ABOUT US

ANNA KERN

I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. I realized at a very young age that I felt most fulfilled being outdoors. I spent most of my time as a child playing in the creek that ran through our front yard with my two brothers. On weekends, my family would often go out to our land (FM 900) and I would spend hours in the woods.

My mom instilled in me a love for cooking; since I was a young girl, I would spend most nights in the kitchen cooking with her. As I cooked, I would often daydream of growing a garden – of walking into my backyard and picking everything I need to make a meal. On a few occasions, I recall my five year old self gathering leaves and plants from our backyard, stirring them up, and serving them on my tiny tin toy plates to my brothers. Fast forward many years, still an avid cook, I not only want to fully understand where my food comes and to be able grow it myself, but more importantly, to be able to instill this in others.

Professionally, I have spent the last ten years in the art industry. I received a Masters in Art History in 2016, with a focus on contemporary art. I have experience in a variety of realms, serving as a Gallery Director, working for the Rachofsky Warehouse in Dallas, assisting in managing multi-million dollar private art collections, and for the past three years, as NorthPark Center’s Manager of Arts, I have managed the Nasher Haemesiegger art collection, curated rotating art exhibitions, and have spearheaded a multitude of related art programming.

MICHAEL HITCHCOCK

I grew up in Navarre, Florida. During my early childhood, I lived in a log cabin made by my parents on a bayou and spent most of my time outdoors. My mom introduced me to gardening at a very young age through my family’s square foot vegetable garden in their backyard. My dad  was a sailor instilling in me a love for water and the outdoors. I have carried a respect and an inclination towards nature and working with my hands throughout my life. I’m an avid outdoorsmen with training in outdoor leadership, have experience building off-the-grid structures (cob homes, container home, farm infrastructure), and have continually relied upon my resourcefulness in all that I accomplish.

I uprooted from Florida in 2010, relocating to San Antonio. Professionally, for the past twelve years, I have worked with some of the best conservators, curators, registrars, and artists within the art industry. I have served as Exhibition Preparator at Blue Star Contemporary Arts; I have led a small team in San Antonio in spearheading the opening of the Briscoe Western Art Museum, including the preparation, collection, and condition reporting of over 1,000 objects; with this experience, I grew an appreciation and love for Texas and its history.

As Preparator at the McNay Art Museum, I installed all traveling exhibitions and worked closely with the Andy Warhol Museum and the Vitra Design Museum. From 2013 through 2017, as the Preparator for the Digitization of the Collection at the Dallas Museum of Art, I digitized the permanent collection, consisting of 23,000 objects, and installed both permanent and rotating installations. Most recently, I served as the Head Preparator for Artemis Fine Art Services in Dallas where I planned and managed all installations for the major art collectors and benefactors in the metroplex. I additionally managed a team of 18 employees, hired and trained future art handlers, estimated and scheduled all local jobs, and budgeted costs for installation logistics.