Projects
Itdl 210 - Cary Collection Esther Scroll
Over the last year and a half, I have been imaging, analyzing, and researching the Cary Collection’s Esther Scroll. The scroll was created sometime in the 1750s, possibly in Italy, for and by Sephardic Jews. The information was provided by Shani Avni who had done previous work on the scroll. It is just under 9 feet long, and 3 inches wide.
Imaging was done in one-hour intervals from Week 4 (September 20th, 2024) to Week 5 (September 27, 2024) using the RIT MISHA - Multi-Spectral Imaging Software for Historical Artifacts. I had help from the MISHA team, Renée Guerin, Collin Fluke, and Keshav Sasanapuri. Megan Winnick, the Special Collections Coordinator, was at these intervals to oversee the care of the Esther Scroll. I then finished the rest of the Imaging Process on November 1st with help from Renée Guerin, Dr. Juilee Decker, Dr. David Messenger, Dr. Roger Easton, and Dr. Karen Braun
It is currently unknown what ink was used to create the scroll, which is one of the questions that is being researched. I plan on continuing my work into 2026.
Breaking Ground
Breaking Ground showcases the way the architecture and the campus of RIT have changed since the University moved to its current location in the 1960s. The exhibit focuses on Saunders College of Business, the SHED, MAGIC Spell Studios, Wallace Library, the Interfaith Center, and NTID.
Work on the exhibit concept began in 2022 when Dr. Juilee Decker realized the momentum of the building initiatives at RIT, the grand opening of the SHED, and the renovation of Max Lowenthal Hall.
In the early 2024 Spring Semester, I began to condition report the objects on loan for the exhibition. By February, we, alongside Museum Studies majors Riley Mason, Carolyn Lee, and Bella Paniccia were researching the history of the current campus and writing the label copy for the buildings and projects showcased in the exhibition. In addition, two other students—Sam Paniccia and Drake Saysomvang—provided invaluable research and installation help.
The exhibition includes a timeline of the construction of each building, through the use of the shovels used in the Groundbreaking Ceremonies that took place at the start of construction. Visitors are also welcome to pick up a 3D-printed model of the SHED and other freebies, while supplies last.
Tiger Pride: Ritchie and Spirit
Our tiger mascot has evolved a lot since we became the Tigers in the mid 1950s. Ever since his inception, our costumed mascot, now RITchie, has been a staple at sports games and special events around RIT. There were early costumed mascots that looked more like pajamas than the felt-and-foam heads we’re used to seeing now. No matter how he looked, he was always getting into antics! We see him dunking a basketball, intimidating a ref after a bad call, and even skydiving into a soccer game!
We also had not one, but two live tigers adopted by students! The tigers, named SpiRIT (Student Pride In RIT) and SpiRIT II, lived very different lives. SpiRIT lived on campus for a short time, until he grew too big, at which point he moved to the Seneca Park Zoo. SpiRIT II lived his whole life at the Seneca Park Zoo and was sponsored by students to live a healthy life in captivity. These days, the closest you will get to seeing a “live” tiger on campus is seeing RITchie at special events or checking out the preserved pelt of SpiRIT in the RIT Archives.
In this exhibit, we invite you to explore the evolution of RITchie through the years, his deep connection with Student Pride in RIT, and the tigers that take that name
Threads of Humanity: The Significance of Headwear
Threads of Humanity: The Significance of Headwear was an exhibition curated and installed for the class MUSE 354 Exhibition Design. We partnered with a local collector who curated 20 hats from her collection.
Students coordinated, wrote label copy, researched, and installed the exhibition in RIT’s University Gallery. The exhibition was up from Tuesday, March 18, 2025, to Saturday, April 12, 2025.