Megan O'Brien
Art Tech/Creator/Museum Professional
Interests focused on visual culture, art history, and affect theory
Qualifications
5 + years’ experience in museum guest services and administrative work; collections, arts and records management, exhibition installation, art handling, shipping, tracking, and research
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5 + years’ experience in gallery and museum settings as an art tech; knowledgeable in fabrication and woodshop practices, matting and framing as well as vault monitoring and art packing; versed in GoogleDocs/Drive, Microsoft Excel/Office, task management apps, art quoting/shipping software and The Museum System
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Strong graphic design knowledge, proficient with collections management/registration; experience in wood-working, working with machinery and digital design software
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Masters in Museum Studies and Practices; Art History and Theory
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Highly adaptable, collegial, team-oriented, analytical, and creative; possessing strong communicative ability to co-ordinate with curators, educators, and artists
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Education
Curatorial Practice, MA., Hons., • 2017 - 2019 • York University
Art History MA., Hons., • 2017 - 2019 • York University
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Bachelor of Arts, Media, Design, & Art History, Spec. Hons • 2012 - 2017 • York University
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EXPERIENCE
Preparator / Art Tech • Freelance • Mar . 2023 – Present
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General duties include: gallery and object maintenance; lighting and climate control monitoring; vault intake preparation; exhibition installation and de-installation; object removal/transportation; packing/shipping and crating domestically and internationally for loans; preparing crates and packing slips for travel
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Experienced with matting/framing, fabrication, mounting, hanging, and didactic installation; familiar with machine power tools and woodshop use; handling artworks/artefacts of varying materials and ages; gallery maintenance
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Duties include: liaising with exhibition managers and curatorial staff on exhibition install/de-install and working with the team to meet deadlines
Preparator • McMichael Canadian Art Collection • Jun . 2023 – Present
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• General duties include: gallery and object maintenance; lighting and climate control monitoring; vault intake preparation; exhibition installation and de-installation; object removal/transportation; packing/shipping and crating domestically and internationally for loans; preparing crates and packing slips for travel
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Preparator • Royal Ontario Museum • Oct. 2022 – Sep. 2023
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Experience handling artworks/artefacts of varying materials and ages; collections intake and management
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Working interdepartmentally on exhibitions (install/de-install/packing travelling exhibitions)/object moving/loan agreements, liaising with curators, guest artists, and production staff
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Duties include: gallery and object maintenance; vault intake preparation and temperature control; object removal/transportation; budgeting loan proposal projects; packing/shipping and crating domestic and internationally for loans; preparing crates and packing slips
Fine Arts Coordinator • TOTAL Transportation Solutions • Oct. 2021 – Sep. 2022
• Specialized in international, local, and cross-Canada art-shipping/shipment tracking/scheduling; producing estimates in consideration of the project at hand
• Experienced in customs procedures (coordinating with brokers, 3rd parties, and partners) for international/cross-border shipments; building up clientele accounts
• Knowledge of artefact/materials handling and dry/climate storage facility procedures/requirements as well as creating cargo load plans for shipments with care for special placement/needs of works; working with technicians on developing specs for crates
• Exceptionally practiced in import and export declaration forms as well as facilitation for CCPERB, CITES, project management and logistics needs, with a sales focus and developing estimates/producing invoices for projects
Art Studio Manager • 4Cats • Sep. 2020 – Oct. 2021
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Overseeing and supervising studio staff and workflow; outlining role call daily for expectations including: gallery showings, general tasks, projects, training, and teaching art history/technical methods
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Experienced in multiple art materials handling; canvas stretching, clay and canvas storing methods and handling as well as powertool knowledge used for studio renovations to interior of studio space
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Handling client/customer service and member renewal, client accounts, registration, processing/handling monetary transactions, as well scheduling
Assistant Registrar • Royal Ontario Museum • Apr. 2019 - May 2020​
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Aptitude for waybill creation, shipment tracking and execution of gallery floor plans
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Prepared acquisition files for archiving, creating permanent physical and digital records on software “The Museum System”, collections management, digitizing records, and cataloging
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Created accession numbers and engaged with curatorial department on the numbering of catalogue objects and their reference acquisition files; corresponding via e-mail, mail, phone with curators and donors regarding sensitive information
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Aided in the development of condition reports for objects in exhibition It’s Alive (2019) as well, photographing the packaging and install for insurance purposes, and working on the object itinerary for loaned objects
Installer/Research Associate • York University, Goldfarb Collection Centre• Sep. 2018 – May 2019.
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Developed a virtual catalogue for Goldfarb objects to help with the organizing and classifying of inventory for internal, reference, and educational workshop use
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Experienced in collections management and content visibility: installed for Echoes (2019), a new media exhibition
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Planned for the intake of objects and development of content to promote exhibit through social media platforms for community-driven events
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Preparator/Gallery Assistant • Textile Museum of Canada • Sep. 2019 - Sep. 2020
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Trained in museum front reception; processing transactions, offering gallery showings, serving visitors by greeting warmly and directing them appropriately, notifying museum personnel of visitor arrival
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Maintaining security by following procedures, monitoring logbook, and issuing out visitor badges; supporting continuity among work teams by documenting and communicating actions and continuing needs
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Utilized knowledge of risk assessment/preservation methods with exposure to mounting techniques for displays; crate fabrication and experience packing/crating for art objects for cross-Canada transportation
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Experienced liaising with exhibition managers, artists, and project managers on presentation and care of objects for exhibits and events. Communing with managers on daily tasks, maintaining checklists, and working with team to meet deadlines and reading/understanding floor plans
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Worked on the installation and take-down of exhibitions: WILD (Oct. 2019 – Mar. 2020); travelling exhibition Tapestry of Spirit (Jun. – Nov. 2019); Printed Textiles from Kinngait Studios (Dec. 2019 – Aug. 2020); Anna Torma: Permanent Danger (Aug. 2020 – Mar. 2021). Primary focus was on installation, un-crating and re-crating works at the end of shows
Program Committee & Promotions • Robarts Library, York University • Nov. 2018 – Jun. 2019
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Met with sponsors and organizing committees to plan the scope and format of events, to establish and monitor budgets and to review administrative procedures and the progress of events
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Coordinated services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, conference and other facilities, catering, signage, displays, translation, special needs requirements, audio-visual equipment, printing and security
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Organized registration of participants, prepare programs and promotional material, and publicize events
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Connected with and scheduled guest speakers regarding content and delivery, including copy- editing and peer-reviewing when selecting speakers: taking phone calls, and recording minutes
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