Meet the Board: Tammy Perakis Wallace
Tammy Perakis Wallace, Assistant Director - Richard M. Ross Art Museum
Tell us a little bit about where you work and what you do there?
I am the Assistant Director at the Richard M. Ross Art Museum, part of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. Not only do I function as gallery attendant, security, secretary and key-keeper, but I curate exhibits, program one of our satellite galleries, and have a major role in all our exhibition schedules. I work closely with our artists, pick up and deliver work, and install and dismantle every exhibit. I am a community liaison; I work closely with our National Advisory Board, and handle all the financial records for the museum.
What is your earliest museum memory?
The old COSI with the giant pendulum in the lobby, and the Invisible Woman (or was it a man) presentation in the darkened auditorium. I loved that place!
What led you to go into the museum field?
I really just fell into it. I offered to help install the first exhibit at the newly created and renovated Ross Art Museum. Then, I offered to help gallery sit for a month, and 17 years later, I’m still here!
What is your workspace like?
My office is the hub of the administrative functions of the museum. We are housed in a renovated U.S. Post Office built in 1911, so I have beautiful wainscoting, palladian windows, functional cast iron radiators, and high ceilings along with modern office accoutrements such as a security monitor, copier and filing cabinets.
What item in your office can you not live without?
My 25’ tape measure
Describe your favorite work memory. What was your best day like?
My best day was when we dedicated the largest gallery; I had curated an exhibit including all forms of fiber artwork in honor of our benefactor, and am still very proud of the installation.
What does your dream museum look like?
A lot like the Ross Art Museum, with the addition of more accessible classroom and archive space so we could really increase our opportunities to share our collection with students, faculty and the community. Plus more staging and prep space on the main floor, and maybe a little café where I could get good coffee!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Never ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. Meaning that I sometimes shovel snow, clean up spills, get rid of dust bunnies and haul sculpture stands down the basement steps. Unless it’s something I just don’t know how to do, I pitch in when it’s necessary. We all want the museum to be the best it can be.
What are you currently reading?
Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It would be so easy to become intimidated by the credentials of all the other OMA board members, who are so accomplished and knowledgeable about all things museum-related. The professional development resources and networking opportunities available through OMA are so vast that I feel very honored and fortunate to be in a position to take advantage of them. Every meeting, blog post, newsletter and workshop gives me more information to use in improving the Ross Art Museum, our operations, and our work with all our constituents. I hope that everyone who works with art museums, historical sites, zoos, history or children’s museums, halls of fame, etc., joins OMA and puts all these resources through their paces to help their institutions and their own professional development. The more you know, the better you can serve!