Hometown: Midland, MI
Major and class standing: Studio Art, Senior
Where you interned: Art, Art History and Design, East Lansing, MI
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
As a Research Assistant in the Art, Art History, and Design Department, my roles/responsibilities were to build wooden stretchers, stretch them with canvas, and prep them with gesso for painting for a professor of mine.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
I contacted a professor of mine asking if she knew anybody looking for an intern and she was looking for one to help her.
What did your daily routine include?
Either to work in the wood shop building wooden stretchers, stretching the canvas over the stretchers in the hallway or gessoing the canvases in my painting studio.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
My favorite experience from the internship was going wood shopping with my professor/supervisor Teresa, and having conversations about being artists and learning about her experiences. She also talked to me about what type of wood to look for when building stretchers and I found that very helpful.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
My least favorite part was having to re-stretch the canvas on all of the stretchers due to the air drying and the canvas loosening.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
I learned a lot about the wood shop and how to use a lot of the tools. I also learned a lot about different materials that can be used during the process of making canvases.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
This internship taught me a lot about building something completely yourself and how it makes you feel more satisfied knowing everything was hand-crafted by the maker.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
Don’t be afraid to ask your professors if they have any extra information on internships! ask a lot of questions and be sure to get your resume reviewed, so that it is perfect!
