Research

My research is anchored in three areas.

Undergirding all of my research and practice is my keen interest in excavating and critiquing histories and functions of museums, primarily in the U.S., as part of the process of understanding constructions of knowledge via collections—specifically museums and historic sites, cabinets of curiosity, museum computing, and museum tech. In this arena, I have been working in collaboration with faculty (Dave Messinger and Roger Easton) in Imaging Science at Rochester Institute of Technology, where I co-direct the Cultural Heritage Imaging Lab in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science. A few news stories about this effort may be found here.

A second trajectory of my research is monuments, memorials, and public memory in the U.S., which is related to my acute studies of singular monuments, for instance, the Confederate Monument (formerly in Louisville, KY) and the representation and identity laid bare through monuments and memorials in public spaces throughout the U.S. This research and scholarship are based in my position as Conservation Program Manager for the city of Cleveland from 1998-2002 and my early professional work in public art and public sculpture as part of public history practice. Combining theory and praxis, this facet of research led me to investigate particular sites throughout Kentucky and, specifically, the life and work of Enid Yandell (1869-1934) who was commissioned to create the monument to Kentucky’s Civil War dead in Louisville in 1894. With this subject of monuments, memorials, and public memory, I also take the macro view, developing a typology of monuments and memorials and launching a crowdsourced initiative to document monuments and memorials in the U.S.

Third, I research, develop, and apply museum technologies to visitor experiences, particularly related to authenticity, museum interpretation, and visitor engagement. For this, I have been working in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team to utilize AR/VR as lenses for authenticity and enhanced experiences. See our playlist for the “Backus Project” in partnership with Genesee Country Village & Museum (2018-2023) here. See our project (2021-ongoing) with the Clarissa Street Legacy Committee here. See the current effort with MAGIC Spell Studios at RIT, supported by a grant from I ❤ NY, in partnership with Finger Lakes Visitor Connection here.

My scholarship reflects these three broad areas noted above; on occasion, areas overlap. For instance, in my revision to Museums in Motion: An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums (2017), I was able to extend the trajectory established by Edward Alexander and Mary Alexander and bring into focus the areas of technology, engagement, and authenticity for this 3rd edition. My research on monuments, memorials, and public memory is anchored in data as well as contemporary practices that contribute to our 21st-century constructions of knowledge, relative to these sites which may be conceived, in some ways, as outdoor cabinets of curiosity.

In addition, my scholarship includes processes and reflections on pedagogy. My teaching directly aligns with the three aforementioned areas of research and scholarship in museum studies, public history, and digital practices.