Sidney C. Hale
EDUCATION
2025, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA - Bachelor of Fine Arts: Studio Art; Minor: Art History
2023, Burren College of Art, Ballyvaughn, Ireland - Irish Art & Culture
2022, The University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain - Spanish Language & Art History
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Preservation Assistant - Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA - January 2022 to present
Complete repairs for library inventory such as hinge tightening, tip-ins, and sewing music scores
Handle historic objects and documents for preservation and exhibition purposes
Contribute to cross-disciplinary exhibitions by designing displays, providing additional research, and assisting with installation
Student Intern - ArtWorks Gallery, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA - January 2024 to present
Evaluate works for display, curate collections of work for exhibitions
Prepare gallery space for exhibitions
Install artworks of various sizes and mediums
Collections Intern - Madison Art Collection, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA - January 2023 - 2024
Prepare objects for display by evaluating their condition and providing necessary care
Create exhibition displays tailored to specific art and artifacts
Maintain collection’s digital inventory by facilitating mass data migration from Microsoft Excel to The Museum System
Conduct research on objects in museum collection
Research conducted through collections’ physical archive data and digital archive data via Microsoft SharePoint
Studio Assistant - Charlotte Potter Designs, Virginia Beach, VA - Summer 2023
Operated kiln and utilized glass fusing techniques to create pendants, earrings, and other jewelry items for sale
Evaluated website sales to determine which items need restocking
Provided customer service for patrons through online and in-person communication
Floor Associate - Starving Artist Studio, Newport News, VA - October 2020 - May 2021
Provided customer service to patrons by assisting them with ceramic techniques and anticipating their needs
Operated and maintained a large commercial kiln
Maintained organization of inventory
Graphic Design Intern - Virginia Creative Group, Yorktown, VA - Summer 2019
Created social media and website graphics for Virginia healthcare companies
Designed business cards, Instagram graphics, website logos, and more
Communicated with clients through telephone and email correspondence to ensure each design was satisfactory
Used software in Adobe and Microsoft suites, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
EXHIBITIONS
2023: Treasures of the Madison Art Collection, Lisanby Museum at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Role: Preparator, contributing curator - Contributed research and created a display for Russian Orthodox vestments/textiles
2023: Dangerous Beauty: Weapons as Art, Lisanby Museum at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Role: Preparator
2022: Celebrating 50 Years of the Marching Royal Dukes, Carrier Library at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Role: Curator, researcher - Collaborated with JMU’s Music Library, Digital Projects Department, and Special Collections
Provided content and research for an interactive digital exhibit
2022: 100 Years of The Breeze: JMU’s Campus Newspaper, Carrier Library at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Role: Co-curator, researcher - Assisted designing exhibition for display in Carrier Library
2022: Voice-Overs, Virginia Center for the Book, Harrisonburg, VA
Role: Preparator
GALLERY EXPERIENCE
2024: Annual Undergraduate Juried Show, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Juror: Angus Carter, Executive Director of the Staunton Augusta Art Center, Co-founder of Outside Arts Staunton
2024: Serenity in Stillness, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
2023: Up Next, SECAC 2023 Student Exhibition, Hanbury Design Studio, Richmond, VA
Juror: Chase Westfall, Curator of Student Exhibitions and Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University
2023: Introspection, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
2023: Annual Undergraduate Juried Show, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Juror: Katherine Tzu-Lan Mann, Fulbright Grant recipient and Instructor at Maryland Institute College of Art
2023: Wabi Sabi, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
2023: Thrift Shop, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
2022: What Fuels the Flesh, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
2022: Emotional Baggage, New Image Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Exhibition supported by Washington, DC artist collective “but, also”
2022: Annual Undergraduate Juried Show, Artworks Gallery at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Juror: Marie Fornaro, Designer at Ariat International
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
May 2024: Best in 2D Media: ArtWorks Gallery, Annual Undergraduate Juried Show
April 2023: Best in Mixed Media: ArtWorks Gallery, Annual Undergraduate Juried Show
April 2023: JMU Libraries Student Employee Scholarship, Issued by James Madison University Libraries
November 2022: Nomination for Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Award for exhibition, Celebrating 50 Years of the Marching Royal Dukes
REFERENCES
Julia Merkel, Preservation Officer at Carrier Library, James Madison University (540) 568-7040 -merkeljm@jmu.edu
Virginia Soenksen, Director of Madison Art Collection & Lisanby Museum, James Madison University (540) 568-2661 - soenksvm@jmu.edu
Dr. Maria Harvey, Associate Director of Madison Art Collection & Lisanby Museum, James Madison University (703) 762-6407 - harveymx@jmu.edu
Charlotte Potter Kasic, Executive Director of Barry Art Museum, Old Dominion University (757) 683-4669 - ckasic@odu.edu