Thursday, July 31, 2008

it's been a while

I haven't written on my blog for a while for good reason -- I've been busy working! Working in a museum environment again (even as "just" an intern) has been a much needed break from the often solitary confinement of academia. There were days during the semester when I didn't emerge from my apartment until 5PM. You get caught up in your own world of thoughts, ideas, and arguments (as one of the Whitney education staffers told me today -- she just finished her dissertation a few days ago, so she knows what she's talking about).

So what is it about the museum world that I keep going back to? Am I being pragmatic? Uncreative? Falling back into old habits or leaping forward into the unknown. Working this summer at the Whitney, I can say a little of both. On the jumping forward side, I would say that I have definitely learned how to take more initiative, particularly when it comes to the type of work that I want to do. Of course, I had the computer data base project (which actually I enjoy), but I also did some real writing and research. On top of that, I made a documentary about museum security guards and also co-taught two school group tours. For the first time, I felt like I could take the reigns of my internship and I'm not sure if I should wholly attribute that to my newfound sense of scholarly and professional aptitude or the openness of my supervisor. Probably a little of both. Living in New York was also a leap in the right direction. So much of the contemporary art world that I have learned about finds deep roots in New York. I felt chills walking down Greene Street, knowing that Gordon Matta-Clark himself had graced these same blocks.

Then there is the falling backward. Hanging out with undergrads is fabulous -- especially those in the education and library depts. They're fun, entertaining, sweet, and hilarious! I really couldn't have asked for a better group. And of course my "falling back" is not attributed to them. In terms of falling back, I mean reverting to my old gossipy ways, watching too much TV, and dancing till 3AM. Not all of this is bad, except when you get caught up in the battle between the education and curatorial interns, judging people based on nothing more than their clothes, and hanging out in your informal click.

Overall, I can say that I really tried to make the most out of my time here at the Whitney. It's an amazing institution and one that I hope to keep in touch with in the future. .

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