Gj

Gretchen Jennings

  • What I do, where I work

  • I currently edit the “Exhibitionist,” the journal of the American Association of Museums’ committee on exhibitions (NAME: www.name.org). I am always looking for leads on current thinking about best practice as well as innovative approaches and ideas for exhibition development. If you are interested in writing an article please contact me.

Positions

  • Director of Education for Interpretation and Visitor Experience at National Museum of American History, Smithsonian

  • Project Director for at Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History

  • Chief educator and then Project Director for Traveling Psychology Exhibition project at American Psychological Association

  • Deputy Director at Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center, Smithsonian Institution

  • Docent/Intern Coordinator at National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

  • Editor (1996-1999) at Journal of Museum Education

Recent publications & presentations

  • Invention at Play

    Invention at Play

    Case Study

    by Gretchen Jennings Published June 07 2007

    Developed by the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota, this exhibition aims to bring a fresh perspective to the topic of invention,...

  • Psychology Exhibition

    Psychology Exhibition

    Case Study

    by Gretchen Jennings Published May 03 2007

    The Psychology Exhibition was created as the major public education initiative of the American Psychological Association (APA) in celebration of its centennial in 1992. The Ontario Science Centre in Toronto was selected by APA as its partner in the...

  • Rencontre d'oeuvres (A meeting of artworks)

    Rencontre d'oeuvres (A meeting of artworks)

    Review

    by Gretchen Jennings Published September 25 2007

    The Matisse Museum has recently reopened after being closed for major renovations. Since the last time I visited they have put in much needed air conditioning and climate control mechanisms. The Museum does not have a large collection of Matisse's...

  • Marc Chagall: Monstres, Chimeres et Figures Hybrides

    Marc Chagall: Monstres, Chimeres et Figures Hybrides

    Review

    by Gretchen Jennings Published September 14 2007

    "Marc Chagall: Monsters, Chimeras, and Hybrid Figures" is a temporary exhibition ( 28 June-29 October) at the museum bearing the artist's name. The museum itself is a small, spare site on Cimiez, the hill above Nice. Set in a Mediterranean garden of...

  • Unexhibitable part 2

    Unexhibitable part 2

    Bit

    by Gretchen Jennings on February 03, 2010

    Maureen McConnell and I are reprising the game activity we hosted last year at AAM, where participants role play museum staff deciding whether or not to mount an exhibition. We need more examples of...