Bloomington Leader

Grant DiDomizio, a graduate student at Indiana University Bloomington, is curating an exhibition titled "Indiana Women Artists: A Creative Legacy" as part of his internship with the Brown County Art Guild. This exhibition, running through June 29, highlights the impact of Indiana women artists across various styles and eras. Some featured artists have notable connections to Indiana University.

DiDomizio is pursuing a Master of Arts in curatorship, which he describes as an ideal opportunity to blend his passion for arts and humanities with his business administration background. His goal upon graduation is to secure a museum job in the Evansville area to contribute to preserving and promoting regional history, art, and culture.

The Master of Arts in curatorship program at IU was established in 2019 and began accepting students in 2020. It combines disciplines from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Students engage in personalized practicum projects culminating in a capstone project like DiDomizio's current exhibition.

Eric Sandweiss, faculty director of the curatorship program, noted that graduates often find roles in museums or pursue doctoral studies. He praised DiDomizio for finding a fitting opportunity with Brown County Art Guild that aligned with his interests.

Brown County Art Guild Director Sean Hildreth commended DiDomizio's initiative in seeking an internship following their renovation efforts. DiDomizio contributed significantly by managing database entries for over 600 artworks and historical items within their collection.

For his capstone project this semester, DiDomizio focused on organizing "Indiana Women Artists: A Creative Legacy." The exhibition features around 20 pieces from various collections statewide, including works by founding members of the Brown County Art Guild such as Marie Goth. Additional featured artists include Susan Merrill Ketcham, Ada Walter Shulz, and Elizabeth Stouder—all having ties to IU.

DiDomizio authored accompanying texts for each piece detailing titles, artist information, and artistic styles. He also created a map indicating each artist's origin and will lead a special talk about the exhibition on April 5 at the T.C. Steele site.

Hildreth expressed appreciation for DiDomizio’s contributions: “I think Grant has been an excellent intern and resource.” He acknowledged DiDomizio's knowledge of Indiana artists and effective collaboration with key organizations.

Hildreth remains open to future internships for students from IU’s curatorship program.