Meet Madeline Beck of Marietta Cobb Museum of Art

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Beck.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
The display and appreciation of art has surrounded me my whole life. My childhood home is often fondly referred to as a museum, since there is not a wall without artwork or a bookshelf without knick-knacks in the place; one of my hang out spots in high school was a small pottery shop and art gallery; some of my parents’ closest friends were artists, as well as mine. Though I had grown up around so much creativity, the academic and professional opportunities of the arts world never occurred to me as serious career options.

My senior year of high school, however, I took an AP Art History class and within a week, I knew I’d found my vocation. I excelled in the class, which gave me the confidence to pursue art history in college and declare my major immediately. My high AP score allowed me to dive right into upper-level art history courses my first semester at Kennesaw State University in 2013. Fascinated by ancient Egypt and Greece, I originally focused my art historical studies on antiquity, leading me to minor in classical studies.

About a year into college, I started presenting art history papers at undergraduate research symposia across the East Coast; KSU funded my travels to cities like Pittsburgh, Asheville, and Memphis for these conferences. In my ancient art research, I enjoyed drawing connections between modern feminist thought and ancient depictions of women, which culminated in my most-presented paper, “The Representation of Prostitutes in Ancient Greek Vase-painting.”

While at KSU, I also submitted my writing for publication in undergraduate research journals and as of fall 2017, three of my art history papers have been published.

The first museum I reached out to in hopes of getting my foot in the door was the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art. I began by just volunteering and working their visitor services desk but soon obtained an administrative internship, assisting with all departments of the museum. I concluded this internship by helping coordinate the artists for the museum’s annual Chalktoberfest, a huge chalk art festival in Marietta Square.

After interning with the Marietta Cobb Museum, I was hired as a curatorial assistant at the Zuckerman Museum of Art on KSU’s campus.

Until this point, my art history education was dominated by the study of ancient art and artifacts that implemented more of an anthropological approach. Working at the ZMA immersed me in contemporary, topical art and the plethora of complex discussions involved in the exhibition of such work. After graduating summa cum laude in 2016 and working at the ZMA for another six months, my assistantship was wrapping up. Longing to find a sense of purpose and stability as adulthood loomed, I found the opportunity I needed via old connections at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.

Personal emails from the MCMA director to the ZMA staff asking for suggestions for a new curator-led Katy Malone, a colleague at the ZMA, to insist that I apply. I interned with the MCMA for almost all of 2015 and having that foundational experience with the tight-knit institution truly helped me obtain my position. I had successfully secured my first “big-girl job” at 21 after graduating college in three and a half years.

For me, being diligent, proactive, and invested has been the key to accomplishing my goals. I’m enjoying the peace and stability now, but it is also exciting to think about my future steps since it feels like life has already moved so quickly for me.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In the arts and museum industry, not many of us have a totally “smooth road.” This business is so reliant on networking and personal connections, for both artists and museum professionals, that it can feel like you’re failing even when it seems like you’re doing everything by the books. My main struggles getting to where I am now involved trying to find a sense of stability or direction, fighting emotions of inadequacy and hopelessness, especially when surrounded by the “arts degrees are a waste” rhetoric.

It can be hard to navigate family and society expecting you to nail down a full time, salaried job with only a bachelor’s degree when you have academics and mentors saying that you won’t find a “decent” museum job until you get a master’s. I learned that all the negativity and uncertainty shouldn’t define your choices, though. Professors told me numerous times that I should give up even thinking I’d be able to find a job in curatorial right out of undergrad (ha!).

But honestly, I have been very fortunate to have had a remarkably smooth road for a young museum professional. I have to concede that positions like mine are not common and, as with some aspects of all situations, there was an element of luck and/or circumstance. I also had the capacity and privilege to be a full-time student and accept unpaid internships, which undeniably gave me space and time to develop my performance, enthusiasm, and an invaluable professional network.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Marietta Cobb Museum of Art – what should we know?
I am currently the curator of the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art in Marietta, GA. We are a small but well-established non-profit museum in Marietta Square that specializes in the exhibition and collection of American art. There are only four full-time employees at the museum including myself, so we all wear a few different hats. In addition to my role as curator, I also manage our permanent collection, exhibition-related programming, membership, and even a craft beer festival at our annual Chalktoberfest.

As the museum’s curator, my daily responsibilities involve composing, coordinating, and executing all exhibitions at MCMA. From scouting artists and writing contracts to choosing the artwork and actually hanging it up, I am in charge of the logistics and overall aesthetics of each exhibition. I love to research and especially to write, so I take producing my wall text and exhibition guides very seriously. Being able to articulate and form a cohesive exhibition narrative for each show is the ultimate goal. It’s challenging but incredibly rewarding to present something that is not only a visually pleasing display but is also thoughtful and educational. Curation is how I am able to express myself creatively through my lifelong love of writing while also being able to immerse myself in my other passion: the appreciation of art.

I believe the MCMA is a true asset to the metro-Atlanta area but is often underestimated. The museum has been changing and growing and I want more of the community to see the exciting, beautiful, and impactful work we have been sharing. I am proud of how much our small, core team has accomplished and the growing attention the museum is garnering. Our most recent opening reception had over 450 people in attendance and our events have really turned into huge community art parties. I’m trying to bring more exhibitions to MCMA that offer social conversations while also expanding the subjects and mediums often favored by the museum in the past.

One thing that sets MCMA and my curation apart is that even though I am trying to shake up the expectations and breadth of art shown there, I am still trying to maintain a curatorial goal that keeps the presented works palatable and relatable to large parts of the demographic we serve, like young children and elderly guests. This is what I believe makes MCMA a great institution for everyone; there is easily-accessible art for those new to or wary of museums, but we maintain a level of quality in our collection and exhibitions that will satisfy the more experienced and critical thinking museum-goers.

Also, it has to be noted that our Classical Revival building from the turn of the 20th-century really sets us apart and its historic charm intrigues many of our patrons.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Firstly, I have to publicly thank my partner, Ben, for being a solid sounding board and letting me have my frequent rants and/or breakdowns. Otherwise, I have always been really independent and self-guided, so there have been just a handful of key mentors whose attention and care mean the world to me.

The first professor at KSU who commended my writing and encouraged me to start doing research symposia was Dr. Kristen Seaman, who is currently teaching at the University of Oregon. She gave me that initial boost of confidence and know-how to become more active with research presentations and publication, as well as museum work. She is the one who originally suggested I reach out to MCMA as a sophomore to get some volunteering experience in museums; little did I know that years later it would open the door to my current job.

A wonderful professor who helped me immensely and shaped me as a scholar and museum professional was my academic advisor at KSU, Dr. Jessica Stephenson. Her ancient Egyptian art history course was my first class ever in college and she instilled such wisdom and excitement in her lectures that I was quickly reassured I had chosen the right major.

The curators at the Zuckerman Museum of Art, Teresa Bramlette Reeves and Sarah Higgins, taught me basically everything I know about curatorial affairs and are some of the best role-models and friends. The ZMA team overall taught me so much about all aspects of museums, which not only boosted my professional network but also truly prepared me for the dynamic, multifaceted nature of my current work environment.

Last but not least, my colleagues at the MCMA, Sally Macaulay, Jennifer Fox, and Allison Frink, have been teaching and supporting me since I first started volunteering at MCMA years ago. Their professionalism and exciting work atmosphere kindled in me the drive to keep pursuing museum work. Everything really came full-circle for me when I was able to return to MCMA as the curator and full-time museum employee I wanted to be.

Contact Info:

• Address: 30 Atlanta Street SE Marietta, GA 30060
• Website: www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org
• Phone:  (770) 528-1444
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MariettaCobbArtMuseum/
• Other: personal: www.instagram.com/maddielilibeck/

Image Credit:
Marietta Daily Journal

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