20 July 2009 - Wrapping Things Up

I'm starting my last week at the gallery today. Next Monday is my official last day of work. Its hard to believe that I've been here for seven weeks already! The time has flown! I can honestly say that this internship has taught me some valuable lessons. I've learned a great deal about framing--not just sticking a piece into a frame, but properly framing it and consequently adding value and visual aesthetic to the piece. Hanging the gallery has taught me much about composition and how the arrangement of pieces affects both the view of the painting and the overall air of the room. I've also gained some new research skills. Throughout my internship here, I've been researching Spanish Moss for a possible upcoming show. I've learned to use archival databases to access newly digitized manuscripts, and, with the help of our extensive library collection, I've learned how to better and more thoroughly search through books.
With the recent Palette and Palate event, I learned the ins-and-outs of preparing for a big event. More than 600 tickets were sold for the event, so much planning and preparation took place to insure that the night ran smoothly. We had to coordinate with the restaurant we were paired with and the other galleries participating. With my upcoming senior art exhibit, these newly acquired skills should come in handy.
Outside of the gallery, I've learned to live in a big and busy city! I've lived in Hopkins, SC (a town smaller than Clinton, if you can believe it!) my whole life. Sure, I've visited big cities, but I've never spent more than a week in any of them; I was just a tourist. I've had to remember to lock my doors, never try to drive during rush hour traffic, and dodge both cars and people when biking to work. I've also had to learn to budget my spending. Dining out in Charleston is a must, but it can really put a drain on the bank account. I've had to learn to grocery shop for one (not as easy of a task as it sounds) and in turn, cook for one (an even harder task).
Spending time with my brother (a resident Charlestonian) has been one of the highlights of the summer. Going from seeing him only on birthdays and holidays to having him only ten minutes down the road has truly been a blessing. I've also enjoyed hosting friends and family on the weekends. Having the guests on the weekends helps to balance the eight hour workdays.
I have gained an unimaginable amount of insight thanks to this internship. I feel better equipped for the coming semesters (especially in the art field) and better prepared for life after school. Thank you to everyone who helped get me here this summer, especially Ms. Jameison at PC Career Services, Mr. Hicklin at the gallery, and my parents and friends for all your support.

Things I am Thankful for Today:
Trevor
Ms. Linda Jameison
Mr. Hicklin and everybody else at the gallery
The 70 degree bike to work
Nikki, for a wonderful weekend
Jenna, Lauren, Kayla, and Christina, for a great Saturday visit
Meme, for promised cookies :)
Rachel - I'll see you next week!

15 July 2009 - A Little More Responsibility

Things have picked up a bit at the gallery recently (for me, anyways). Jane Harper, the gallery manager, has left for the entire month of July for a graduate program in North Carolina. Thus, I have taken on some of her responsibilities. It sounds like a big deal, but really its not a lot. I now do all my regular intern duties but also keep care of the gallery. I make sure everything is neat and tidy, water plants, fix arrangements, answer phones, sort mail, fax bills, and help close in the evenings. My office has moved, too. I am no longer in the library upstairs, but in Jane Harper's office downstairs. I help Meredith monitor the gallery. When customers come in, I greet them and help them in any way possible. Doing so requires more knowledge than one would think. I have to know about every artist hanging, the price of everything hanging, and a little something about each piece's composition. Which brings me to another recent happening.
We've rehung the gallery! We are part of an event taking place this Friday called Palate & Palette. Each year the Charleston Fine Art Dealers' Association (a group of about 13 fine art galleries downtown) pairs a gallery with a nice Charleston restaurant (hence Palate & Palette). Tickets are $30.00, and guests walk from gallery to gallery trying different food and viewing different art. All funds from the event go to College of Charleston's Art Department for scholarships. So we took down all the paintings we had up for Spoleto and rehung more contemporary Charleston art. This was no easy feat. If you've been to the gallery, you know that we have two galleries downstairs, a viewing room, and numerous little niches and hallways. All of these areas have to be filled with new paintings. Thus, old paintings come off the walls, put into bins either upstairs or downstairs, and have their locations updated in the system. New paintings come out of bins, are put on the walls, and then have their locations updated in the system. It sounds nice and orderly written out, but in actuality, every thing's happening at the same time, some paintings don't end up getting hung and have to be put back, things have to be rearranged, furniture has to be moved, ladders have to come out - its a crazy process! But it is totally worth the effort. Once dusted and swept, a room with a new arrangement looks like a completely new gallery.
The official opening for the newly hung gallery is Friday night, alongside Palate & Palette.

Things I am Thankful for Today:
Trevor
Rachel, my summer pen-pal :)
My Grandma and Mrs. Bev for coming to lunch
My family
Taylor's reminder to write
The breeze