What do you think of when you hear the word “museum”? Does it conjure up images of white marble buildings? Or dusty artifacts and paintings kept behind glass displays?

Museum derives from the term “mouseion” — relating to the Muses — the immortal patrons of the arts and sciences. At a root level, museums safeguard collections related to the heritage of humanity. However, collections management is only one facet of museum work. Community building, meaning making, and education are also at the heart of contemporary museums.

Meaningful Museums

On view until March 29 at the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center, the exhibit Meaningful Museums invites guests to consider the social history of objects and visitors’ perspectives on museums. Made possible by the LaValle Experiential Learning Fund, the exhibit was developed and installed by Stetson students enrolled in two courses: Museum Practice and Theory (Fall 2024) and Collections Management (Spring 2025); both taught by Natália Marques da Silva, PhD, director of the Hand Art Center.

Participating students designed surveys to capture visitor feedback as well as two art activities: a build-your-own-museum station and a curatorial collage. They captured their own experiences in a Video Diaries series. And, to learn more about a healthy museum “ecosphere”, they interviewed museum professionals in Central Florida.

Lastly, students interpreted objects on loan and in the Hand’s Permanent Collection. Museum visitors can enjoy Eclosion, a showstopping piece by Stetson alumna Angelica Maria Millan Lozano, and two recent gifts by former Stetson student Hicham Laalej — Burgundy by Hippolyte Petitjean and Soliders by Maximilien Luce. Also on display, a recent donation by Gary Monroe from his Miami Beach series; a bust by former Stetson faculty Li Hung “Jenny” Catron; Raggedy Ann by Brandy Worlton; Celestial Eye by Phil Parker; and lastly Bailey, a textile by Amy Vigilante.

Exhibit Credit and Information

The exhibit organizers were Maddysun Castaneda, Amarige Champion, Callie Dawson, Robbie Gonzalex, Caleb Hasebe, Charlotte Holley, Moira Hughes, Avery Krowl, Emil Rasen, Sierra Rouse, Reagan Shivers, Reagan Swayze, Courtney Wood and Lily Woolard.

Meaningful Museums is on view at the Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center until March 29. The public is welcome to join a reception on Friday, March 21 at 6 p.m., followed by an Artist Talk with Amy Vigilante at 7 p.m.

– Reagan Swayze