As the second largest art museum in Columbus, the Schumacher Gallery is one of the many spots on campus where students can relax.
Capital alumnus and Director of the Schumacher Gallery David Gentilini does every job necessary to keep the gallery up and running.
“I do everything,” he said. “Anything that needs to be done in a museum setting is what I do.”
Gentilini is the museum registrar, museum preparator, social media coordinator, artist contact, and everything else.
A lot of what he does involves working with students and the community.
“I pick out all the exhibits that come through, work with students, work with the art department on some things, work with the community, as well as I do all of the programming and community relations,” he said.
His job goes beyond typical museum work though. He has to step in to do some of the not-so-glamorous maintenance of the gallery.
“I have also painted the walls in the summer and when I can’t get the custodians up here,” he said. “I’ll clean the bathrooms. I’ve cleaned the windows, ran the vacuum, painted the sculpture stands and I do the wall repairs. I do everything except get up into the ceiling and work on the electric.”
Not only does the gallery include artwork by famous artists such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, but it also has two major feature showcases this year. From Sept. 3 to Nov. 20, the gallery will showcase “Alice Schille’s Miniature Watercolors: Gems Brevity” and from Jan. 20 to March 21 it will showcase “Lake Erie: Life on the Edge.”
“Alice Schille’s Miniature Watercolors: Gems Brevity” painted from 1914 to 1935, are landscape portraits of various locations such as New Mexico, France, England, North America, and Guatemala.
“Lake Erie: Life on the Edge” will be a photography exhibition of the natural habitats and wildlife found on and in the great lake.
Due to the history surrounding these pieces, it may seem costly for the university to purchase artwork by such well known artists. However, these pieces are not bought with any university money.
“Everything in the museum part has all been donated,” Gentilini said. “I know you guys pay a ton of money for your tuition, but none of that goes here. Some of that money goes to support facilities … but as for purchasing of artwork and stuff like that everything on these walls here have been 100 percent donated or been purchased by money that has been donated. No tuition goes towards the art.”
From April 2–21, the Schumacher Gallery will be hosting the Student Showcase. Any student regardless of their major is able to submit artwork and have it be judged by five different judges. If the artist’s work is picked by all five judges, then that piece will be put on display in the art gallery for any student to view.
The Schumacher Gallery is located on the fourth floor of the Blackmore Library and is open from 1–5 p.m. every Monday through Saturday. There is no admission fee.
