FROM MADRID TO MIDD: ZARZUELAS AT THE SPANISH SCHOOL
In the summer of 2017, I participated in the Middlebury College Museum of Art MuseumWorks summer internship. In addition to working at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History, I collaborated with six other interns to research, curate, design, and install a bilingual exhibition celebrating the centennial of the Middlebury Spanish School. Looking back on the school's long history of theatrical performances, the exhibition focuses on the school's production of zarzuelas, short, lighthearted musicals that originated in Madrid. Featuring posters, and set and costume designs by artist and professor Alfredo Ramón, the exhibition illustrates the crucial role he played in the Spanish School from the early seventies through the turn of the twenty-first century. These productions united students and faculty members as performers, and truly exemplify the Spanish School’s culture of active learning.
EXHIBITION DESIGN
Wall Texts
To pay homage to the Spanish School, we chose to create a bilingual exhibition. All wall texts and tombstone labels were translated in both english and spanish, with the spanish translation showcased as the primary text.
Color choice was key to create cohesion throughout the exhibit, and indicate a distinction between the spanish and english texts. The sans serif font choice, Avenir, gives the text a modern feel, while stylized Trattatello the is a nod to the historical roots of the zarzuelas.
Poster design
For the poster advertising the exhibition opening, I created illustrations based on work by Alfredo Ramón included in the exhibit. I also used the same fonts in the exhibition for consistency. The colors are bold, but balanced, making the poster both impactful and easy to understand.