Observing, learning, and researching about the human experience through art and education

In Our Own Words: Native Impressions Exhibition | June 30, 2018–October 7, 2018

Hello everyone!

[Untitled] - Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Amon Carter Museum of American Art

It has been an amazing month at the Amon Carter Museum. My experience so far in the Interpretation and Public Programs continues to teach me not just about the artwork but about human experience.  I have had opportunities to learn by observing as well as researching for my projects. On one side, I get to observe the different styles of teaching to kids during the Story Time program on Wednesdays, on the other, I am developing my own program.


I absolutely love everything I do at the museum and I wish I could spend more hours there!  love both Public and Interpretation programs, I get to do research, come up with ideas for activities, and spending time with visitors. If I have to chose one, it would be Interpretation, which makes me feel weird to chose since I am happy collaborating with both programs.

Lunar Landscape - Louise Nevelson (1899-1988)
Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Asking "What do you see?" can seem like a simple question, but it is the first step to developing critical thinking skills. I started researching and preparing for my upcoming stories that I'll be reading in front of the "Untitled" mobile by Alexander Calder and the "Lunar Landscape" by Louise Nevelson. I feel really lucky to teach about the two amazing sculptures and read a story to kids. Besides taking notes from my observations of the education staff, I have been revisiting old readings from past Museum Education classes.

While it is a little bit nerve wracking to make sure kids and parents with huge backpacks don't touch the artwork, it is amazing to watch them enjoy the stories and participate in the activity area.The visitors have commented on how much they love the atmosphere of the museum. There is just a great vibe which comes down to people loving what they do. Which brings me to my experience in what I do in the Interpretation program!

There are three new exhibitions right now, the   "Multitude Solitude," "In Our Own Words" and "The Theatrical West." There is so much to say about each exhibition, but I will just say that each one challenges the visitor to reflect about our human experience in different ways.

In Our Own Words and the Theatrical West Exhibitions
at the Amon Carter

When I attend a training for new exhibitions on Fridays, the curators walk us through the most important information about the artist, the work, and the way that the exhibition is designed. There we learn about the exhibition, from the color of the walls and the placement of the pieces, to the importance that the exhibition has in our histories. With this information I am able to set up the Art Cart with interesting information about the process of the artists in that exhibition and I take notes about my observations when I talk to visitors.

There is an area in the "Multitude Solitude" exhibition where visitors can sit and reflect. The question posted is "when did you feel alone?" Some of the answers are positive affirmations about getting through tough times, and others are about people currently going through difficult situations. I was moved by their words in their response about the exhibition and their experience. This speaks volumes about the type of place that the Amon Carter is and again, I am incredibly fortunate to be working there this summer.

Two other programs that I have assisted with are the "Sharing the Past Through Art," a program for people with all stages of Alzheimer’ and "Trivia Night." Two completely different experiences regarding art and memory.

During "Sharing the Past"  I helped setting up chairs, and guiding people to the gallery, I was impressed by the Program manager in the way that she was able to teach about the art in a conversational manner that made the visitors think about their past. The way that Emily managed to speak and be quick to react to what the visitors were responding to is like a super power. I was also very moved, and sad. Their lives were full lives, and memory is who we are. I think about by own grandmother who passed away some years ago and had dementia. If I had known back then that we could have taken her to a program like this, I imagine that she would have benefitted from it. During this event I noticed some of the visitors were excited and participated while others struggled remember where they were and yet they had moments where I saw them smiling at something that someone in the group or Emily had said. Programs like these are so important for them to stay active and sharp, but it's important for us to know, learn and give back.

On  a lighter note, during Trivia Night, I co-judged the game. It was so much fun, the visitors came in teams of six and they answered questions about general knowledge. The teams were just a fun group of people and spent about an hour and a half looking at artworks and answering some fun and challenging questions. Katlynn and I counted the points and gave prizes to the winners of each round. I learned a few things myself from the questions.

So with all of this experience in such a short amount of time, I am writing for story time and interpretation. Wish me luck!

Until then,

Karla

So I'm wrapping up week 4 at the MBA and week 2 at The Bush Library and the experiences have been very different from one another. 

At the MBA I have done a lot of different things.  Last week I helped the conservator clean sculptures, gave several tours, and ran donations letters.  I am really enjoying the interaction and conversations with guests and just the overall variety the MBA allows considering it is a smaller museum.  At the Bush museum I have wrapped artifacts and am now contacting artists that painted ornaments for the White House Christmas in 2006.  There is no interaction with guests but its been interesting getting to see another side of museum and have conversations with those that work with the artifacts.

I'm still not sure what I want to do.....I thought I knew......but I know interaction with guests is important.  Its funny when you realize you really have become an extrovert!

Hi All!

Well, I finished my third week at the AC. Everything has been amazing so far!
I have had the opportunity to meet with the Director of the Education department. Once I got over the nerves, I was able to pick her brain and we ended up having great conversations about programs for people with Alzheimer's and, also, for medical students!
I have also had the opportunity to meet with the Visitor Experience Manager. All I can say to that is, WOW! I did not really understand what was involved with visitor experience. So, she pulled out the charts and statistics of the visitors of the museum. She explained how to survey the visitors and how that statistical information is used in correlation with the education department. The numbers show which audiences are coming to the museum (ex. teens, adults, dog-lovers, etc.) and the numbers also show which audiences are not coming to the museum. The museum educators can then see which needs are not being met and can brainstorm on how to reach those visitors. I had not given much thought previously to that sort of statistical information in correlation with a museum, so, it was a nice welcome into that category.
With my supervisor, the manager of school and community outreach, I have been observing and assisting with two major projects:
1. working with three community centers in Fort Worth, which started this last week
2. a new program with the Girl Scouts
So, you know those moments on a TV work sitcom when all of the sudden people get sick and then the newbie has to go and do a major presentation? Well, that happened to me. I had reviewed the lesson plans for the first session with a community center ages 10-13. I was prepared to observe and take notes. Then, the second teacher that is involved with the program was called away and I was given the opportunity to teach the art-making portion of the lesson to the pre-teens.
I remembered all those times I presented in class and tried not to be nervous, but nerves definitely kicked in when those 30 students were starring at me as I stuttered my way through the instructional phase of the art-making.
It was not the perfect first experience or impression I wanted to make, but, I learned a lot of what not to do.  Just like when we present in class, I need to learn to breathe and if I have fun presenting the information, the students will have fun.
The second experience we went to a different community center with both teachers there (but, this time the students were ages 5-7). I watched and learned. I took notes on what the educators did for next time.

This coming week I will be starting to work more on my project for the summer, working more with Distant Learning, and, also, be working more with schools (and specifically pre-schools!). The museum is really starting to turn into my happy place.

Life in the Internship World This Far....

Hi All!

My name is Leslie Gardner and this is my first post!  I'm so excited to read all of your posts and I look forward to reflecting on my experience. 

I am fortunate that I get to intern at 2 locations and so far its been 2 totally different learning experiences which I love. 

My first internship is at The Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas.  This place is incredible!  I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of the art and exhibitions here but they have some incredible pieces.  From the cast bronze of Michelangelo's work to Andy Warhol sketches, to Ron DiCianni and James Surl, this place has it all.  What I have enjoyed is getting to talk and work with the director each day.  The msuuem is small enough where we all do everything.  I have worked the front desk, taken inventory, worked on donation lists, and given multiple tours and I'm only wrapping up week 3.  What I'm looking forward too is spending some time with their conservationist Maria, so that I can hopefully get some bench time with her as she works with the objects.  Finally I have had the chance to meet some artists as they come in the museum from time to time and this has only increased my enthusiasm for this job!  So far I have met a lot of great people and look forward to the rest of my time here!

Finally my second internship is at the President George W.Bush Museum and Library.  This experience is very different from the MBA, as it is much larger and people stick to their area of expertise.  I will be spending my time here working in the collections and exhibitions department.  This has been very different so far because I have not had much interaction with people but much interaction with the artifacts.  I am wrapping my first week and I have pulled items for an exhibition in November and am now wrapping artwork so that it does not get damaged because of lighting and being in storage.  Being surrounded my the artifacts given to President Bush throughout his presidency is AMAZING.  Most the time I just want to stop and look but so far I'm keeping busy.  Not sure what else will come over time with this internship but I look forward to it!

Day 2, Interpretation and collections

Bernard Leach, Hoshi Yamada, Georgia O'Keefe, Laura Gilpin, and more, at the International Folk Art Pottery Demonstration in Santa Fe, NM. 

---

Good afternoon!

Last Friday was my second day at the Amon Carter. I still can't believe that I get to do this for the summer. I had an amazing day touring the library and archives, and looking at all the exhibitions, as well as spending time answering questions at the Art Cart. Both Interpretation and Public Programs are incredible ways to participate and learn about art, our history, and how we relate not just to the art, but to each other.

I met the research and archives specialist, and all knowing Jonathan Frembling. We talked about the history of DFW and the influence that Mr. Amon Carter had in shaping today's cultural district in Fort Worth. We looked at books and maps before the west was fully explored and documented. I got to see a real Joseph Albers simultaneous contrast study and a giant book of history with amazing illustrations among other things at the library. I will need to go back on a day off and spend a whole day in there. I had no idea that the library was open to the public!

I got to hold Laura Gilpin's camera in the archives area as well as her scrapbooks, which is what makes art history investigations possible! Without this documentation it becomes trickier (not impossible) to track and find the information needed for our history to be uncovered and shared. The first image (above) shows just how important it is that we as artists, and educators remain connected and informed about what is happening not just in our particular fields of art, but everywhere else. We are more connected than we think!

The Art Cart was another amazing opportunity to brush up on the history of photography. I got to talk to people about polaroids, and how the technical advances since the beginning of photography influences artists today to make incredible choices in their work such as Ellen Carey's exhibition "Dings, Pulls and Shadows." Take a look at my display and view from my corner of the gallery.

Until next time!

Karla Garcia

Museum artist collaboration at the DMA

For this internship, I am collaborating with the Dallas Museum of Art to create an interactive installation that will engage self-guided visitors. I will also develop a series of workshops centered on my art practice, a proposed theme, and hopefully also the museum collection.

The internship began actually early last fall, with the application process, as it involved conceiving the collaboration in itself. In other words, I had to think from the point of view of a museum professional, a visitor and, of course, an artist, to propose  a project and a theme that will engage visitors. I proposed the theme of home, a very relevant topic for the Dallas area right now, as many people who live here have been displaced by a natural disaster, immigration or gentrification.  This is particularly true about Oak Cliff, the closest neighborhood to the Art District where the DMA is located. My proposal is a combination of drawing and photography, in which visitors contribute drawings of homes which I will then compose in a single cyanotype print. This way, the homes that normally live in different cities and even realities (with dream homes included) will form one neighborhood. McMansions and humble abodes will be next to each other. My expectations were lofty and thinking mode was idealistic! I couldn't wait for the summer, when the project was scheduled to run, to put those lofty ideas into practice.

IN the months running up to it, there were numerous meetings with the education team, the curatorial, installation and conservation department that checked on how the project will fit into the whole and also help me with ideas of how to make it happen. As living within my artist identity, it felt weird that so many people were working to help me with the many technical - if not difficulties, then challenges - that surrounded the project. I felt both humbled and appreciative of the work of so many professionals who put their expertise at the service of my idea.

But there were many challenges that only I could solve - in the artistic process itself - and was it a very hectic, busy and excruciating last month and a half of the semester! Sunset Art Studios in Oak Cliff awarded me an artist residency where I could use the studio space and hold public events. Most importantly, I was able to solve the issues, adjust my expectations and practice flexibility. Enter the start of the actual project!

TO be continued.  Expect plot twists, severe weather events and close encounters with some amazing people.

The excitement of the first day as an Intern

Hello from the studio at UNT!

My name is Karla Garcia and I am an MFA graduate student in Studio Art focusing on Ceramics. I began the Museum Education Certification Program two years ago after giving birth to a beautiful girl named Frances. With one year left of graduate school, I am finally finishing up the Museum Education Certification program with an amazing internship at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. I feel incredibly fortunate to learn from the amazing team of educators and witness how much work goes into museum programming. Insert all the exclamation marks here!

The story of my first day begins with my Frances running around the house as she is fully embracing the "Terrible Two's" of Toddlerhood. The fear of running late, especially on the first day as Asami pointed out in her introduction, was nerve wracking. I drank half a cup of coffee and ran out the door. I got there with just a couple of minutes to spare, and the day began at full speed ahead with my new supervisors Emily Sullivan in Public Programs and Peggie Speirs in Interpretation.

Danielle Davis reads Little Elliot Big Family to families with young children at the entrance gallery.

A green Staff T-Shirt and a blue apron later, my first job as an intern quickly began with Emily's Story Time. I helped set up, and  then observed the front desk welcoming procedures, providing information and expectations of the Story Time program to families with young children. There were a total of four stories with the same theme of big and small. I got to observe Danielle for about two hours as she told the story of Little Elliot Big Family to different groups every 20 minutes. Danielle was magical! From toddlers to about 6 or 7 year old kids listened and participated in the story time. After coming home, I tried out one of the techniques during bed time story for my own toddler to get her to focus her energy on the visuals and story. She quickly calmed down and went to bed without a fuss.

Source: Amon Carter Museum

I'd like to add that besides continuing to learn about the museum education programs, it is a wonderful experience to be able to spend a day in a place where the high ceilings and light source of the atrium that displays Gabriel Daw's Plexus #34 site specific installation is just amazing and inspiring.

In addition to walking through a beautiful space, the painting that is featured in my post is titled Swing Landscape by Stuart Davis (1892-1964). He was an American artist born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The artwork explores the integration of technology, architecture, and jazz music of mid-century America.¹ Davis' use of bold colors, shapes, and space, depicts the Gloucester, Massachusetts, waterfront. It was amazing to see the kids learn about this masterpiece at such young age. Some of them related to the artwork through their interest in color and shapes, while older kids were able to see how the artwork interpreted a a cityscape.

For the rest of the day, I did the HR thing, got my badge. Then I learned that the architecture of the museum allows you to walk and not realize that you might be a couple of stories underground! I got settled in my shared office and started to document some of the projects that Emily organizes for kids. I can't believe that was just one day! I am ready to go back on Friday to learn about Interpretation, learn about the collections, and be able to help out in any way.

Until then!!

Karla Garcia
Public Programs and Interpretation Intern
Amon Carter Museum // University of North Texas MFA expected 2019

"Pre" Internship :) In the beginning...

Technically my internship started in January so this post is long overdue. At the beginning of this internship, I had a lot of expectations so I'll start there. After hearing about The Museum of Street Culture and their mission I knew I wanted to be a part of their team. So I wrote a proposal for the Texas Associations of Museums in hopes that I could advocate for this Museum at TAM but also to start a working/internship relationship with them as well. Well, my plan worked and they were happy that I wanted to spread the news about their recently opened museum. I then set goals along with the Art Education director of the museum to go to different conferences and use the Museum of Street Culture as my muse to talk about the big question; what is the role of the museum?

I  began this relationship because I wanted to be a part of a museum that was uniquely different in why it started, its mission, structure, and program system that is closely connected to social services. I was hoping to expand my own concept of what a museum is and could be. I wanted to understand how this type of museum can be funded and established. I also wanted to investigate if this museum was truly one of a kind. On a personal note, I wanted to get more experience in advocating and conference presentations.

Since I first began this partnership with Danielle Naylor the Art Educator of the museum we have presented at TAM and we will be presenting at USSEA/InSEA Regional Conference in July. We are currently working on proposals and research for NAEA, TAEA, and USSEA international conference.

A few things I have learned so far is if you have a good idea then don't wait for something to happen, you may have to make things happen. Another would be that working with a team has its up and downs and people have their bad grumpy days don't take it personally, it's just human nature. I'll talk about this more in future post.

The First Day (And before)

I had technical difficulties and realized my post did not post the Sunday before I started my internship, but here is the post again!

Hi all!

I am Asami Robledo, an Art Education doctoral student (also working towards earning the Art Museum Education Certificate!). I will be starting an internship at the Amon Carter (AC) Museum of American Art in Fort Worth for the next couple of weeks! My internship will be focusing on schools and community outreach. 

I am extremely nervous to start my internship at the AC. I have experience as a classroom teacher and the experience from presenting in classes, but no experience in the museum. So, that is definitely nerve racking. As I go through the internship, I definitely hope to gain experience and become more comfortable with various audiences. I will be working with the community of Fort Worth, schools, teachers, and distant learners. 

There is a lot of new and uncharted territory, but working with schools and students has a feeling of comfort. This is the part of the internship that I was expecting and preparing for, and also, my experience has (I hope!) prepared me for this part. 

I am super excited for every section of the internship. But, out of everything, I am most excited to learn about distant learners. This is something that I don't have any experience in. During my initial meeting, where Karla (an MFA student) and I met all the educators on staff, I met Danielle, who is responsible for distant learning. She uses a program called Zoom and a high-definition camera to connect and teach students across the country! 

***Addition:

My first week has concluded. I felt as if I was a broken record switching between saying "Wow!" and "That is awesome!" as I toured and met people in the museums. 

My first day did not start off as incredible as the rest of the two days. It started off with me waking up with an allergic reaction all over my face! I was in pure panic as I tried to get ready for my first day with swollen lips and an incredible itchy throat. Thankfully, Benadryl kicked in, so my face slowly returned to normal on my drive to the museum. 

I live in Allen, so, normally the drive to Fort Worth is an hour. Of course, during my first day, its going to pour rain. I left my house an hour and half early, but, because of the rain and traffic, I did not arrive until almost two hours of driving! Being late to my first day was my worst nightmare!

But, thankfully everyone was incredibly understanding. And lucky for me, there was no proof of my allergic reaction in my ID picture taken that morning. 

The rest of the day was much more positive! I met the head of education department, the head of community outreach, the head of school programs, and the head of distant learning! Every corner I turned, I met someone. The second day, I spent time with the librarian, which was an incredible experience. It is not everyday that I can say I held the program to the first 1927 Oscars or a book from the 1700's! 

I am already learning so much!

I will be posting every other week about the experiences. I am so excited to share the journey! The AC feels like it will be a turning point in my museum career!