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The musings of a multicultural spider living in between canvases of traveling art exhibits
Oh sheeet you guys. Guess who had their first day interning at an art gallery.
Dis gurl *points thumbs to self*
Today I helped deinstall an art exhibition. Bonus points:It was from Japan so I was able to test my limited use of kanji. *Hint* I didn’t really help me at all.
I was introduced to R by his co-worker and the person that interviewed me for this position, prepator P. I think they are bros in the best sense possible, and I wasn’t surprised to learn that they have worked together before in a different location. The way they interact is like they have grown up together.
I also met curator A, who was kind enough to stay and chat with me after his shift. I have learned so much more from him in the hour he talked than from anyone else. Know this kids, if you want to work in an art gallery/museum, network all over the place. And most important of all, GO TO GALLERY SHOWS!!! Meet new talent and keep an eye on them.It seems like a common sense rule, but to be honest I’m guilty of not going to enough gallery openings.
When I was introduced as an intern I had to try and not smile. Feels so good to be working again. I cannot even describe.
The routine today was to pack up 2D pieces, which are easier to pack away, and save any 3D items for Tuesday. I felt really useless and basically felt as if I was in the way, but hopefully this feeling will go away once I get into the routine of how things are done.
I watched the P and R open and repair the crates that the pieces were in. Some crates were so broken, torn up, cheap and tattered that I was amazed that they were shipped in the first place.Then again, they were probably broken during shipping. The crates were shameful. Curator A described how many artist do not know how to properly store and ship artwork, which is tragic because galleries are liable for the damage to artworks. He said some of the best crates could be repurposed and could be used as furniture or for storing canvases.I want that for my home.
So after the crates were repaired, we began the unpacking process.
Wrap, pack,tape. Wrap, pack, tape.
Was the mantra that played in my head during this process, not really focusing on anything else other than hurrying up and getting it done.
We took a short break around five or six. Prior to this point P and R would take their smoke break and I would wonder around the place,but then alcohol happened. They asked me if I’d care to join them on their beer break. I asked if I could have a beer as well and then everyone chilled. Except me, since I was wound up pretty tight since it was first day and kept feeling like I was fucking up all over the place.
I might make this an art and beer blog, because what I was served was quite good. Victoria beer is a really good beer with a strong taste that I can’t really describe. It’s been over an hour since I drank it, so my memory recall isn’t the best.
P said it had a lavender taste. Didn’t tast it at all quite honestly, which made me feel like a beer novice. Which I am and you will not doubt see my amateur palette popping up in this blog. Maybe, in addition to teaching me about art prep, they will help my beer palette grow. But that’s not the priority here. It would definitely be a perk, but it is not the priority.
After the break, it finally hit me. I was preparing to pack away a lithograph of a sumo wrestler, thinking nothing of it until I read over the inventory sheet.
It cost well over my college tuition. For the past four years I have been here. Times 5. Or 6. Basically, pieces of work that has more worth than my four point five years of learning. Then add two years of the graduate school I should be attending after I graduate this summer.
“Holy shit! I’m finally getting the experience I want. I get to finally get close to and touch art pieces, instead of just studying” I thought to myself.
It is such a gratifying feeling to get the experience I have been longing for.
Once the day ended, everyone drank a few more beers, the Modelo beer which, I felt,did not taste that impressive.
I am thankful to P for taking a chance on a person who had absolutely no experience at all.
Hopefully, all goes well and I can continue doing this for the summer.
