Introduction
“But museums are neither neutral sheltering spaces for objects nor simple architectural products; rather, they are complex totalities that include everything from the building to the selection and ordering of collections and the details of their installation and lighting.” - Carol Duncan 1
When my students angrily tell me “Schools are like prisons!” I agree and let them know that the French philosopher Michel Foucault reached the same conclusion a half a century ago. In their anger I see the beginning of institutional critique, calling out the racism and imperialism visible in institutions that shape their lives. In my art class, we turn that attention to the institution of museums.
The VMFA, the largest Fine Arts museum in the state of Virginia, is minutes from my school, but in its upper-class neighborhood (next door to the Daughters of the Confederacy) it is a world away from the lived reality of my students who are still impacted by the fallout of segregation, redlining, and massive resistance to integration. Like any museum, its collection is full of vibrant and life-affirming artwork, but like any museum, many of the items in the collection have troubling provenances that bring up ethical issues that demand close and critical examination.
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