Meet AAMG’s January 2025 Member of the Month: Estela Garzón!
As Gallery Coordinator at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University, Estela is passionate about making museums inclusive and accessible spaces for all. This month, she’s excited to share her research on Jeremy Okai Davis, would trade places with Batman if she could for a day because who wouldn’t want to save the day in the Batmobile, and when she’s not curating transformative museum experiences, she’s diving into books like Sea of Rust. Oh, and her favorite joke? ¿Qué le dijo el cuchillo a la gelatina? ¡No tiembles, cobarde!
Thank you Sara for sharing your time and talents with AAMG! To learn more about Sara, visit our page!
What’s one thing — either industry/work-related or not — you learned in the past month?
During my research for the museum’s upcoming exhibition, Just Playin’ Around, I discovered a wide range of talented artists. One of these artists, Jeremy Okai Davis, paints portraits of Black athletes, writers, musicians, artists, and activists whose stories have not been told or are forgotten. Althea Gibson is one of the athletes featured. She was the first great African American player in women’s tennis. When she was granted entry into the major tournaments, she was the first Black player to win Wimbledon, the French and the U.S. Open titles. To say the least, Althea was a tennis titan!
What do you value about your membership with AAMG?
The incredible resources that AAMG has to offer. The Launchpad series has recently become one of my favorite resources because it provides access to a wide range of topics and is led by diverse panelists who are passionate about what they do and seem eager to share their knowledge. Looking forward to the spring sessions!
If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
Batman. He’s a no-nonsense man trying to make the world a better place and I am here for that. Plus, he gets to drive the Batmobile and wear a cool costume .
Coffee or Tea?
Neither! I prefer a nice tall glass of water or a chia seed smoothie.
Estela in front of Derrick Adam’s Eye Candy (2022). Photographer: Mario Gallucci
Book/Author suggestion?
My wonderful sister introduced me to the incredible world of Gerald Brom. Lost Gods is the book I keep returning to, but all of his books are worth He is a magician who takes hold of you with his world building, characters, and illustrations. I also absolutely love Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill. It is a post-apocalyptic robot western. Need I say more? A self-help book I always recommend is The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker. He shares how to trust and act on your gut instincts to protect yourself from danger.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
The dream of becoming an actor was always in my mind. I was intrigued by the idea of transforming into another persona, traveling the world, and working with talented directors and writers.
Estela moderating an Artist Talk with Narsiso
What do you enjoy most about being a part of an academic museum?
Engaging with the diverse communities on campus is one of my favorite things to do. Particularly with classes or groups who have never been to a museum or do not think art is relevant to their studies. Discussing art can be daunting. If you can find one person who is willing to engage with you, that courage can be infectious and suddenly more people feel comfortable sharing their opinions and thoughts about art, which is amazing!
What are your hopes for our industry?
Growing up, I did not think museums were for me because I never saw someone who looked like me, a Mexicana, represented in artwork, and museums were a luxury not a necessity. As a result, I have two hopes. First of all, I hope that one day admission to museums in the United States will be free. Second, I hope that we will continue to hire a diverse range of individuals at museums, from artists to curators to directors. Because museums are a necessity. We need them for the health of our hearts, minds, and souls.
Estela tabling at the museum’s Storytime
Bonus: Do you have a favorite joke to share?
Here are two of my favorite food jokes!
¿Qué le dijo el cuchillo a la gelatina? – No tiembles cobarde.
¿Por qué se fue el tamal al hospital? – Porque ta’ malito.