Margaret Winslow is the Head Curator and Curator of Contemporary Art at the Delaware Art Museum in downtown Wilmington. Read her story as this week’s #PeopleOfWilmDE!
“I grew up outside of Shippensburg, PA and studied art history at the University of Mary Washington. My interest was in museum work, and I explored internship opportunities across the East Coast. I chose Delaware because of the Delaware Art Museum and its world-renowned Pre-Raphaelite collection. I was fortunate to become the curatorial assistant at DelArt following several months as a curatorial volunteer. It was an invaluable learning experience, supporting the museum’s reopening in 2005. After graduate school in contemporary art theory and criticism at SUNY Purchase College, I moved back to Wilmington and was hired as an assistant curator to oversee the contemporary program in 2009 following a program year with Public Allies Delaware. It’s been an incredible journey supporting contemporary art and now the Art & Learning Department at DelArt.
As part of my role at DelArt, I work closely with numerous organizations across Wilmington. Listening authentically and working together to realize various programs and projects is an essential part of my curatorial practice. I’ve also appreciated the opportunity to work with Public Allies Delaware Alumni in the past as well as the Creative Vision Factory and Chris White Gallery, to name a few.
Three interesting facts about me are:
- I’m afraid of heights but have sky dived.
- I love doing headstands.
- I was once a professional modern dancer and performed twice in the Philly Fringe.
In 2015, DelArt presented Dream Streets, a look at art and culture in Wilmington in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a chance to celebrate the legacies before us, the people and places that have helped shepherd us to where we are today. I was grateful to curate that show and work closely with colleagues like Iz Balleto (DelArt’s Community Engagement Specialist) to develop programs that highlighted the creativity of those two decades, honored our past and connected to the present and future. In 2021, we looked back again, this time to an exhibition held in the Wilmington Armory. Working with Aesthetic Dynamics, Inc., we restaged the show and presented Afro-American Images 1971: The Vision of Percy Ricks. DelArt acknowledged its discriminatory past and celebrated the contributions Percy Ricks made to this city, bringing his vision forward for consideration and inspiration. I was honored to curate that exhibition in close collaboration with our partner, Aesthetic Dynamics, and members of our advisory committee and grateful for the chance to share this history with so many across Wilmington.
I thrive on collaboration, on genuine partnership, and Wilmington has supported these efforts. It has nurtured connections among colleagues and built relationships and friendships that have led to my personal and professional growth.
I love Wilmington! I love its communities and its residents, its amenities and businesses, all the factors that shape its energy and its heart. I love living and working in the city, and I appreciate the many chances to work together with others to make this a vibrant place to live and thrive.”
Wilmington Favorites:
Favorite Wilmington Attraction?
“Wilmington Art Loop. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit galleries, museums, and artists across the city and witness firsthand the vibrant art community in our city. End your night at The Delaware Contemporary to discuss what you’ve seen throughout the evening.”
Best Place to catch live music?
“The Nomad Bar. Great live music and a lively atmosphere make a perfect combination.”
On a typical night off in Wilmington, if your out in Wilmington, where do you go?
“My ideal day would include a visit to a favorite café like Sleeping Bird, Scout, BrewHaHa or Kaffeina Café at DelArt followed by a class at Pure Yoga Pilates Studio. After a stop at Trolley Square Market, I’d take a walk around the river and by the Brandywine Zoo. I’d wrap the day up at Wilmington Brew Works with takeout from La Pizzeria Metro.”
Ideal itinerary for a night out/weekend in Wilmington?
“I like to start the night at Merchant Bar. I think the bar service and cocktail and food menus are fun and refreshing. While I’m downtown, it’s always fun to stop in at Huxley & Hiro or Lafate Gallery. For live music and events, I love The Nomad Bar and the Queen, and if the day and season are right, a visit to the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, the People’s Festival, or the Urban Artist Exchange is a must. If we’re outside of the festival season, I’d catch a dance performance by Pieces of a Dream, a play at the Delaware Theatre Company, a jazz concert at the Delaware Art Museum, or a movie at Penn Cinema!”
Insights and Future Vision:
“I’m excited about the continuous energy that reverberates through our city. Whether that’s through new exhibitions at the Chris White Gallery and The Sold Firm, programs at the Urban Bike Project, hundreds of guests at DelArt’s Sculpture Garden Happy Hours in the summer, or the opening of Impact Life’s Recovery Café on Union Street. Wilmingtonians identify needs and desires and find new ways to inspire and empower one another.
I’d like to see a city that always prioritizes the resources that allow our residents to thrive. These include support for basic wellness and safety needs as well as ensuring centers for learning and inspiration are funded. I’d love to see a city filled with art and nature, where around each corner you can find a sculpture or mural nestled with trees and green space.
Get involved! Attend a Fund for Women First Founders Breakfast, follow Network Delaware’s events, meet other arts enthusiasts at a DelArt happy hour or DelArt Readers night. Raise your voice! There are so many opportunities to connect with others who are similarly eager to make their city a great place to live and thrive.”
