Everyday we had the opportunity meet with people who work within different departments of the museum and then walk to the museums in the afternoon. We also got news that NPR will be interviewing us for their program as well. I was happy to remind all the teens to bring back their waiver forms ASAP and I’m beyond excited to welcome the journalists this following week. There was one reschedule for this week so we watched a contemporary art podcast linked here if you're interested. This led to a discussion with the teens about the BlackLivesMatter Movement. Overall, the teens learned that they should confront any problem they face in their lives with hope and optimism. It was eye-opening to get the teen's perspectives on these matters as well.
Miss Everything. Amy Sherald. Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. -- Winner of the Outwin Art Competition
After visiting museums including some that are not affiliated with the Smithsonian, I realized how difficult it is to captivate an audience with a collection. I learned how crucial curators' roles are as story-tellers. I got to meet with Dorothy Moss, a curator for NPG and she revealed how intertwined our American culture is with art to everyone. Dorothy expressed that many experiences that we will live through will be filled with contention and how art combats this. My internship has taught me that art allows society to suspend reality, consider pressing issues at hand, and spark social change. Moreover, I have also learned that portraiture offers a kaleidoscope of complex human emotion. Art offers the possibility to connect to others on a human level and the opportunity to make our American culture more inclusive and considerate. I fully understand how cultural hubs like the National Portrait Gallery and other Smithsonian institutions continually work to allow our Latino story to become one with our American story.
This week I also challenged myself to reach out and take initiative, especially since I was introduced to so many extraordinary people this week. One morning all the teens and myself were blindfolded and brought to this portrait. We stood in front of the portrait for 25 minutes while Vanessa described the painting in extreme detail using a special technique along with visual boards. It was a visual description tour for blind people that was simulated. Vanessa Jones is the director of all Access Programs at the NPG. I wanted to know about how I could learn more. These programs created opportunities for disabled individuals to experience the museum. Whether the individuals be blind, deaf, autistic, and eventually even with dementia, all can be included in this cultural experience. I reached out and soon I found myself binding braille books for the upcoming exhibit open August 5th. Next week, I will be working on formatting and editing the manual for all the Access programs at the museum. Having friends who are deaf and having helped care for an autistic cousin, I feel very strongly about this work and admire its inclusive nature. With an interest in a future career in medicine, Vanessa believes that this experience will allow me to better “demonstrate an attitude of understanding, sensitivity, and sincere care” for all people that I may help in the future.
The Four Justices. Nelson Shanks. Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. (Shout out to Sonia Sotamayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice from Puerto Rico!!)
Later in the week we got an email that the Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet, was going to meet with us at midday. Kim’s passion for art was quickly revealed with her endless knowledge and expertise in Art History. Her job involves analyzing people that exist now and what artists should be commissioned for the task of portraying these people. In our discussion she mentioned the recent commissioning of Meryl Streep’s portrait as well as President Obama’s official presidential portrait. She has met celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, authors like Maya Angelou before she passed, artists like Katy Perry, business moguls like Ralph Lauren, and the list goes on. She is extremely humble and was more than willing to offer her words of wisdom for the teens.
“Put yourself out there and make your choices. You are in charge of your life and so it's never too early to begin. Trust me. Go for it and don't be shy. No one will make those decisions for you," she said.
Kim’s story taught me that it's very easy for you to be happy when life is going your way. But when life is not going your way that is exactly when people rise to the top. She was relatable and said people have to stick with it and have grit. When she got knocked down, she just got back up again and looked for other opportunities in the art world. Kim's story also taught me that life is beautiful and hard at times, but if there can be those moments where we believe in ourselves and move forward then we’re golden. Kim’s parting words that "when you have a horrible day remember that there is a tomorrow", solidified her message of hope to the teens. She is a visionary with goals of more inclusivity for the collection. She is currently working on adding more scientists as well as increasing cultural diversity. She also mentioned that House of Cards did a promo at NPG and I’ll link that here too if there are any House of Cards fans out there.-- (It was so cool to see this blending of reality with Pop culture!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz8BouHnX9I
This week, I was also exposed to the business aspect of the museum. The director likes to say that she has a business that she runs, one that is run in the interest of the public. She mentioned how essential business skills are to understand budgets, manage a team, advertise, plan events, and fundraise. She cultivated these skills during her time at Harvard Business School. She merged the world of art with business to run the successful gallery that she directs today. Ultimately, this week I learned how important it is to develop skills in other disciplines, to make a profound influence and impact in the place where my passion lies for serving others. The knowledge acquired from experiences in other fields will allow this passion for service to transform and evolve into a greater vision of good, a vision that was inconceivable before. One where I can improve and maintain the well-being of individuals in my local community, in the way it has always been written in my heart to do.
love your experience way better than mine! <3
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