I’m beginning this post with an image of the beautiful cover of Sculptural Photographs, the new book by Patrizia Di Bello, Senior Lecturer in the department, just published by Bloomsbury. While there is a growing body of work examining how photography has contributed to the development of a Western ‘sculptural imagination’ by disseminating works, facilitating the investigation of the medium, or changing sculptural aesthetics, this study focuses on how sculpture has provided not only beautiful and convenient subject matter for photographs, or commercial and cultural opportunities for photographers in the market for art reproductions, but also an exemplar for thinking about photography as a medium based on mechanical means of production. Warm congratulations to Patrizia!
For those of you in the market for jobs in the visual arts, a message from a team you should know about, Birkbeck Talent:
Are you looking for a new job in History of Art? Birkbeck Talent is Birkbeck’s exclusive recruitment agency for Birkbeck Students & Graduates. We have a number of roles available, from Internships to Permanent positions, both part time and full time. We work with a number of organisations such as the V&A museum and the East India Company. You can access the jobs board through your MyBirkbeck Profile on the home-page – please take a look and let us know if any of the roles interest you. Please also follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for all the latest information.
They have a particular job advertised now with a deadline of this Monday 28 May (there goes your bank holiday…). It’s a Catalogue Research Assistant post for an international art services business – more here: Catalogue Research Assistant role.
And the jobs board refered to above has another relevant role, this one with a bit more time before the deadline of 11 June:
Blythe House Decant: Head of Collections Moves Programme
£55,000 per annum
Fixed term contract until March 2023
More on the jobs board – accessible via your My Birkbeck profile…
I’ll continue to feature art history-related jobs in this blog as they come my way.
And on the topic of life-changing opportunities, do think about coming along to upcoming information evenings on MAs and PhDs in the department. These evenings are really worth attending if you’re considering further study – they’re an opportunity to hear the latest on what’s on offer, to speak to staff teaching on the programmes, find out about the application process, and, even more interesting, get a look at who else might be applying!
MPhil/PhD Information evening, Tuesday 11 June 6pm, 30 Russell Sq room 101 (this one will feature current PhD students to give you the student’s-eye-view of the transition from MA to PhD study.)
A couple of fascinating-sounding Renaissance talks coming up:
Murray seminars in Medieval and Renaissance Art: 5 June, 5pm, Keynes Library, Michelle O’Malley, the Warburg Institute, ‘Botticelli: A conundrum of production’
And finally, the end of term is coming up, which means parties! Two of them this year for your diary…
29 June 6-8pm, a Garden Party in Gordon Square, celebrating the Department of History of Art’s 50th anniversary (all current and former students should have received an invitation and a link and password for booking – please get in touch on l.topp@bbk.ac.uk if you haven’t)
6 July 6-8pm, the Staff & Student End of Term Party (please bring a bottle/food to this one), Gordon Sq G04
See you there!
