Curator inspires lessons
Lauren Bear
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Culture
A UTC art professor's career gives her the "best of both worlds."
UTC's Nandini Makrandi is going into her sixth year of being a UTC art professor, as well as curator of contemporary art at the Hunter Museum of American Art.
Makrandi said this joint position was created to maintain a bridge between the museum and UTC. The professor said she spends 60 percent of her time at the Hunter Museum and the remaining 40 percent at UTC teaching two classes a semester.
As curator, Makrandi is in charge of the museum's contemporary art collection, dated from the 1970s to the present.
Some of her work as curator includes deciding what pieces are added to the contemporary collection, writing the displays and labels for the art and setting up exhibits.
Makrandi said she requires her students to visit the Hunter Museum while they are enrolled in her class.
"You can study from a slide, but it's not the same as seeing it in person," Makrandi said.
She said when the students are able to view a piece of art in person, they learn more about the artist and it is a different experience for them.
Kelsey Emerson, a Lexington, Tenn., junior and art major, said it is great that a UTC art professor is involved with a local museum. Emerson said it shows Makrandi has a lot of experience in the art field.
"She has outside insights to art and can share them with the students," Emerson said.
Emerson said Makrandi's career will show art majors they do not have to stick with one job or position after they graduate. She said it shows them the options that come with an art degree.
Brennan Ezell, Clarksville, junior, said she had Makrandi for art history her freshman year. Ezell said since Makrandi chose a career that requires her to constantly be surrounded by art, she will be able to answer students' questions more effectively.
Ezell said Makrandi's joint career at UTC and the Hunter Museum makes her have more respect for the professor and shows she has an obvious passion for art. "It gives her more credibility for what she's teaching," Ezell said.
UTC's Nandini Makrandi is going into her sixth year of being a UTC art professor, as well as curator of contemporary art at the Hunter Museum of American Art.
Makrandi said this joint position was created to maintain a bridge between the museum and UTC. The professor said she spends 60 percent of her time at the Hunter Museum and the remaining 40 percent at UTC teaching two classes a semester.
As curator, Makrandi is in charge of the museum's contemporary art collection, dated from the 1970s to the present.
Some of her work as curator includes deciding what pieces are added to the contemporary collection, writing the displays and labels for the art and setting up exhibits.
Makrandi said she requires her students to visit the Hunter Museum while they are enrolled in her class.
"You can study from a slide, but it's not the same as seeing it in person," Makrandi said.
She said when the students are able to view a piece of art in person, they learn more about the artist and it is a different experience for them.
Kelsey Emerson, a Lexington, Tenn., junior and art major, said it is great that a UTC art professor is involved with a local museum. Emerson said it shows Makrandi has a lot of experience in the art field.
"She has outside insights to art and can share them with the students," Emerson said.
Emerson said Makrandi's career will show art majors they do not have to stick with one job or position after they graduate. She said it shows them the options that come with an art degree.
Brennan Ezell, Clarksville, junior, said she had Makrandi for art history her freshman year. Ezell said since Makrandi chose a career that requires her to constantly be surrounded by art, she will be able to answer students' questions more effectively.
Ezell said Makrandi's joint career at UTC and the Hunter Museum makes her have more respect for the professor and shows she has an obvious passion for art. "It gives her more credibility for what she's teaching," Ezell said.
