VCUarts Photography + Film BFA alumna, Laela Huddleston, is racking up curatorial credits from Richmond, Virginia to Doha, Qatar. Using her hands-on experience from taking Applied Curatorial Practices her senior year, Huddleston expertly curated her fellow peers’ work for the Qatar Week exhibition titled To Think We Were Ever Apart at VCUarts Qatar Saffron Hall.
In this interview with Narrative Media Administrative Affairs Coordinator, Taylor Colimore, and her undergraduate student communications team, Sofia Rahnama and Taylor Winston, Huddleston provided insight into the highs and lows of curating an exhibition.
How did you get this opportunity to curate an exhibition?
In my senior year, I had the wonderful experience of being in the Applied Curatorial Practices course, taught by Chase Westfall, Director of The Anderson. I learned hands-on how to curate an exhibition from start to finish, which provided me with a comprehensive understanding of exhibition design, art handling, and the curatorial process. I had the opportunity to apply this knowledge in planning my cohort’s thesis exhibition, serving as a liaison between The Anderson and my fellow artists and curating the layout of the artwork throughout the gallery. Having been under Chase’s watchful eye as his student throughout the year, he trusted and believed in me to take on the great responsibility of curating the exhibition for Qatar Week on our Doha campus!
Did you receive any support or guidance from someone in this curation process?
Absolutely! I couldn’t have put this show together without the incredible support and encouragement of Chase. His curatorial experience and overall seniority filled me with confidence and insight for taking on my first solo curatorial adventure. This show also wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Dina Alkhateeb and Meriem Aiouna, the Exhibitions and Lectures Assistants at VCU Qatar. I worked with them from the beginning steps of planning to the final moments of installation, and I am deeply grateful for their knowledge, support, and guidance. Not only did they provide me with the details and information I needed to pull this show together in their space, but they also offered companionship throughout my visits to their campus. Finally, my roommates and fellow artists, Abby Sucher and Ella Floyd, deserve a shoutout! Their continuous support through title brainstorming, statement reviews, and back-and-forth discussions about layouts kept me emboldened throughout this exciting process.
Did you learn anything from the alumni artists when collaborating with them?
Yes! Each artist, and their artwork, provided a unique experience when it came to coordination. I broadened my curatorial skills through collaboration by working with the artists to see what work they had available, which helped shape the vision I had for this show. Communicating with the artists about their work’s special needs—whether it was how we packed the art or hung it—expanded the knowledge I already had regarding art handling.
What were some challenges you experienced when curating the exhibition and how did you face them?
I don’t necessarily feel that I ran into any significant challenges, but there were some things I had to adapt to in order to move through the process smoothly. One of those was the time difference between Richmond and Doha. Being seven hours behind them required adjustments in response time and resulted in a bit of jet lag, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle! We also faced some international shipping challenges, but we found a way to get our art safely to Qatar.
What were your influences and references for this exhibition?
The focus from the beginning was to highlight the artists who had just graduated from the photography program in May. Having been a part of this cohort, I wanted to give my peers the opportunity to show their thesis work that we had worked so hard on for the better part of a year, as well as any new work that had not yet been shown. I was also interested in threading our work together through our range of photographic mediums and approaches. As I combed through the work, I was struck by how similar we all were in the topics we explored in our art. It was as if each artist contained a kernel of experience or interest that partially appeared in the next artist’s work, mixed with the uniqueness of their own life approach and perspective. As I reflected on our senior year together and the time we spent creating alongside each other, it struck me how lucky we were to have wound up here together, in this space and time. To share our backgrounds and learn from one another. Thus, the title To Think We Were Ever Apart was born. Amidst these heartwarming realizations, the purpose of the exhibition—and of Qatar Week as a whole—came into focus. This opportunity allows for a meaningful communion between the two student bodies and emphasizes the unifying power of art in bridging gaps between people and places. It was so exciting and gratifying to showcase our shared passions and experiences through this exchange of ideas and mediums across continents.
How do you think this experience has grown/changed you as an artist and curator?
I feel so much more capable of taking on an experience that may be new and slightly unknown. I knew I could do this when I was first asked to be a part of this opportunity, but I was nervous about the level at which I could execute something so important. Throughout this process, I grew more assured with each exhibition layout I created, meeting we held, question I asked, an idea I proposed. I learned to trust myself and my artistic and curatorial instincts. What was most profound was my ability to distinguish myself as a professional, confident in my choices—not just a student seeking guidance and approval.
How do you think VCUarts Photo+Film has helped you get to where you are today?
There are countless ways that our Photo+Film department has developed me into the artist and curator that I am. Our courses have taught me to think critically while holding an open mind to new perspectives and theories. I’ve learned to listen deeply to others and create space for reflection. We’ve been taught to dig deeper into reasoning and explanation—and then some. All the while, we’ve learned how to conduct ourselves professionally within our connections, artistic outputs, and community. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the professors who poured themselves into our education, believing that we had it in us to make it into spaces and opportunities such as the ones I’ve found myself in. Without Sarah Midkiff, I wouldn’t have known about—or been nominated for—the Applied Curatorial Practices class that sparked my love of curation. Jon-Philip Sheridan and Peter Cochrane expanded my perspective of the final visual and physical forms that photography takes on in exhibition spaces, which has influenced my curatorial approaches. John Freyer provided a stellar curriculum in our Professional Photographic Practices class that eased my worries and self-doubt about life as an artist after school and equipped me with invaluable tools to ensure personal and professional success. I am indebted to VCUarts Photo+Film—every professor, course, and peer has played a role in who I am today, and I know this will continue to prove true throughout my life!
Knowing what you know now, what are some things you wished you did differently during your time at VCUarts?
I regret not taking more cross-disciplinary—and even photography—electives! At the time, I felt like I was already so swamped with credits that adding another studio class would be too much. But now, I regret not expanding my experience, though it’s probably easier for me to say that now that I have a regular sleep schedule! I also wish I had immersed myself in our artist community earlier in my college career. Attending artist talks, exhibition openings, and other events through our university never fails to leave me feeling inspired and connected, and I wish I had taken greater advantage of that.
What’s next for you?
Ah, the dreaded post-grad question! If I’m being quite transparent, it’s a question I ask myself every day. This opportunity really filled my first few months out of school, and I’m hoping to continue my education in curating as I navigate this self-appointed learning experience. I am also excited to explore new ideas and questions that are forming in my personal art practice. I plan to travel internationally this next year and look forward to exploring myself and my art in new corners of the world, while immersing myself in opportunities where I can make a positive impact.
Follow Laela on Instagram.