BEHIND THE SCENES
The Exhibition Designer
Chris Williams

Name:
Chris Williams

Hometown:
Cincinnati, Ohio

Education:
BFA, Art Academy of Cincinatti

Position:
Senior Preparator & Exhibition Designer

Years at WAM:
2

Favorite WAM memory:
Starting here and loving the drive across the bridge in the morning seeing the sun rise behind the Weisman.

What are your responsibilities as Exhibition Designer?
On the design end, I consider my main responsibility making the art in our exhibitions or gallery spaces to look their best, but my job is also about being a custodian to cultural artifacts and that is equally as important.

What different decisions or components factor into designing an exhibition?
The content of every exhibition is different so each one comes with it's own set of unique challenges.

What's a typical day like for you?
My days start pretty early at 4:00 am, I'm at the gym by 5:00 and at work by 7:00 if not before. Our team can be involved in many different activities in a day, working in different offices on campus, visiting local collectors or being chained to my computer all day.

How do you practice mindfulness at work or at home?
The gym is the most important place for me, and the steam/sauna room.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced so far at WAM?
Installing Frank Gehry's Standing Glass Fish.

What is the most important thing you have learned during your time
at WAM?
How important the University is to our museum and the vast resources we have to draw from on many levels.

See the handiwork of Chris and our other preparators in the WAM galleries Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm or Wednesday nights until 8:00 pm.