Intern: A Day in the Life
By Allison Fricke, Advancement Department Intern
When I learned how to drive (two and a half years ago, now – woo hoo!), I realized that I did not know how to get anywhere. That’s an exaggeration. I did not know how to get most places, and I definitely did not know how long it took to get there. Among the things I learned in high school, one of them was that MapQuest is not always right. I also learned that I just had to drive all the way down East Ave and veer right onto University Ave to get the Memorial Art Gallery. If I drive really fast I can get there in 6 minutes, give or take 30 seconds. If it is St. Patrick’s Day, there will be a parade and traffic will bump up the time to 20 minutes, or more. I learned that when you go in the museum from the front entrance, you see the sky through the glass roof, several statues, the restaurant, a sign for the upcoming Rochester-Finger Lakes exhibit. But you miss the good part, which is seeing the behind-the-scenes where employees create pedestals, conserve paintings, plan, come and go from meetings with donors, secure the premises, pack, unpack, repack and drink coffee. The Egyptian mummy is still better (I especially like spelling my name in hieroglyphics, but I always walk away with the feeling that there were no Ancient Egyptians named Allison); however, the way the mummy got there, the way it is displayed, etc – the details, in essence – are more interesting.
I won’t give away any of the secrets that make this museum run so smoothly, because a good magician never gives away the secret to the trick; but the point is that they go relatively unnoticed, but not unappreciated. I want the museum-going public to recognize the dedication and effort that goes toward such a noble cause as bringing art to the public. I see all the hard work involved in preparing for events, such as the upcoming preview party for the Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition, from planning, advertising, organizing, ordering, setting up, cleaning up, and most importantly, getting the art. Even after just a few days working in the MAG, I am proud to call myself intern. I even have a desk! (Kind of – I borrow it).
Posted: July 9th, 2009 under Collection, Education, Exhibitions, Stories.
Comments: 2
Comments
Comment from andrew
Time: July 11, 2009, 3:23 am
does stacy jennings still work in the store? please tell her to contact me!
Comment from Rachael Baldanza
Time: July 14, 2009, 9:12 am
A fun piece of writing and a great perspective!
Enjoy your internship, Allison and drive slowly, please, lots of pedestrians 🙂
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