An Interview with Courtney Henson, Visitor Services Manager (conducted via Gchat):

me: As the new Visitor Services Manager, what have you been working on in the last couple of weeks?

Courtney:  It has been a balancing act of scheduling-mostly getting all the Community Engagement groups scheduled within the other things, like symposia and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concert, etc. The month of March is pretty packed with things to do-at least for the gallery assistants. The general public will be interested in the upcoming April events.

me:  So you have to make sure the Pulitzer building isn’t overbooked?

Courtney:  That is a part of it. It’s important to make sure that even when we’re open for special programs that we maintain our mission of being both a laboratory and a sanctuary.

me:  How will the GAs’ (gallery assistants) workload be affected by the events in April?

Courtney:  The GAs will be working Wednesdays, Saturdays, and all Sundays.  Saturdays and Sundays will be open days for the performances of Staging Old Masters.

me:   What have the GAs been doing with the Community Engagement groups, like Staging Old Masters or the adults with Alzheimer’s?

Courtney:  The GAs have been maintaining the galleries during these group times. Also, from time to time they are asked to assist in interviewing, a new way that we’re evaluating the programs that take place in the building.

The gallery assistants helped interview the participants in Let’s Look.  These interviews are a way to track the ideas held by participants at the beginning of the program. And another interview will

be taken at the end.  This allows the Pulitzer to have empirical data to maintain their “laboratory.”

Many of the GAs that work these events also end up transcribing the recordings made during workshop sessions. The recordings that have been transcribed have been of the communication that takes place during the Staging Old Masters workshops–things that come up in discussion amidst their activities in the galleries.

me:  Like reflections on their acting exercises?

Courtney:  I think something like that. Sometimes the actors just ask each other questions and reflect.

me:  What’s it like bossing GAs around?

(no answer)

me: What’s the future for Exploring Art, the art tours program that you were involved with as a gallery assistant, last summer?

Courtney:  It’s unknown yet how we will continue with this program. I have a meeting soon to discuss how it will continue or in what capacity it will continue.

me:  Is there anything else you think would be important to mention to the public?
Courtney: Our new catalogs are in for this show, and they are wonderful items to have on their coffee tables. If they liked the show, they can own a small part of it.

Courtney displays the Old Masters catalogue, while posing like Andrea Vaccaro’s Saint Mary Magdalen.