Museum experience and planning for the future

Art Cart activity for Gabriel Dawe's site-specific installation Plexus No. 34. Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas,

Hi everyone,

I have been a little on the quiet side these last few weeks. Reading everyone's posts really helps not just in sharing our unique experiences, but also know that we are going through challenges and triumphs together.

Alexander Calder, Untitled, ca. 1942
Painted aluminum sheet,
steel sheet, steel wire
Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas 

In my Public Programs part of the internship I created content for my first story time to families with young children for their weekly program on Wednesdays. I read "Slowly, slowly, slowly, said the sloth" in front of Alexander Calder's Untitled mobile sculpture currently on display. I was nervous, but by the last slot of reading I felt comfortable and inspired. Although the kids and parents thanked me for a wonderful story, I feel like I should have practiced a little bit more. I went through the reading a few times on my own, but I think I need to do it in front of someone a few times so that when I read to kids it feels more natural from the beginning.

With that said, I feel great that the kids mentioned that they loved listening to my story. It was a good feeling. I am loving this work, not only teaching kids, but also the exploration and connection with people that happens at the art cart. The investigation of how to get through important facts about the work that the children can relate to and understand is another favorite part of my work.

I have one more Story Time this coming Wednesday, and I'll be reading and teaching in front of the Louise Nevelson's Lunar Landscape sculpture, which is one of my favorite pieces in the museum. I have already ran the series of questions and talking points to Emily, and with a little practice I am set to go.

Visitors at the Amon Carter Museum explore the activity as a group.

Art Cart set up.

For my Interpretation part of the internship, I developed content for a new Art Cart activity. My supervisor created a wonderful idea to  change the Art Cart to a more hands-on experience for the visitors. The content I put together includes talking points about the artist Gabriel Dawe, his piece Plexus No. 34, and a guide to the activity. After a couple of versions of the content, it finally got approved and now it's part of the cart! I am a little proud of how I am setting up. Most people feel drawn to what I have set out and ask me questions. The Dawe activity allows visitors to sit for a while exploring Dawe's process of using sewing thread to explore line, light, and space. The average has been about 30-45 minutes with a few hour long sittings where the visitors just sit quietly and find the experience relaxing. I spark a little bit of conversation as they are working so they leave knowing more about the artist and the artwork. When they finish up, they get to keep the thread as a "relic" which was a wonderful idea by my supervisor. Basically, once a site-specific installation comes down, the material gets stored in the museum and it is called a relic. In the same way, the visitors undo their work, and take the thread home.

This activity has helped me set up a format for my final project in the Interpretation program. I am developing an Art Cart activity based on a piece that I chose. I am in the middle of it now, so when I get it approved and rolling I will share the final piece.

I also had a meeting with the director of the Education Program, Amanda Blake. She is wonderful and we had a good and honest conversation about what comes after the internship. It put a lot of things in perspective and I have a lot of work to do to be able to work in a museum full time at some point. I love museum education but I need more experience, attend conferences and do more volunteer work to get my face out there so museums know I am serious. My background in Studio Art is a little bit of a setback for an educator role in museums. This conversation made me a little nervous about the future, but I will be seeking another internship in the Spring. I'm not sure that with my MFA thesis coming up in February I will able to do anything outside of my studio for this Fall semester. With this said, I am so thankful about this summer, I am learning so much, and I am working my butt-off to learn the most that I can and to have a clear vision to plan through graduation and after.

Karla