Behind the Scenes with the Curator, Elizabeth Nosek

Date and Time

• Monday, Mar 16, 2026  5:30pm - 6:30pm

Location

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Details

Behind the Scenes of Boulder EATS!

A Curator-Led Series with Elizabeth Nosek

Step inside the making of Boulder EATS! with Museum of Boulder Curator of Collections & Exhibits, Elizabeth Nosek. This behind-the-scenes series pulls back the curtain on the creative, collaborative, and sometimes complicated process of building a major exhibition.

From big-picture vision to the smallest design detail, discover how themes were developed, objects selected, partners engaged, and community voices incorporated. Along the way, explore how color, layout, and display techniques help transform artifacts into powerful storytelling tools.

Each session focuses on a different aspect of the exhibit, offering fresh insight into Boulder’s rich food history — and the choices that shaped how that history is presented today. Visitor-driven and conversational, these intimate tours invite curiosity, questions, and a deeper appreciation for the craft of exhibition-making.

Monday, March 16 @ 5:30 pm

Theme: Developing an Exhibit Focus: Cookstoves & Kitchen Innovation

How do you turn everyday objects into compelling storytelling tools?

In this session, explore how Boulder EATS! came to life — from setting goals and selecting partners to gathering public input and refining themes. We’ll examine the evolution of cookstoves, refrigerators, and kitchen appliances to see how technological change shaped domestic life in Boulder. Along the way, Elizabeth will reflect on the tension between “dream” concepts and practical realities — and how design decisions help bring history to life.

Saturday, March 21 @ 10 am

Theme: Developing an Exhibit Focus: Healthy Living in Boulder

Boulder’s reputation for health-conscious living didn’t happen overnight.

This session dives into how the exhibit interprets Boulder’s long-standing culture of wellness — from the Boulder Sanitarium and Kellogg’s influence to figures like Hanna Kroeger, and businesses such as Celestial Seasonings, White Wave, and Alfalfa’s. Learn how curatorial choices shape the narrative of “healthy living” and how themes evolve during the exhibition process.

Monday, April 13 @ 5:30 pm

Theme: Developing an Exhibit Focus: Table Settings & Dishware

What can a plate reveal about identity and community?

Using the exhibit’s striking wall of china as a focal point, this session explores how tableware reflects changing tastes, traditions, and cultural influences. Discover how individual pieces — humble or ornate — come together to represent the many voices that shape Boulder today, and how display design transforms functional objects into storytelling devices.

Sunday, May 17 @ 1 pm

Theme: Developing an Exhibit Focus: Cookbooks as Cultural Archives

Cookbooks are more than recipes — they are time capsules.

In this session, we’ll examine the exhibit’s cookbook collection and discuss how historians use these volumes to trace shifting tastes, values, and social norms. Learn how culinary texts help scholars understand who we were, what we valued, and how those choices continue to shape the way we eat today.

Cost: $20 Members: $10 EBT and Tribal Members: Free