The Museum Connects to the Community

Diversity of Museum Collection Shines Despite Pandemic, Docent Says

Harry Lindsey has been a docent at The Columbus Museum for about six years. A retired math teacher, Lindsey favors objects in the collection with clearly defined geometrical characteristics. Prior to the pandemic, Lindsey led many tours for students which often featured works that reflected his penchant for lines, grids, and angles.

But Lindsey also loves work in the collection that tells a variety of stories steeped in history. One such painting is Wash Day, Alabama by William Edouard Scott, ca. 1930, acquired in 2019 by the Museum's Alma Thomas Society. The membership group's mission is to acquire works by Black artists through the Fund for African American Art. Lindsey has been a member of the Alma Thomas Society since 2017.

"The Alma Thomas Society adds African American artists to the collection," Lindsey said, noting that bringing Black artists to the forefront helps shatter stereotypes of what people consider significant art or artists.

"The Museum shows a wide variety of things that can educate a parent and a student," he added.

Volunteering at the Museum has "taught me a lot of things," Lindsey said. "The museum gives docents as well as visitors the opportunity to look at an eclectic variety of paintings and experiences."

When the pandemic closed the Museum to the public for four months, Lindsey was unable to lead the tours he loves so much. But as soon as the Museum reopened in July, Lindsey was back -- even when the tours were not, due to the limitations caused by social distancing guidelines.

Instead, Lindsey brings small groups of family and friends, masked and socially distanced, to see objects from exhibitions and the Museum's permanent collection. He enjoys telling people about Hair Painting No. 29 by Jarrett Key and the artist's performance that created it, as well as Untitled by Burgoyne Diller.

Lindsey thinks the diversity of the collection -- from art to history, and even to math -- throughout the Museum is important for people, especially children, to experience.

"Kids need an outlet that's different from some of the other places," Lindsey said. "Most people don't realize the excitement that kids have when they come to the Museum."

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