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Bianca Elke

As a second year student, my main attention during the museum studies internship with the U of L Art Gallery will be directed towards curating my own exhibition in the Helen Christou gallery. This experience will provide the opportunity to select works from the U of L art collection as well as the Galt museum. I know that with curating my own exhibition and being allowed to select artwork for the gallery, I am given a lot of responsibility. Many students as well as professors are going to see what I have chosen to display and my evaluation will be based on these projects. I am excited to start this journey and work together with the Art Gallery staff. I aim to bring art closer to people who are not as involved through their classes or private interests in art, as well as trying to use the database to my advantage and to find hidden gems of art that have not been shown before.

Having grown up in Germany, I am also interested in learning about the day-to-day activities of a Canadian art gallery. I will be working with the collection, helping prepare work for travel to other galleries and participating in conservation projects. Besides assisting the Gallery with “hands on” operations, the Gallery also hosts functions that are designed to involve the community on many levels, in which I am also excited to be involved.

Andrea Kremenik
As a fourth year Art History/ Museums Studies major and a Management minor I have not only been interested in learning about art itself, but also the business of art institutions. For that reason I hope to gain insight into how the University of Lethbridge art gallery, as a collecting gallery within an academic setting, differs from that of a civic gallery. I hope to understand this by comparing the knowledge gained from this Museum Studies internship to that of my previous internship at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. The Museum Studies internship will allow me to learn many skills, such as basic curatorial responsibilities by entrusting me to navigate the U of L art database and find works from the University’s acclaimed collection. For instance, I will have the opportunity to choose Inuit objects for display and will curate a small exhibit on John Clark plus write a feature on him for SAM magazine. Having these opportunities in comparison to my internship at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, where I was able to gain insight into a non- collecting contemporary art gallery, will give me a well-rounded experience. These two opportunities will allow me to draw on theoretical knowledge within a hands-on environment which will give me an advantage when applying for potential jobs in the future.

Alysha Smith
The Art History and Museum Studies internship is giving me the opportunity to research, draft, compose and conduct programs for the GALT Museum and Archives. I will be creating these programs based on the exhibit themes at the museum which will include science, wind and religion. I also have the opportunity to get hands on experience by running some of these programs with children and adults.
As a future teacher I hope to gain more experience in lesson planning and teaching from creating these programs. Academically I hope to gain better research skills and applied knowledge on the above topics. I also hope to learn more about how museums utilize their resources and their community outreach efforts.

David Smith
Based on the positive experiences I have had in my five previously completed internships, I was eager to sign up for another! I can see how these opportunities have allowed me develop practical skills which have been reinforced by hands-on work. This semester I am building on the curatorial skills that I’ve been able to gain in my previous internships.

An area of personal interest that has arisen from my academic research is the subject of Canadian identity in art. Two curatorial projects have emerged from my investigation on the subject and are the basis for my current internship. The first, titled Glorious and Free, is an exhibition in the Helen Christou Gallery using works from the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery’s permanent collection. The second is a multi-venue exhibition taking place in the summer of 2013 featuring Lethbridge artist Arianna Richardson. Both of these projects allow me to build on the skills afforded to me through previous internships.

It is beneficial for me to get as much experience as possible before graduation so that I will be empowered to contribute meaningfully to the contemporary art discourse through my curatorial practice. I am very grateful to the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery for the opportunity to do so.

Lauren Glenn
Art History was not something that I had every envisioned myself majoring in when I first began my university degree, let alone enrolling in museum studies as well. However after my first year of general studies and having randomly chosen art history classes, I very quickly fell in love and knew this was the career I want to pursue. I am delighted to have the opportunity this semester to be working at the Galt Museum in the collections department, with Kevin Maclean. There is an immense amount of history here in Southern Alberta and the Galt discovers this knowledge through acquisitions from the community. In working with Kevin, I will be able to understand and learn the great detail and skill that is required when dealing with artefacts; this includes the handling, storage, photographing and preservation of these items. In addition I will have the opportunity to be taught documentation and research methods that are done for objects to further understand their history and how they relate to this part of the province.

Along with learning new information and skills, there are other goals that I want to achieve during my internship at the Galt. There are many ways I could further my education and I hope this work experience will help me to pin point where I would like to go after my undergraduate degree is complete. I look forward to investigating career opportunities that are available and how the information I have learned in my studies can be applied in the work field. To extend my knowledge, I want to learn how museums operate when it comes to acquisitions and dealing with donors as well as storage and preservation of artifacts. Having the community involved in the museum is an essential part of the Galt’s mission and I will be able to interact with its members through gathering information about donated objects. I have recently had the opportunity to sit in on an interview of a donor from the early 1990s when he was asked to come in and be interviewed more in-depth about the piece he donated. This was an eye opening experience for me and allowed me to understand how important gathering and documenting information about these artifacts can be and I wish to participate in more of these events. Most importantly I wish to understand the techniques to help preserve the vast history that is being housed in the Galt and to help acquire more information to further appreciate the pieces they hold.

Rachael Gough
Museums and galleries are critical in the maintenance and growth of the arts community. The future of museums and the arts as a whole rests in the hands of our up and coming generations. Young people possess a strong desire to learn and feel a constant thirst for knowledge. If we as a community wish to keep the arts alive and thriving, we must foster a love for the arts in the minds of young people. I believe a great way to get the upcoming generations interested in art is through public programming. As a third year studio major looking to get accepted into education, I have chosen a focus on public programming. Assisting with teaching classes at the Bowman Community Arts Center and helping with Culture Vulture Saturdays will give me insight into art education. My ultimate goal is to teach children and I believe art will always have a place in schools and in life. Therefore I believe gaining experience within the public programming spectrum will allow me to teach art effectively and instill it into the young children who will one day run the world in which we live. To further my education I have been learning several skills that will help me in both assisting with public programming, but also throughout my career, such as clay firing and clay recycling. I will also be assisting with the location change of the Bowman Community Arts Center in spring 2013. As well as a gaining a new, larger building, it will mean more classes, more options, and even more art experiences for children and the community as a whole.

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Kirsten Christopherson
Over the last four years of my post secondary education I have been able to discover a personal passion for both art and artefacts. Given my natural interest in history, these remnants of the past bring stories to life. My personal feelings when around these objects are something I would love to bring to others in the future as I hope to ignite sparks in those who may not have had the opportunity before. Therefore, I now feel it is the perfect time to get hands-on training in a gallery setting to apply to future career prospects as I will be done my Bachelor of Arts in just a few short months.

With that being said, I hope to achieve a number of specific goals during my time at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery. I am interested to see how my schooling has prepared me for this, as well as to see if the passion I have both in the classroom and in galleries carries forward into working in the industry. I look forward to working under Juliet Graham this semester as she has already told me about her personal career history, which varies from a private conservator to her current position as registrar. I have found her to be extremely helpful and willing to answer any questions I have about her decisions and will definitely use her advice and experience in my own path. I value her knowledge and hope to learn more about her experiences in the art field. This insight will ideally give me the advice I need to pursue my passion.

Other than the practical advice and feeling confident working in the new setting of the gallery, I expect to learn a number of hands on things as well. I would like to learn proper art handling, preservation, photographing, condition reporting, testing and some basic conservation techniques. Based on the “Caring for the Collection” conservation exhibit project I have started with Juliet, I expect I will learn this thoroughly. I also look forward to helping Juliet brainstorm ideas for this exhibit and learn more about the curatorial process.

Last but not certainly not least, I hope to get acquainted with the university’s collection and expand my art historical knowledge. I am looking forward to this semester and all it will bring me.

David Smith
Having three previously completed internships under my belt, I recognize the incredible value that these experiences provide. This semester I have decided build upon two of my previous internships. Working with the Applied Studies Office and Josephine Mills has allowed me to tailor each of my applied studies at the Galt Museum and Archives and the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery to develop new skills and gain practical experience.

Conducting research on the military collection at the Galt Museum has given me the opportunity to experience the ongoing care that permanent collections receive. Interviewing previous donors and descendants of war veterans has allowed me to see firsthand the way public collections serve as an incredible resource to the community. I am thoroughly enjoying the emotional attachment I develop by connecting on a personal level to the stories of real people’s lives.

At the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, I have the privilege of working on an advanced curatorial project of my own creation. This internship will allow me to work with a contemporary artist, develop my own theme, secure an exhibition space and apply for grant funding. All of these aspects will serve me well after I complete my degree and continue to pursue my career as a curator.

My internships this semester at the Galt Museum and the University Art Gallery represent my fourth and fifth internships respectively. Internships are an excellent way to get your foot in the door, gain practical experience, and get academic credit. They have certainly enhanced my educational experience.

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Allison Spencer
As a 4th year Art History/Museum Studies student, it is my last year to gain as much experience and skill that the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery has to offer and that I can take with me to future job opportunities. My ultimate goal, post graduation, is to work in the area of public programming in a cultural institution. As a Public Programming Gallery Intern I have been given the opportunity to take responsibility for the programs which the U of L Art Gallery offers, such as Culture Vulture Saturday’s and online educational programs.

Working closely in developing and enhancing the programs offered by the U of L Art Gallery, I am able to learn skills such as program development and distributing information about the events. I am researching public programs offered by the other cultural institutions in Lethbridge, and surrounding areas, in order to assess their context and help determine the direction for future U of L Art Gallery programs that could be used within schools. The U of L Art Gallery internship will allow me to gain further knowledge in my area of specialization and give me the opportunity to apply my skills to the development of educational and interactive art activities for people of all ages.

Bonnie Patton
I’ve had a lifelong interest in arranging things, and this interest has grown into an inquiry into how the arrangement or display of objects and ideas affect how the object or idea is perceived. This idea applies to academic, social, and political life (such as curriculum, advertising, and propaganda). One hub that is open for exploration, in this regard, is the museum or art gallery. Here, objects are arranged in a way that is meant to convey or provoke relations and associations between the objects on display and grander ideas in a general theme.

I have taken both the Introduction and Critical Issues in Museum Studies courses and I have also been working at the University of Lethbridge Library for the past four years. I aim to take these experiences in collections theory and practice and apply them to my internship here at the U of L Art Gallery. I anticipate learning more about collections and exhibitions; mainly how to organize and improve collections, and to from 1974 to 2000, and create digital records of these exhibitions. I will also write about select art work in the Legend, assist with installing exhibitions, and learn about other ways of presenting ideas by helping DodoLab conduct their Lethbridge Pizza survey for the public. In short, my goal is to see how these things are done and to learn how to do them myself.

David Smith
As I was planning the trajectory of my third year academics in the Art History/Museum Studies program, I began looking for internship opportunities to incorporate into my learning strategy. Hearing only positive reflections from past interns about their experiences at the Galt Museum and Archives, I organized an internship through the Applied Study Office, supervised by Josephine Mills. As a past intern at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, I have recognized the value that internships present to students like myself. Working in the Collections Department at the Galt Museum and Archives has allowed me to gain insight into how art galleries operate similarly and differently to public museums. Many of the skills I have been working on through this internship are transferrable between the two institutions such as: object handling, research, operating databases, and permanent collections maintenance.

It is my desire to pursue a career as a curator, after I complete my education. I am particularly interested in the capacity curators have to shape identity and ideology. I respect the role curators play in presenting the public with a variety of alternative ideas. Planning exhibitions which challenge the ways people think about and interpret contemporary art is something I am very excited about. Both my past experience at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery and my current internship at the Galt Museum allow me to develop the skills necessary to pursue this career.

Jennifer Vanderfluit
After working as an Archival Technician during a previous internship, I saw an opportunity to expand my knowledge of museum practice by working with Belinda Crowson in the Education and Programs department of the Galt Museum and Archives. Even though I plan on pursuing a career in archives, I think that branching out is important. Not only do many smaller institutions combine departments, but I believe that knowing how the other parts of an institution work promotes effective co-operation between departments.

Currently I am working on the Memory Box project. This involves the maintenance and creation of small collections for use in the community by individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. These collections, or memory boxes, are grouped around various themes like “school days.” It is important to incorporate as many of the senses as possible because any number of things can trigger a memory: the smell of crayons, the sound of a school bell, or the feel of a black-board eraser.

Not only will I have to make sure that the boxes meet the interests and ability levels of the users, it is important that those users are aware of the program. This involves successfully marketing a museum program to its target audience and I look forward to learning about this area of museum operations.

This is my third internship in the Art History/Museum Studies program at the University of Lethbridge and my second at the Galt. The AHMS program in the Art Department and the Career Resource Centre make setting up subsequent internships a painless process. I have found that the internship program is an excellent way to get valuable field experience and academic credit at the same time.

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Ellie Annett
As a 4th year Art History/Museum studies student, I have been given endless options of the career possibilities that my degree will give me. The public relations and promotions aspect of the art world encourage not only those fascinated with the arts to become more involved but also those who have not had the pleasure to delve deeper into the subject. As an intern at the Galt Museum under the Public Relations department, I plan on dedicating my time to make the non-believers into believers, changing the point of view against art into one of support, appreciation and consideration. I have been assigned to plan the Historic Lethbridge Festival fundraiser, “A Taste of Lethbridge”, assembling participants and promoting the event through the different media outlets. Also, I will be working closely with the special events coordinator of the Galt Museum to gain knowledge of the importance of educating the public through the means of public relations. Learning the ins and outs of the internal operations of a museum is something I have been excited to learn about and am very fortunate the University of Lethbridge has given me the opportunity to do so.

Chad Patterson
After several years working as an Agricultural Parts Technician, I decided to challenge myself and return to the U of L to finish a BFA in Art Studio I had started in 1997. However, the second time around I enjoyed Art History and Museum Studies so much that I used all my electives writing instead of painting. With an increased interest in theoretical issues surrounding art and art galleries, and after a chance opportunity for summer work at the ULAG collections vault in 2010, I began to contemplate a career in preparing, curating, and managing art. It seemed that an art collection is not that different from a Parts Department; cataloguing, cleaning, shipping, receiving, selling ideas, etc. I felt right at home and decided that taking the Museum Studies Internship in my final semester would be the best way to experience as many areas of a gallery as possible and prove a perfect testing ground for an imaginable future.

David Smith
Growing up in the cultural drought of rural Alberta has left me thirsty for all things cultural. I aspire to become a curator after I have finished by degree because I understand that cultural institutions play a valuable role in shaping identity and improving the quality of life. I respect the role of curators as mediators between objects, people, and ideas and it is my desire to one day to engage in these meaningful transactions.

As an Art History/Museum Studies major at the University of Lethbridge, I appreciate the incredible opportunity to participate in the internship program. Applying my theoretical knowledge from previous studies to hands-on projects is an excellent way for me to make connections amongst professionals working in my chosen career field. I understand the value of practical experience to future employers and the internship is a great way for me to further my career development. Through the internship, I have been able to experience firsthand various aspects of exhibition planning including: research, selecting artworks and objects, proper handling techniques, conservation procedures, and writing didactic panels. This internship is invaluable to me in identifying and developing the skill set required to have an successful career. I am one step closer to nursing the withered cultural environment of rural Alberta into a blossoming framework for learning and discovery!

Allison Spencer
I am currently in my third year of my BFA Art History/ Museum Studies degree. This internship has provided me with the experience to expand on my classroom education and become more familiar with artworks and artifacts. I am interested in the “hands on” approach that this program provides through curatorial projects and other activities in local art institutions. The internship has given me the opportunity to observe specialized museum work such as conservation. Also in assisting with the programs put on by the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, such as Culture Vulture Saturday’s, I am able to interact with people of all ages and share my love of art with the public. Through this internship I have gained knowledge and experience that I hope to transfer to future job opportunities in gallery and museum institutions.

Tyler Stewart
My work on this internship represents the culmination of my academic career at the U of L. While I completed another internship last year, gaining valuable practical experience at the Galt Museum and Archives, my focus this time around is curating an exhibition for the U of L Art Gallery’s satellite space, the Helen Christou Gallery.

My previous classes, and research projects in which I participated, have ignited an interest in the way women have been represented in art and in art history, both as subjects and as artists. Finding that women are given solo exhibitions less often than men in many large public art institutions has led me to expand my research into the subject. Working as a research assistant for Dr. Anne Dymond’s examination of this topic prompted me to always keep the idea of how the lack of equality in gender representation can be seen in many different aspects of life.

This internship will allow me to develop an independent curatorial project and present my curatorial research in a public gallery, which is a welcome opportunity for me as an undergraduate student. The exhibition will focus on the historical tradition, and tragic continuation, of writing women out of art history textbooks, placing them in the margins, or literally ignoring them in favour of male artists doing similar work. I hope this exhibition will prompt viewers as well as other curators and artists to contemplate the question of why women have been marginalized in a field where they often make up more than the majority of active participants.

Jennifer Vanderfluit
An internship in the Art History/Museum Studies program has given me numerous opportunities to follow my own academic interests with the support and guidance of my professors. I was able to work with Josephine Mills to design an internship that I have found to be both challenging and useful for achieving my academic and career goals, yet which also allowed me to follow my own academic interests.

One of the projects I am working on this semester involves researching the unique position that the Glenbow occupies as a multi-platform institution. I am interested in the way it functions as an art gallery, museum, library and archives simultaneously with each facet playing an equal part in its operations and how its specific funding structure contributes to its operations. The Glenbow is unlike any institution in North America and I am interested in what it is that makes it so.

I am also currently completing an internship as an archival technician at the Galt Museum and Archives. For this project I am looking at the role that digitization plays in today’s archival practice as a method of preservation and conservation of images. I think it is important to study this because as technology advances certain media are becoming obsolete. Not only are colour film sides an obsolete technology, they can be unstable and digital technology can be used to restore the original image while preserving it. My internship has been a wonderful opportunity to employ hands-on practice and learn from experienced professionals in my field.

Inuit sculpture installation in LINC building

Interns: Chad Patterson, David Smith, Allison Spencer

Selecting works from the art collection for the 1950s exhibition

Interns: David Smith and Allison Spencer

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Jarrett Duncan
I became an intern because of my own interest in the workings of a gallery. Through a variety of Museum Studies courses, I have come to realize that the artwork on the walls of a gallery doesn’t get magically selected and placed there by elves. While I established the groundwork for understanding the process of putting together an art show for public consumption in previous courses, this is the best opportunity to put that knowledge into practice before graduating and finding myself in the real world. I wanted to make myself that much more appealing to future employers.

Rosalind Jeffery
While in the past my studies and work experience has focused on programming and visitor services in museums and art galleries, this semester I felt it was important to gain a working knowledge on aspects of collecting institutions from a “behind the scenes” aspect. The position of Registrar is one that is misunderstood by the general public but is important to the day to day operations of the art gallery. Performing duties such as data entry, records management, copyright procedure, and policy management, this internship is a unique opportunity to apply the academic knowledge I have about artists and works in the collection in a new context.

Emily McCormick
My experience as an Art History/Museum Studies major at the University of Lethbridge has been filled with numerous opportunities. I have worked at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) and University of Lethbridge Art Gallery as a curatorial intern. Both galleries have allowed me to gain an invaluable amount of work experience for my future career.

My first two internships were completed at the SAAG, where I worked with every staff member to further understand all aspects of the gallery. My responsibilities included installing exhibitions, contributing to public programming, assisting with special events and fundraising efforts, and interacting with the public.

My final two internships were done at the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery. At this institution I organized a public perception project, assisted with installations, wrote a passage for a university newspaper, and curated an exhibition using the gallery’s extensive collection.

The Museum Studies program has given me the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in class and work in my chosen field before I finish my degree. This experience will definitely help me attain my career goals quicker.

Sara McKarney
My internship gave me the opportunity to work with the curator of the SAAG, Ryan Doherty. Working with Ryan, we customized the internship to fit both my career goals and the mandate of the SAAG. Working closely with the artists the SAAG exhibits, I have learned about professional artists’ practices and the various tasks of a gallery assistant. Planning the layout of exhibitions and installing artworks have been a great hands-on experience on top of the administrative duties which include creating support materials and submission packages, and assisting with public relations. This internship has been a fantastic way to enhance my previous volunteer experience, giving me a more in-depth understanding of how a gallery works behind the scenes and , as a practicing artist, how to make my work stand out.

Kasia Sosnowski
This is my third year in the Art History and Museum Studies program and I’m taking the Museum Studies Internship so I can better understand the finer points of my degree. I am interested in all aspects of art and art history, and the Internship has provided practical exposure to the world of museums and art galleries, allowing me to gain a wider understanding of installation practices and exhibition creation. I’m looking forward to applying what I learned during my internship to the preparation and installation of my own work and the challenges that accompany it. Through the program I have met and worked alongside interesting and knowledgeable people who introduced me to the many different aspects of my chosen subject of study, providing me with a new experience and a better understanding of all that the art field can offer.

Tyler Stewart
My internship consists of working at the Galt Musem in the Collections department with staff member Kevin MacLean. I have gained valuable knowledge in regards to proper handling of artifacts and have had the opportunity to handle many pieces in preparation for the upcoming exhibition to be displayed. Seeing what happens on a day to day basis in the Galt has been very revealing, letting me know what to expect should I choose to continue on a career path towards working in a cultural institution.

Inuit sculpture installation in LINC building

Interns: Jarrett Duncan, Rosalind Jeffery, and Kasia Sosnowski

Looking at objects from the art collection for the 1940s exhibition

Interns: Jarrett Duncan and Kasia Sosnowski

Arranging works for “Semiotica: The Persuasion of Text”

Intern: Emily McCormick