Goodbye DMA

What I have learned at the DMA:

Specifically I learned how to use different programs such as Evernote, how the DMA organizes itself (meaning its staff and all the material it generates), and a lot about copyright! I learned what the Interpretation Department is and it’s function. As I have explained in a post earlier, I learned that I like jobs that keep me going and always guessing. There is no way I could do the same thing every day. The DMA is perfect for that since it is an institution that is encyclopedic and allows its staff to work on all sorts of art, or at least the education staff. I had never had an internship at a museum before this one, so my entire experience was a learning curve.

However, there are two short-comings that the DMA is working towards. The trickle down of information and leadership is short-sighted. The people in the offices do not communicate well enough with the gallery attendants and etc.., which they were all surprised to learn, actually get asked a lot of questions about the art. This topic was discussed in a meeting I attended and I was just as shocked that no one realized people ask them questions about the art as they were that people did that? There needs to be some sort of system that allows more fluidity of information passed from the curators and educators to the guards. I mean really, when you think about it, the gallery guards are who visitors come into contact with not the people in offices, more money and resources needs to be given to hire and find and educate those people. They can and do directly affect if a visitor comes back or not, not necessarily how high a painting was hung or if a wall text was too short. Secondly, too much emphasis is put upon comprehending and understand a piece of art versus a patron just looking and seeing! I understand why the DMA does this, that’s all the interpretation department does is help people interpret art that they may have no way of understanding, but why does someone have to understand it as it was intended. A person can place new meanings upon art, I think that can be lost in such a huge institution at times.

What I wished I had known before I started, augh I am having trouble with this one. I had such a positive experience at the DMA it is hard to find something negative, besides learning what the D3C’s do every day( which is the same thing ). It was honestly the nicest place I have ever worked at, everyone there was incredibly happy and sweet, I still had people saying hello to me my last few weeks that I didn’t even know. Maybe working in a museum requires and not so shy person, and a person who is willing to talk to anyone about anything at any time! You can be tucked away in your corner, but not for long! So shy people need not apply? I think you can of course be shy, but you have to be able to warm up or it may not be the career for you.

The advice I would give to interns after me is to be sure and tell your supervisor what you want to learn and get out of the internship. I was lucky enough to have Andrea ask me if there was anything else I wanted to do or learn, and there was, more about her! I had learned what people in the internship department are doing but I wanted to see more of a day to day schedule for her, because that is where I would see myself best fitting in. A leadership position. I would also caution fellow interns to not take it too seriously, have fun! They do not care if you are perfect at the tasks at hand only that you try and ask questions and pitch in! After all, you are only an intern not an employee so take advantage of that!

Overall, I have learned that a museum may be the place for me, but I do want to try out different departments to really see where I could fit in. I like the brainstorming that goes on in a museum and the constant push and pull on what a visitor may actually grab onto. At first, as I explained in an earlier post, I was terrified to start by myself in such a huge place! But I am happy with the people and connections that I made while I was there! At least if they do not remember my name, maybe they will remember my face! I am proud that I got to work with such a great team and on a project that is considered to be the first of its kind that is the Digital Project. My work will be published online, at some point, and the team is using some materials I put together for them. It felt good to actually go out and do something applicable rather than in theory land, which is where I live most of the time! I am proud that I got through all this pregnant! I would totally accept and go back to the DMA if they ever needed me!

See you all soon,

Jessica Pirkle