The best Museum guards are invisible. They blend into the gallery so as to not intrude on a visitor's experience with the art but they are present and ready to answer questions or share interesting facts without hesitation.
Six security guards at the Nelson-Atkins are getting their chance to step into the spotlight with an exhibition called On View at the Paragraph Gallery in Kansas City.
This show creates a venue where these artists can be seen by a public that doesn't usually notice their presence, a public they watch constantly, writes curator Marcos Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is interested in the phenomenology of the museum as understood from the perspective of the artist-guard: How are the artistic temperaments of these full-time artist-guards affected by the dynamics of the museum, the Nelson's collection, and the patrons viewing it? How does their work as paid people watchers put these artists uniquely in touch with the public's cultural spirit and standards of taste? How does their own work embody and reflect these insights.
On View is open through Nov. 13 from Noon to 5 p.m. on Thursdays & Saturdays. Paragraph Gallery is in downtown KCMO at 23 E. 12th Street.