A Conversation with Dr. Laferrière about the Antioch collections at the Princeton Art Museum

Mosaic fragment: Winter, mid-2nd century CE; Stone; 135.0 x 132.0 cm; Princeton University Art Museum. Gift of the Committee for the Excavation of Antioch to Princeton University1965-210

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Carolyn Laferrière, Assistant Curator of Ancient Mediterranean Art at the Princeton Art Museum. Dr. Laferrière began by delving into the history of Princeton's involvement in the 1930s Antioch excavations. She highlighted that the expansion of the excavation team which incorporated Baltimore was necessitated by funding constraints. Despite collaboration with other institutions, Princeton maintained a prominent role, currently caring for 34 mosaic fragments, over 350 boxes of small finds, and the archival material from the excavations at Antioch. Reinstallation of Antioch materials in the new Princeton Art Museum aims to spotlight these less-explored facets of Antioch, featuring displays of small finds and field notes alongside the mosaics. Dr. Laferrière also elaborated on how the renovations will facilitate new dialogues with the mosaics. Floor inlays will enable visitors to walk over and engage with the artifacts in their intended context, fostering a dynamic interaction. Furthermore, the reimagined space will juxtapose modern and ancient art, encouraging meaningful conversations between the two. During the session, attendees also seized the opportunity to inquire about Dr. Laferrière's career journey. -Zachary Bahar