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How does that art get on the wall?

March 5, 2018

The man behind the installation of the incredible exhibitions at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum is the museum’s preparator, Frank Gonzales. Over the course of the season Frank will install and de-install a minimum of 100 works of art. As a preparator, he works closely with the curators to put together each exhibition, including layout, wall and pedestal preparation, and the careful handling of each individual art work. Frank is also an accomplished artist whose work you will soon be able to see in the Sky Harbor Airport Sky Tram extension for Terminal 2—he’ll be designing a terrazzo floor there for permanent installation!

Q: How long does it take to install an exhibition?

A: On average we allot two weeks. One for de-install of the previous exhibition and one for installation.

Q: Is there one tool you can’t live without, in your role?

A: Measuring tape. Half of my job is looking where I left it last. Haha!

Q: Do you have any advice for someone who aspires to be an artist?

A: Make lots of works and when you’re done doing that make lots more. Life’s a marathon, not a race.

You can see Frank’s work in showings in galleries and businesses throughout the Valley and beyond. See what he is up to at http://frankgonzales.net/home.html.