This week, we talked with Melody Chua to learn more about her experience in the arts and what she loves about Krannert Art Museum. Melody recently wrote in with the correct solution to our KAM Newsletter Challenge, winning a free membership to the museum for a year.
KAM: Hi Melody. Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself.
Melody: Sure. I'm a senior in the School of Music with a double major in Flute Performance and Music Technology. I've worked at the museum as a part time guard but am taking some time off to focus on applications to graduate school.
KAM: What have you liked most about about the museum? Is there a certain event or exhibition that stands out?
Melody: I participated in the Sounds of Science concert last fall -- I played flute. Tomoco Ono played keyboards, the composer was Lucas Smith, and the scientist he worked with was Deepak Jaiswal. Sounds of Science was all about translating scientific data into sound. It was experimental and fun. I liked that we could hold it here at the museum, because it was a perfect fit for what I study.
KAM: Do you compose music?
Melody: Well, I'm not a composition major, but there are aspects of my Music Technology study that involve creating compositions. Sounds of Science was a little of that. I hope it's something they continue.
KAM: Have you seen this fall's art exhibitions? Do you mind letting us know what your favorite work of art is in the museum right now?
Melody: Yes. I've seen all the shows. But my favorite piece to look at is actually the large, colorful sculpture hanging on the front wall in the lobby.
KAM: That's a sculpture by Frank Stella; it was conserved this summer to shore up some of the corrogated cardboard structure underneath. Conserving artwork in the museum's permanent collection is an important part of our work at KAM. We typically have it done in the summertime, before we open new exhibitions for the fall semester.
Melody: Thanks for telling me more about it! I like to learn more about the art on display (and when I was working as a student guard, I looked at this piece a lot.)
KAM: Thanks for talking with us, Melody. It was great to meet you.
Melody: My pleasure -- thanks for the student membership to KAM.
Please note: The next Sounds of Science concert will be held on October 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 25 of Smith Memorial Hall.
