AT THE ALLEN / FALL 2023 / 17 HIGHLIGHT / RECENT GRADUATE A STUDENT’S REFLECTION One Monday in December of 2022, I foundmyself in a partially lit gallery in a closedmuseum. I had thought to myself that I was living the dream. Not many people would revel in being temporarily displaced by noise outside of their office on a Monday morning, but for me, it was a chance to sit with Bakunin’s Barricade by Ahmet Öğüt. The barricade installation coincided with my last year at Oberlin andmy first semester as a student assistant. It also aligned with my hopes to create more accessible, inviting, and dynamic museum spaces. As a student assistant to SamAdams, the Ellen Johnson ’33 Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art—generously championed for this role by my art history professors—I knew this opportunity was a result of academic success and commitment to art history and would be a springboard for my post-graduate career. Thanks to the support of Sam, and the patience and grace of the rest of the Allen staff, I hadmyriad experiences—often inaccessible to undergraduate students at other institutions. While at the Allen, I am proud to say Sam and I organized two exhibitions. During this process, I learned invaluable information about a museum’s inner workings: I learned how to use the museum’s digital database, visited the archives, used object and exhibition files for research, and reviewed acquisition reports— including drafting a fewmyself! Knowing Sam had a commitment to queer artists made me feel so affirmed at the museum. In addition to working on exhibitions, I hadmany other meaningful opportunities to share my knowledge and love of art. As part of a student panel, I presented research on Renee Stout’s Seduction Coat—on which I also created an informational social media post. With the help of the Education Department, I had the opportunity to design and lead a tour and taught two classes in French. I amproud of the work I have done, which would not have been possible without the support of my co-workers at the Allen. I am especially grateful for Sam for guidance through the learning process and support as I prepare for post-graduation. — Fudi Fickenscher (OC 2023), May 2023 Edited for length and clarity. Editor’s note: We are pleased to share that Fudi is working at Glenstone, a private museum in Potomac, Maryland as a Gallery Associate/Guide. Good luck, Fudi, we know you will go far! Top: Fickenscher talks with CarrieWise of IdeaStream about working on the exhibition Like a Good Armchair: Getting Uncomfortable with Modern and Contemporty Art. To watch the full interviewwith SamAdams and Fickenscher, visit amam.oberlin.edu /ideastream. Bottom: Fickenscher presents as a member of a student panel at a Tuesday Tea event.
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