Staff Highlight: Steve Eichner
Meet Steve Eichner, Visitor Services
Steve has been with BRAHM since 2016. Weekend visitors to the Museum will recognize Steve as the friendly face behind the front desk who gives museum information, answers questions, and lends an abundance of witticisms.
Though Steve’s official title is attributed to “Visitor Services”, it was his interest in exhibitions and experience working with collections that originally brought him to BRAHM. After leaving his position as registrar at App State’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, he thought BRAHM’s curator, registrar and collections manager (a one-person operation at the time) might be interested in some assistance with the many aspects of curatorial and collections work. She gratefully accepted and, after a period of volunteer work, Steve was able to “claw his way up to a part-time position with BRAHM”. He continues to offer his assistance with exhibitions and collections now, in addition to his work helping visitors. (I should also mention that Steve always has comic relief at the ready in a crisis... or just a staff meeting).
Steve’s museum and collections experience is extensive and began with a work-study position in Penn State’s rare book collection, followed by a move to Yale University, where he worked in preservation, cataloging and ultimately running a departmental library in the 1990s. His ensuing career in library collections and museum work included the Chrysler Museum Library in Norfolk, Virginia; the University of Washington’s special collections and serials services; and the Utah Museum of Fine Art in Salt Lake City, all before finally landing in Blowing Rock when his wife Joyce accepted the position of Dean at Appalachian State’s Belk Library in 2013. When wryly asked “So you enjoy paperwork?” Steve replied, “I appreciate the importance of documentation and contractual agreements. This type of paperwork is significant and necessary for any collection, whether books, artwork, historic objects, anything. Acquisition and loan paperwork is the foundation for the information that all museums must be able to access at any time - what you have, why you have it, where it is, and how you got it. Wait, what was your question?"
“Acquisition and loan paperwork is the foundation for the information that all museums must be able to access at any time - what you have, why you have it, where it is, and how you got it. Wait, what was your question?”
Originally from Eastern-Central Pennsylvania, Steve now “exists in the mountains” where he loves to drive the “curvy roads through the lumpy landscape” in his gleaming blue Corvette. After living in larger cities, he appreciates never being stuck in traffic, besides the occasional three-minute stall in Boone (which drives the rest of us crazy). “Here, you are two hours from everything you need outside of Boone and Blowing Rock. It’s nice living near a moderately-sized university. There are always things to do.” Kind souls with an affection for animals, Steve and Joyce have taken in all manner of shelter pets, Joyce even serving on the board of the Watauga Humane Society.
Steve’s good-humored and generous spirit is so uplifting. He is always able to lighten the mood while offering a deep wealth of expertise in the realm of exhibitions and collections. His kindness lends well to visitor support and does not go unnoticed. Thank you, Steve, for your many contributions to BRAHM.
