Are you in gearing up for an installation and feeling stuck? Have an idea but are unsure whether it would be actually feasible to create/install/hang such a piece? Like hanging out with other artists and art preparators?
The Queens Museum’s Open A.I.R. Artist Services Program invites you to join John Wanzel, Chief Preparator and Exhibition Production Manager at QM, and Nicholas des Cognates, art handler and preparator from the QM team for a consultation.

How does it work?

Let us know why you would be interested in having a consultation with our preparators by following this link: https://queensmuseum.wufoo.com/forms/hanging-art-hanging-out/

Submit your answer by November 10th.

10 artists will be chosen based on their answers. All artists will hang out in a group with John and Nick and witness each other’s consultations, learning from each other’s questions, connecting to new artists, and getting specific solutions and advice on their own projects.
This event is free!

About the Presenters

John Wanzel is the Queens Museum’s Chief Preparator and Exhibition Production Manager. In this role he is responsible for the installation, design, production and upkeep of the museum’s exhibitions. His everyday tasks include building walls, electrical work, graphic design, mount making, framing, AV, IT and everything in between. Over the last fifteen years John has worked as a preparator and arts administrator at a wide variety of museums and exhibitions departments, including the Smart Museum, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the National Museum of Mexican Art, the School of Visual Arts, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he was Assistant Director of Exhibitions. John received a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from Parsons the New School for Design. His sound work and visual art have been presented in a number of festivals, galleries, museums, websites, and broadcasts.

Nicholas des Cognets has over a decade of experience as an art handler and preparator. This work has included packing, shipping and hanging art objects and artifacts, mount-making, conservation, exhibition carpentry and multi-media installation. In addition to the Queens Museum he has worked for the Jewish Museum, the New York Historical Society, Marian Goodman Gallery, and Frith Street Gallery among many other institutions. Nicholas has shown his own artwork extensively and been the recipient of several artists residencies, awards, and grants . He earned a BFA in Sculpture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MFA in Sculpture + Extended Media from Virginia Commonwealth University.

About Open A.I.R. Artist Services Program
The expanded Queens Museum features a new, expanded slate of artist services, including a brand new Studio Program, with professional development features and a networking Lecture Series that draws on human resources at the Queens Museum. Open A.I.R. programs will offer professional development topics targeted specifically to all interested emerging artists.
Open A.I.R. is made possible by a generous grant from The Scherman Foundation’s Katharine S. and Axel G. Rosin Fund. Additional support provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Questions? Email sjmo@queensmuseum.org