Blog Entry #10 (Nov 7-11):
My experience with RedLine has been an extremely positive one. In addition to providing me with some of my first actual job experience, it has provided me with art and gallery experience which is extremely valuable to me, not only because of my love of the arts, but because of my interest in working as an arts leader (potentially in a gallery setting).
When I heard about BBTA and got accepted to work at RedLine, I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew I would be working there with their staff and helping out, but I didn’t know more than that. As a result, I committed myself to be open to whatever learning and tasks may come my way. Because of this mindset and the openness of RedLine, I have been able to have a variety of experiences and work on many different tasks and projects. I don’t think that the reality of this internship could be compared to what my few expectations were because this reality was so much more diverse and surpassed any thoughts I had. (Which I am extremely grateful for).
Although I have learned many things and done things I haven’t done before, I feel like the majority of what this internship has provided me with is refinement and room to build upon my strengths. Prior to this opportunity, I already had strong leadership skills, was good at self-advacocy, asking questions, and completing assignments. Because of the environment and the tasks assigned to me, I have had the opportunity to more fully step into these traits (and others).
For so much of my life I have been referred to as an “old soul”, “wiser than my age”, “very adult”, and I have constantly been mistaken for almost 5-7 years older than my actual age. This can both be a blessing and a curse. But when I am at RedLine, I don’t have to be conscious of my adult like behavior because I am expected to essentially be and act like an adult. I almost feel as if I can really be myself and embrace that part of me–no acting required.
Blog Entry #9 (Oct 31-Nov 4):
Thus far my internship hasn’t had much to do with actual art besides it being located at a gallery; although, I believe this will change very soon since RedLine’s next big show, “Rally Round the Flag of Justice”, is opening next Friday (Nov 11). Regardless, I still have been inspired. For me, even though I like and create art in many different mediums, my life is my ultimate masterpiece; the pinnacle of my art and my soul. Taking the step to pursue this internship at this awesome gallery is just one step towards this ultimate masterpiece. It is an experience that will hopefully lead to more experiences which will eventually lead to me starting my own gallery, having my own show, starting a non-profit, meeting artists that further inspire me, and/or none/all of the above.
I think one art enabling aspect RedLine has influenced is my sense of possibility. I am naturally an optimist, and I throughly enjoy thinking of what I can manifest, but this internship has allowed me to be in a more consistent state of possibility. This not only helps getting my artistic juices flowing, but my love for my life and what I’m creating, in addition to helping giving me some energy to complete my regular homework.
This experience hasn’t greatly changed as much as added to my love of art and how alined I feel when being in an art cultivating place where everyone there also cares about art and about RedLine. It is a very unique experience, but a feeling and a space that I hope to foster as I continue down my path.
Oh! I actually have created a piece of art: Not necessarily inspired by RedLine, but where I got the energy to go home and work on it. It is a collage, and frankly a little all over the place, but I attribute that to my lack of time spent making art as of late.
Blog Entry #8 (Oct 24-28):
My intern inspired project has been on my mind lately as I am trying to progress through the pre-planning stage to the actual planning. For my project I am putting together a proposal for a potential youth group that would meet and work with RedLine; although, when I discussed it with Louise she talked about it as if was going to actually happen which is both extremely exciting and rather terrifying. We have only met two times to talk about my project, and only one time at length, but Louise was able to work with me on a list of guiding questions I need to think through to develop my idea further. It was great to be able to have a focused meeting with Louise, for it was one of the first times that we got to discuss some of the things I’m interested in. She was a big help and I currently have next steps–I just need to work on putting it all together. One suggestion Louise had was to meet with Libby (since she works and puts together programs for RedLine) and to meet with Ama (who was formerly apart of MCA and now working with ASL) since the both have experience with what I am trying to put together. I have yet to get to this point, but I do think it will be extremely helpful.
The inspiration for this project came from thinking about Lighthouse Writers Young Authors Collective (another group I am apart of) and wondering what a similar but art and curatorial focused group would be like. I realized that there must be at least some other people my age that have this great passion for art but no place to really learn about the art industry, put on events, as well as focus on their own art. Because RedLine is a place that cultivates all those aspects, I figure this is the perfect organization to start a teen program, especially because the already have a bunch of educational programs.
Overall I just need time to work on my proposal and get going. Although I just checked the calendar and there are only 10 more times I come in…..which is crazy.
Blog Entry #7 (Oct 17-21):
I have found out over these last two and a half months or so that making your own art is very different than being in a creative business. When working on your own art you make all the decisions, create all the products, you have your own vision, and you complete it with that in mind. While creative businesses or galleries do work with art and artists, it is certainly not the focus from day-to-day. It is a business, and therefore you must do business things. You must make PowerPoints, proposals, write up grants, keep track of financials, think about branding, and so much more. All of this is essential, although it might not seem at all times artistic. Where art is about you, a business is about the audience.
Although it might depend on the project, generally you work on your art alone or with a few people. A business is at a much bigger scale. There is a staff. There is a team. There is much more checking in. From my time thus far at RedLine, I have learned the importance of the team. A business thrives through allocating tasks, titles, and jobs. It is important everyone has a job to fulfill and that they fulfill it. I don’t think of art as so cut and dry. Most of the time (at least for me) it is ambiguous. It takes time to even realize what you’re making art about. It takes trial and error. It is spontaneous. It is paint flying on a canvas and seeing what sticks. In a business you don’t have all of those liberties. Everything has to be linear so that everyone can be on the same page. I don’t think this is bad; I just believe it takes different parts of yourself.
So what makes a business creative?
A) a business can be considered creative if it works for artists, shows art, works in collaboration with artists, requires meeting other creative people while working, or in some other way fosters or facilities creativity; defined as creative by who you’re affiliating with.
B) a business can be considered creative if it is unorthodox, if it has original systems for producing, selling, and or distributing its medium that is generally unexplored and/or has yet to be implemented; defined as creative in relation to how you’re conducting business.
Blog Entry #6 (Oct 10-14):
Working at RedLine as truly been a joy, everyone is so welcoming and friendly. Even though there is a lot of the staff I don’t directly work with everyone says ‘hi’ and exchanges pleasantries. I also feel like I am being treated as an equal and that I am meant to be there. All of this makes me excited for the next time I come in to work. If I have an intern one day, I hope to create just as inviting of a space. I would also try and get to know them and who they are and what they do outside of work. I think this is important because if you only see someone in one place or doing one job it’s easy to forget that they have other things in their life that might be interesting. It’s kind of like how it’s weird to imagine your teachers anywhere else than school.
So far in my time with RedLine, I have learned a bunch of little things from my sponsor and other co-workers. It’s almost like each day I am give one more skill or correction or behavior and I am able to come in and apply it based upon my past learning. These things are subtle, and I am not sure I will even know the full scope of what I have learned until I have to apply it in a different context. Nevertheless, I have observed from the well-oiled machine that is RedLine and its staff that there is a perfect balance between working together and being friends. From what I have observed, the staff at RedLine have known each other for a while and as a result knows a good amount about their co-workers. It is clear that everyone is friends and gets along well, but this doesn’t go far enough to get in the way of their work. For example, Louise (and other staff) have nick names for each other. To me this shows their level of comfort, but they somehow still create a professional environment. And I would like to think this friendliness, camaraderie, and collaboration is able to happen at equilibrium in part because of everyone’s passion and love for what they’re doing.
Blog Entry #5 (Oct 3-7):
My experience thus far at RedLine has been paramount. It has been a point in which I am looking forward to out of my week. It is surprising and comforting and has provided a dizzying amount of learning experiences. For all that, I am grateful. However, I have begun to notice this extraordinary thing become ordinary. It is routine and sadly that sometimes makes it feel a little obligatory. Nevertheless, there are so many highlights: working with Louise and Libby, getting my own projects, getting a rhythm, feeling welcomed, a new exhibition about to start, and more. I have tried to think of “low-lights”, but I can’t think of an event that qualifies as such. Not to say that every single moment is my favorite, but I feel like when you look at a scale, lows at RedLine are still in the “high” margin, so like a low-high. I think part of this is because I have clicked with RedLine as a community and as an idea. Even if every project or assignment I complete isn’t “big” in the scheme of things, I am able to collaborate with Libby or Louise, ask questions, and have varying margins of choice in my final products. And in doing all of these things I get to experience what it feels like to be vibrating at a similar level as the people and community around me. At first glance it may seem like it can’t get better than this, but I am a firm believer in the infinity of “better”. Although the most tangible way I see my internship getting better is as I start working on my Intern Inspired Project. In doing this I will be able to mesh my experience with RedLine and my more refined passions to create something organic and original.
*I apologize for the excessive use of quotations. It is just that when referring to a word/concept I am both using it with its static definition, and my more nuanced one which cannot be fully conveyed through text.
Blog Entry #4 (Sept 26-30):
As humans it is our responsibility to be aware of our responsibilities. Because we float through our lives, caught in the cycle of the day-to-day, we often forget the ripples we are sending out with every step we take. We often forget that we have many innate responsibilities, and we are responsible for them whether you realize this fact or not. So when you get a second, slow down. Take a deep breath. Look where you’re standing. Realize that your life isn’t in a bubble. You are out in the open. You are breathing communal air. Stop and think, realize what that entails.
It is my 6th week at RedLine and it feels like I have been here forever while simultaneously feeling like it’s my first day. As an official part of the RedLine community and staff, I have undertaken several new responsibilities–some obvious and some not. I am responsible for showing up on time, for being respectful, for doing my work, for asking questions when I need to clarify. I contribute by being open to every project that comes my way. I contribute by being flexible. My contributions are essential yet small, random but important. Each day I come in I get a new project. I believe I am water running down the side walk; I fill spaces as needed.
Hope there is a parking spot in the lot.
Maneuver.
Park.
Say “hi” to Djamila.
Walk to the back of the space,
Up the stairs to the office area.
Pleasantries.
Sign in.
Check in with Libby or Louise.
Project info and Q & A.
Work.
Second project.
Check in.
Goodbyes.
Sign out.
Down steps.
Get in car.
Reverse,
Home.
There is a scaffolding in place for my days, but I wouldn’t say I have daily duties. I go where I am needed, and I commit myself to whatever the project is. Each day is different and unique. I like it this way.
Blog Entry #3: (Sept 12-16)
As a result of slowly becoming apart of the RedLine team and community, my actions have had a ripple effect. Although on the surface it seems like I am doing random tasks, but ultimately those are one less thing someone else has to do. Right now my impact seems small, but I would like to think that I am helping. On Thursday, I got given my first ‘big’ project that I solely get to be in charge of. Libby gave me the task of figuring out how to fill one of the walls in the kitchen with pictures and names of people who work at RedLine with the goal of helping people get to know each other better. Other than that I get to make the decisions on what I see as best. I am viewing this as my first opportunity to start making a more noticeable effect on this community.
I am positively contributing by bringing dedication and flexibility to whatever needs to be done that day.
Besides the work that I do, I am also causing a ripple effect through my interactions with my co-workers. My interactions are positive, and everyone has been really welcoming and friendly. But as far as actual work goes, I am interacting mostly with Libby (program manager) at this point. I feel like I have a basic, but solid connection with most everyone, just because everyone is so friendly and if there is a second we will exchange some small talk.
Smiles make me smile,
Playful banter, walking by
Apart of something
Blog Entry #2 (Sept 5-9):
The most exciting thing that happened this week was that I finally got a chance to meet with Louise, RedLine’s executive director, and discuss this internship and what helping her out will look like. Because we hadn’t had a chance to talk yet, we spent some time just talking as she was interested in why I chose RedLine and why I was interested in art and the executive director position. After that I got my first real insight to what it means to be an executive director. Louise gave me an over me an overview of all the different areas that she is involved in: exhibitions and events, fundraising and development, the board of directors, business and expenses, and a lot more. By hearing this I felt like it gave me an understanding of why she had trouble fitting me into her schedule in the first place.
Louise also let me know that because the director role has so many hats, I would be required to where a lot of different hats too. Louise noted that “if I was detail oriented, [she] was the worst person to intern for.” Although I can be detail-oriented, I let her know that I am strong at flexibility and that I actually was wanting a diverse experience, so she was in fact the best person. Louise explained that instead of working on some long term projects, I would most likely be assigned a different project or task each time I come in. This deterred me none because this was what I had been doing thus far any way. Overall I am still super psyched and ready to take every day on as an adventure. Even though they will (and have) give me some menial or tedious task, I truly feel as if I am apart of the team, and I know that if I wasn’t doing this someone else would be. I by no means feel like I am being given the scraps. I feel like everything is a learning experience, and I’ve decided that I am going to give everything my best because I believe that I will get just that more out of it.
Blog Entry #1 (Aug 22-Sept 2):
My steps echo off of the cement floors, walking across the empty space, contemplating what is to come. I reach the stairs to offices, I am filled with uncertainty, but certainty that I want to be here. When I reach the top I see people are working: Ashely, Libby, Geoffrey. As much as I am nervous, I am excited. I am excited because I am in the inside. I am behind the curtain. I am just nervous because I don’t know what I’ll find.
My first two weeks, although filled with menial tasks, was exciting. There was such as space and dynamic that I’m sure took time to build, but here I am stepping in, getting to jump on for the ride.
I learned a lot this week: I learned a little about what everyone’s role or at least title is. I learned what desks I can use when they’re empty–Robin, Libby, Hayley, and Misha. But the most important thing I learned was what it felt like to be apart of something, to be accepted, and what it was like to feel confident in your abilities even when you have no experience.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I would be working with the executive director–Louise–as I expressed an interest in that role and what it takes to run a gallery. Unfortunately we haven’t had time to meet and get me started on some bigger projects, for Louise seems to be crazy busy all the time. I think we are meeting next Tuesday, so hopefully then I will feel like I actually have a job and aren’t hovering around doing little tasks.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the faith their staff seemed to have in me. They seemed to trust that I knew what I was doing, and that I could do a good job. This helped give me some confidence, because when it comes down to it I know a lot and how to do things successfully. I was unnecessarily nervous.
The main people I worked with this week (and last) were:
Robin (my internship sponsor), who is the head of the education department and has her own team of workers that work on various educational projects.
I got a chance to casually talk with Hayley (who I believe is apart of Robin’s team), and she even let me know about this awesome “Makeshift Monday” event on fermentation that RedLine was hosting. I was able to go and it was so amazing, interesting, and inspiring.
I also started working with Libby who is a member of Louise’s team, and she was able to help guide me and give me tasks since Louise wasn’t available to get me started on other stuff yet.
Overall, I feel like it was a great start. Unconsciously I think I made a shift to a more professional demeanor, and I felt like I did a little code switching by trying to mirror the way everyone else was acting, dressing, and talking so that I would fit in and really just taking cues from the people around me.
I am really happy to keep working alongside these awesome people and artists.
This is just the beginning.