Monday, May 30, 2016
The Beginning
Hello Everyone! I think I know most of you, but just in case My name is Jessica Pirkle and I am a master's candidate in Art History ( broadly Global Modernism(s) ) and I am seeking the museum education certificate. My internship is at the Dallas Museum of Art in the department of Interpretation! Now onto the first post,
I hope to literally just learn about how a museum works and what it is like to work within one. I have zero experience within museums. I have never worked at one or interned at one, let alone been to many in my lifetime. The entire internship will be a learning experience for me in every way.
I hope that I can make lasting impressions upon the people I will work with, as well as learn enough about what an Interpretation department does in order to possibly one day work in or help start the same kind of department in another museum. I really like the interdisciplinary feel of the department, that it is squished between museum education and the curatorial department.
I hope I am able to develop research and context materials that will be used in a gallery exhibition set to open next year. I also dream that my work will be published online for the DMA's permanent collection, which is a real possiblitity.
I suspect that the way the department works with other departments might surprise me and challenge me. In fact, my entire internship may be a challenge, due to what I've already been told, not many people, if any want to do what I will be doing. Also, the size of the DMA is a little challenging to me, I have a bit of social anxiety so I can be shy at times and it can be a real challenge to talk to strangers. I am intimidated but I know it will be an awesome experience so I am looking forward to it!
Happy Interning Everyone!
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Hello Jessica,
ReplyDeleteNice, you are at an awesome place, the DMA is one of my favorite museums. You are right, being not familiar with things can be a challenge at first, but as you start things turn to normal because you gain the skills. I hope you achieve your dreams and fulfill your experience with all sort of skills and knowledge.
Happy Interning to you too!
Fahad
Thank You Fahad!
DeleteSounds like you have a great experience ahead. I love the DMA and have been many, many times over the past 15 years or so. I have 2 very good friends who are the photographers at the DMA, Brad and Chad, if you meet them tell them I said hello, very nice guys and uber talented. The DMA is a wonderful place for you, it is active all the time, has a great collection and is always full of people, so your social anxiety should be gone by the end of your internship! I'm very interested to hear what the interpretation department does and I'm going to ask at the KImbell if we have one or not, sound cool! Please let me know if I can help in any way and I will you all the best and hope that you get as much out of your internship as I'm getting out of mine, I love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eben! I am still learning exactly what the Interpretation division does too, I now know it is under the education umbrella and how the DMA divides up its work load. It is interesting and each department has a lot of divisions. I walked past where the photographers are, and my division had nothing but nice things to say about how awesome their work is!
DeleteThanks for sharing, Jessica! Big museums are like cities unto themselves, they are hives of activity, and I am glad that you're up for the challenge of trying to figure out the DMA. I have no doubt that you will make very positive interactions on the people you work with and that, soon enough, any anxiety about being in the space will melt away. I look forward to reading about your summer!
ReplyDeleteKudos for taking on a challenge that is bringing you outside your zone of comfort. I look forward to reading more about your adventures.
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