We’ve asked FWMoA staff the hardest question you can ask art museum people: so, what is your favorite artwork currently on display? As “art museum people”, we often get asked about our favorite artists, artworks, and the art we choose to hang on our own walls. Since not all of our staff are front-end, and not all of them write for the blog, this series gives everyone a chance to get to know them, too. Taking advantage of our rotating exhibitions of artworks, from painted portraits to sculpted bronzes, FWMoA staff from all departments are choosing artworks that enthrall and enchant them; or, in other words, playing favorites.
Kaitlin Binkley, Director of Visual Communications at FWMoA, has worked at the museum since 2013. The eye that designs our banners, postcards and mailings, exhibition vinyl, and so much more (including the covers of the published Scholastic Regional Writing books!). she found a piece that stands out from, quite literally, the crowd. Her current favorite? A work from the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards exhibition by Madelyn Lloyd, “Nothing Worthwhile Ever Happens Quickly or Easily”.
Q: What is the first thing you noticed about this artwork? What drew you to this particular piece?
A: I love the colors and, getting closer, the texture of the piece. I love abstract art, and this implies space and nebulae. I also love the little pops of bright orange and yellow that are included throughout and interspersed in the larger sections of color. I admire the dedication it took to hand place each individual sequin and pin!
Q: Would you hang this artwork in your home? Why or why not?
A: I would! It’s not too overpowering or large in scale, and the style fits my aesthetic.
Q: What does this artwork mean to you?
A: I love the layers of this artwork. From a distance you can see the overall shape and form, then, as you get closer, you’re able to pick out each individual piece that makes up the whole. I love the dedication and effort it took to create this piece.
This is one of those pieces, however, that doesn’t photograph well. In a photo it doesn’t completely convey the scale and dedication you can see in person, standing up close.
Q: Why did you choose to work in an art museum?
A: I enjoy promoting other’s artwork and sharing new artistic movements with my community!
Q: What has been your favorite exhibition at FWMoA during your employment? What exhibition are you most looking forward to in the next year or two?
A: I have enjoyed the exhibits which aren’t necessarily “art” like The Art of Seating, Medieval to Metal, and our current The Art of the Skateboard exhibit (up through June 12, 2022). I like finding the “art” and beauty in everyday objects; thinking about each object as a sculptural form or the additional illustration and flourishes to seemingly ordinary objects that make them extraordinary.
Q: What kind of art (if any) do you have in your home?
A: I have a couple of prints, an encaustic by Audrey Riley, and several personal photographs. I also have a ton of empty frames that need photographs!
Come visit FWMoA to see Kaitlin’s favorite work! Be sure to find your own favorite, too, in the 2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards exhibition, on display through April 9th, 2022.