Amy Whitaker

On Thursday, September 17, 2009 Amy Whitaker spoke to Ellen Nelson’s AP Art History class on her debut book, Museum Legs: Fatigue and Hope in the Face of Art, so named to reference a term associated with art fatigue. 

Museum Legs begins with the question, “Why do people get bored and tired in art museums, and why does that matter?” and explores the business and political angle of art museums, but keeps the heart of creativity alive in the piece.

“I wanted people to know their skepticism is acknowledged and to feel like they were artists themselves,” said Whitaker on reasons why she wrote the book.

During the lecture to the 15 AP Art History students, Whitaker shared anecdotes dealing with curators of museums down to the workers hanging paintings in the galleries. She spoke of the different areas of museums in which not only art students, but anyone an interest in art, could participate, saying, "I believe museums are public education institutions.”

Before ending the discussion, Whitaker gave the students a bit of advice: “Be confident in the education you are receiving and you will flourish in your ventures.”

At the duration of her talk, students were encouraged to ask questions. One student asked where business was applicable in the museum world, with Whitaker responding that "economics is important to any business strategy, and a museum is a business."

Whitaker received her M.B.A. from Yale University, an M.F.A. in painting from The Slade School of Fine Arts in London. She has work experience in The Guggenheim, The Tate, and other well-known museums.