selected as a juror for this year’s Student Art Show. I commend the artists who submitted their work and had it judged under unusual, virtual circumstances. While it may impact my role as a juror because seeing art in person is always best, the student artists effectively communicated across that barrier. That is in great part because of their dedication and creativity. You did it, artists, and I hope you feel the pride.
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