, a hub for more than 450 privately funded art foundations worldwide. Thanks to the generosity and vision of founders Jim and Susan Hill, Esker presents free exhibitions from all over the world, and, thanks to Doug Haslam, the Esker’s head preparator, each is installed superbly.
The paradox of Haslam’s job is that the better he does, the more invisible his work becomes. “The beauty of working here is that every day is a new day,” he says.Seated in the architectural “nest” space suspended above the gallery floor, Haslam talks about the range of projects on his plate. Front-of-mind at the time of our chat is problem-solving the delivery and installation of the Pulse of the Planet exhibition by Sydney/Paris-based artist Mel O’Callaghan.
Haslam is also in the early stages of planning for an upcoming Esker exhibition of historic objects from the Museum of Fear and Wonder, a collaborative project of brothers Brendan and Jude Griebel, who house their collection in a renovated army barracks just outside the town of Bergen, Alta. Along with that, Haslam is considering what might be required for a showing of crash test dummies in Care and Wear: Bodies Crafted for Harm and Healing .
At Esker, Haslam has mounted more than 30 major exhibitions in the main space and has helped with the installation of a similar number for the 9th Avenue street-level window project space. He has a knack for making supports, bases and mounts that are in tune with the art and the artists’ intentions. He has a fully equipped workshop for construction and mount-making on the ground floor of the building, adjacent to the loading dock and uncrating area, and an office upstairs in the gallery.
Unlike other preparators who tend to avoid opening-night celebrations, lest someone ask them to make last-minute changes, you can usually spot Haslam in the crowd on the first night of a new exhibition, wearing his signature suspenders.Leave this field empty if you're human:This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.