As a former gallery attendant at an art museum, Osgood spent hours watching museumgoers peer into the cases, never dreaming that one day he would be responsible for overseeing such centuries-old antiquities.
“As a preparator or collection care specialist, I am the primary human contact with the collection and get to touch things a lot, which is a very cool part of the job,’’ said Osgood, who works with conservators to mount and dismantle exhibits or figure out the logistics of moving displays. “In a period room, you can’t go willy-nilly and just put a nail anywhere in historic wallpaper, since the entire building is a historic object to be cared for. You need to be cognizant that you’re hanging a piece of art in an environment where the very rug you stand on is part of the exhibit.’’
How did you go from gallery attendant to the front line of museum collections?
I’m a visual artist and a musician, and 12 years ago, while working as a museum attendant, I learned a lot about the collections by reading and talking with curators. My Cinderella moment came when I was offered a position as a curatorial assistant. I never thought a BFA would get me a 9-to-5 job, which is where I’m at today, after working in various museums.
How does your background as a sculptor help you care for the exhibits?
It’s a plus in this line of work if you know how things are made and understand how to take care of them. As an artist, it’s my natural compulsion to protect an object from any inherent weakness in it. For example, I never hold a teacup by its handle, as it’s the weakest part of the cup.
How many objects do you deal with?
