Jacob McMurray
206.355.5747
jacobmcmurray@yahoo.com
www.jacobmcmurray.blogspot.com
QUALIFICATIONS
- 16 years experience with museums, content development, exhibition design and installation
- Efficient project manager with experience managing budgets of $300,000 or more
- Innovative graphic designer focusing on print collateral, book design, and ephemera.
- Excellent organizational skills, ability to meet deadlines, and able to perform well as part of a team or alone
MUSEUM EXPERIENCE
Sr. Curator/Curator/Assoc. Curator/Researcher/Curatorial Asst.
Experience Music Project Science Fiction Museum, Seattle, WA
Specific exhibitions (acted as curator unless otherwise specified):
- Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound, April 2008. An exploration of Hendrix's musical influences.
- Message to Love: Remembering and Reclaiming Jimi Hendrix, January 2008. A contemplative look at the influence of Jimi Hendrix. Organized with Margie Maynard.
- Innersphere: Sculptural Works by Rik Allen, November 2007. A survey of recent rocket-themed works in glass and metal by Washington sculptor Rik Allen.
- Out of this World, June 2007. An exhibition of costumes and apparel from classic science fiction films. Organized with Therese Littleton.
- Sound & Vision: Artists Tell Their Stories, January 2007. An exhibition about EMP's Oral History Program, featuring hours of interview footage. Organized with Jasen Emmons.
- The Music behind the Magic, November 2006. Art director (organized by Jasen Emmons). An exhibition on Disney’s influence on popular music.
- Alien Encounters, October 2006. A collection of alien-themed fantastic art. Organized with Brooks Peck and collectors Jane and Howard Frank.
- Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion, May 2006. A survey of modern rock poster art, based on previous independently organized exhibition. Organized with Gabe Kean.
- SETI: Fiction and Fact, September 2005. Exhibition explaining the scientific and not-so-scientific aspects in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Organized with Brooks Peck.
- The War of the Worlds, October 2004. An exploration of the impact of H.G. Wells’ classic novel over the past century. Organized with Therese Littleton.
- Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame exhibitions, June 2004. Lead curator for a team of 5 to organize over 20 exhibitions for the museum grand opening.
- Paper, Scissors ROCK: 25 Years of Northwest Punk Poster Design, May 2003. A re-conception of an earlier independently produced exhibition on punk posters.
- Jimi Hendrix, August 2003. An exhibition about the life of Jimi Hendrix. Organized with Jim Fricke.
- Artist to Icon: Early Photographs of Elvis, Dylan, and the Beatles, June 2001. A group photography exhibition of rare and powerful images of three of rock’s greatest acts. Organized with Chris Bruce and Barbara Arnett. Traveled to more than fifteen venues throughout the United States and Europe (2001-present.)
- IF XI WAS IX: Roots and Branches, June 2000. Project manager. A kinetic musical sculpture designed by Seattle artist Trimpin, comprised of over 700 instruments.
2001 – Present
Independent Curator
www.jacobmcmurray.blogspot.com
Specific exhibitions (acted as curator unless otherwise specified):
- Accidents Will Happen: Stories From Rock Photgraphy, June 2008. Group photography show exploring chance and happenstance in music photography. Organized with Gabe Kean, Curt Doughty, and Marq Dean. Belle & Wissell Gallery, Seattle.
- The Seattle-Havana Poster Show, September 2007. A survey of contemporary screen printed posters from Seattle, Washington and Havana, Cuba. Organized with Daniel J. Smith, Pedro Contreras Suárez, and Pepe Menéndez. Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle. CDAV, Havana, April 2008.
- Place to Be, September 2007. Exhibition designer. Group exhibition dedicated to the works of the early 1970s British folk musician Nick Drake. Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle. Currently traveling.
- Beasts!, December 2006. Group exhibition featuring artwork from and installations inspired by the book Beasts!, edited by Jacob Covey. Organized with Gabe Kean. Belle & Wissell Gallery, Seattle.
- The Eight Essential Ingredients, February 2006. Exhibition of collaborative installations. Organized with Gabe Kean. Hugo House Gallery, Seattle.
- Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion, August 2005. A survey of modern rock poster art. Organized with Gabe Kean, Jacob Covey, and Dennis King. Bumbershoot Festival, Seattle. Traveled to Experience Music Project, Seattle (May 2006).
- Help Wanted: Collaborations in Art, March 2005. Group installation exhibition focusing on the collaborative artistic process. Organized with Gabe Kean. Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle.
- Mundo Gigantico del Rock, August 2003. A companion exhibition to the Flatstock 3 rock poster convention. Crespinel Studio, Seattle.
- Paper, Scissors, ROCK: 25 Years of Northwest Punk Poster Design, October 2002. An exhibition on Northwest punk poster art. Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR. Traveled to Experience Music Project, Seattle (May 2003).
- Jeff Kleinsmith, November 2001. An exhibition about Seattle graphic artist Jeff Kleinsmith. Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle.
1992 – 1995
Laboratory Assistant
Burke Museum, Seattle, WA
www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/
Cataloged several thousand artifacts from Washington state archeological sites; developed cataloging protocols for artifacts; assisted in NAGPRA collection inventory; supervised volunteers and undergraduate researchers
OTHER EXPERIENCE
2005 - present
Co-owner
Payseur & Schmidt, Seattle, WA
www.payseurandschmidt.com
Co-own award-winning small independent publishing house focusing on the production of limited edition, collectable art projects in book form.
2002 - present
Freelance Graphic Designer
www.jacobmcmurray.blogspot.com
Generate innovative print design for various clients including Random House, Dell Rey, Small Beer Press, Soft Skull Press, Tachyon, Counterpoint, Pacifico, Prime Books, Estate of Nick Drake, National Recording Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), Subterranean Press, Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, 826 Seattle, and Clarion West Writer’s Workshop, among others.
EDUCATION
1995
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology
Bachelor of Arts, Danish Language and Literature
Emphasis, Northwest Coast Native American Art
