Print Study Room

UNM Art Museum Print Study Collection

The Print Study Room is located in the Lower Gallery of the University Art Museum and is open by appointment only. Please contact Sherri Sorensen, Assistant Curator, (277-2953, sorensen@unm.edu) or Michele Penhall, Curator, Prints and Photographs, (277 2868,  kapu@unm.edu) to schedule an appointment.

Individual Visits to the Print Study Room

Individuals who wish to see collection materials should email a list of the materials/artists they wish to study when they schedule an appointment. Collection lists are available in the Print Study Room and museum staff members are available to help define your search. Materials will be available for a scheduled return visit, usually 48 hours later. If students are consulting material for class assignments, please advise them to visit the Print Study Room early. Space is limited and only 4-6 students can be accommodated for individual viewing at one time. The Print Study Room Monitors will decide if the room is getting too crowded to be able to ensure the safety of works, they have been told to close the Print Study Room to additional visitors in that event.

Class visits

The Print Study Room may be scheduled for class visits Tuesday through Friday, 9:00-11:30 and 1:30-4:00, and Tuesday evenings 5:00-8:00pm. We can accommodate groups up to approximately 15 students. For larger classes we recommend dividing the class into smaller groups. Please contact Sherri Sorensen or Michele Penhall to schedule visits via e-mail wherever possible. Instructors should inform the Print Study Room staff of the materials they would like their classes to view at least one week prior to their visit.

Class Materials

Instructors may request a group of prints, photographs, or drawings be made available to students in their class. Instructors may choose 8 - 12 items (depending on size and condition) which will be held for students to consult. If there is an assignment based on the materials, we would like to have a copy of the assignment on reserve in the Print Study Room. Because several classes use the collections and space is limited, we ask that you limit material for written assignments to 8 pieces or less. Students should be told the dates during which the materials will be available, generally for not more than three weeks, and reminded of the Print Study Room appointment policy.

Please schedule your appointments early in the semester. While we do oversee your visit, we assume you will be lecturing and conducting the class. If you want us to speak about the work you have selected, please arrange for that in advance or at the time you make your appointment.

We hope you understand that our responsibility is to balance access to the collection with the safety of the collection. Our aim is to offer maximum access while ensuring that collection materials are adequately safeguarded.

• Visitors to the Print Study Room will be asked to sign in and to read the guidelines for conduct in the Print Study Room.
• Only Print Study Room Staff are permitted to handle collection material.
• Absolutely no backpacks or other large bags, food, gum, or beverages including water bottles, are allowed in the Print Study Room. Studio aprons are also not allowed. These items can be checked at the front desk of the UNM Art Museum.
• Students may bring a small notebook and pencil, to the Print Study Room. NO INK PENS of any kind are allowed. Please advice the Print Study Room staff in advance if you wish to bring in a laptop computer.
• We ask that visitors be aware of clothing, or jewelry—necklaces, sunglasses, ties, etc. –that may fall onto a print surface.

If you are bringing a class to the Print Study Room, please familiarize them with the caution that must be exercised around unprotected artwork. Remember that most undergraduates have not had any experience with original works of art.