Philadelphia Museum of Art - Information : Press Room : Press Releases : 1997

September 12th, 1997

Museum Names Installation Designer

Jack W. Schlechter, former Exhibitions Coordinator for The Carnegie Museum of Art (Pittsburgh, PA), has joined the staff of the Philadelphia Museum of Art as Installation Designer. Mr. Schlechter, who holds Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Kent State University, will work collaboratively with curatorial and other Museum personnel on the design of special exhibitions as well as installation and general needs in the Museum's permanent collection galleries and administrative areas.

During his tenure at The Carnegie Museum (from 1990 to 1997), Mr. Schlechter contributed to such significant projects as the Carnegie International (1991 and 1995), the restoration of the Hall of Architecture and the opening of The Heinz Architectural Center (1993), and a reinstallation of the Carnegie's European and American collections (1994). From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Schlechter served as Exhibition Designer and Head Preparator at the Akron Art Museum.

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mr. Schlechter will participate in the architectural design of such upcoming exhibitions as Recognizing Van Eyck (April 4 through May 31, 1998), and Delacroix: The Late Work (September 20, 1998, through January 3, 1999). Looking forward to these projects and others, Mr. Schlechter comments "The exhibition is the place where the ideas of the artist and museum staff meet an audience. I believe that an installation designer has the responsibility to take those ideas and present them to a visitor in an appropriate and digestible fashion."

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest museums in the United States, with a collection of more than 227,000 works of art and more than 200 galleries presenting painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, decorative arts, textiles, and architectural settings from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Its facilities include its landmark Main Building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Perelman Building, located nearby on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Rodin Museum on the 2200 block of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and two 18th-century houses in Fairmount Park, Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove. The Museum offers a wide variety of activities for public audiences, including special exhibitions, programs for children and families, lectures, concerts and films.

For additional information, contact the Marketing and Communications Department of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at (215) 684-7860. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 26th Street. For general information, call (215) 763-8100, or visit the Museum's website at www.philamuseum.org.