Studio art students gain new appreciation for art as OUMA museum gallery assistants

Valeri Cruz '23
August 7, 2025

Eloa Noir and Gabriela Dumar Jarava smile brightly while installing artwork into the wall. — Eloa Noir (left) and Gabriela Dumar Jarava (right).

While Oglethorpe’s campus was mainly quiet over the summer, the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art was buzzing with energy thanks to the hard work of museum gallery assistants Eloa Noir ’27 and Gabriela Dumar Jarava ’27.

With the guidance of Museum Director Elizabeth Peterson Jennings, Noir and Dumar Jarava spent much of their summer doing extensive behind-the-scenes work, like organizing the museum archives and installing the 2025 Alumni Art Exhibition and The Core Self exhibition. Their close collaboration on specific assignments made the two studio art students realize they made a great creative team.

Student painting a mural that says "The Core self." — Dumar Jarava (pictured here) and Noir spent a week painting a mural for “The Core Self” exhibition.

Noir expressed that she was intimidated about taking on her first exhibition installation, but has since felt empowered to ask questions and problem-solve with her fellow museum gallery assistant. As a studio art student, working in the museum has only enriched her academic experience and made her appreciate the work museum professionals do.

“The job isn’t as easy as it seems, as we have had to use both sides of our brains fully, by applying both our artistic and mathematical knowledge. My artistic lenses have not only changed in the workspace but also outside of this workspace,” says Noir.

Eloa Noir installing art works in a wall. — Eloa Noir installing artwork in the Turner Lynch Campus Center.

“I have noticed when seeing other small layouts of artwork, whether going to other museums, small stores around Atlanta, or even restaurants, that I can fully understand the curator’s objective,” said Noir. “Thus, this enriched knowledge has truly changed me for the better as a growing artist and has allowed me to get excited about curating exhibitions in the future.”

The two students’ chemistry with each other has made their jobs easier, allowing for effortless collaboration and genuinely enjoying their work. Both students value the museum and its mission and hope to enhance its visitor experience.

“So far, my favorite aspect of working in the museum is the creative feedback we share,” says Dumar Jarava. “Our dynamic enhances our projects and makes our work more fulfilling. We have a community of art, curation, education, and design, where we all share our different perspectives and together we inspire each other to innovate. We really care about making this a place where everyone feels welcome and able to bring their own vision to life.”