For the past seven months, I have been lucky enough to intern with the Education department at the Gibbes Museum of Art. As an art history major with an interest in art education, this internship has given me a great deal of hands-on experience that will be extremely useful as I begin searching for jobs after college. As a child, I was lucky enough to spend my summers touring museums with my family. It was there that I created a number of fond memories learning about art and discovering my own creativity. Now, many years later as a graduating senior, I still feel the same way I did as a child when I walk into the Gibbes.
As an Education intern with the Gibbes, I am able to work with young children and teens, assisting with the creation of activities based off of our current exhibitions and permanent collection. I work with the museum educators to prepare activities for class groups, make sure the rooms are clean and organized and that there are enough supplies for every student. Working with students has been the most enjoyable part of my internship. These students are always so creative, engaging, and excited to learn about art and how it connects to their own lives and experiences. My favorite interaction with students was during an elementary school tour during the “Face Time” activity. This starts out as a tour where students have the opportunity to learn about the characteristics and elements of portraiture and visit our miniature portraits collection on view in a second-floor gallery. When they return to the classroom, the students work on creating their own miniature portraits, with printed copies of actual children, women, and men that are featured in the gallery. The students personalize their miniature portraits and are always so excited to use different materials to bedazzle their work. On one tour, a student thought that I looked exactly like a woman featured in the Miniature Portrait collection, which made me feel very special. It’s moments like these that have solidified my love for art education.
Along with preparing the activities in the classroom, I also shadow class tours of the galleries. Every time that I join in on a tour, I learn something new about the artwork at the Gibbes. It is always enjoyable to see the students interacting with the educators. Through shadowing a number of tours, I have seen some students with bold personalities and others who are shy and have learned through the Gibbes how to help all types of students engage with art. Afterwards, when I bring my friends to the Gibbes and I come across a work of art with which I am extremely familiar, I jump at the opportunity to put on my docent hat and share its history with my friends.
As I continue my internship at the Gibbes, I hope to one day lead a class tour and have that opportunity to teach students more about the artwork in the galleries. I am also excited to continue working with students in the classroom and help them with the fun activies offered at the Gibbes.
Interning with the Gibbes has been an extremely beneficial and educational experience. I will be sad to leave this summer and graduate, but I will always appreciate my time at the Gibbes and hope to come back and visit as much as possible.
— Brittany Marino, Education Intern and guest blogger
March 16, 2018
Top Image: Gibbes Education Intern Brittany Marino poses in the main gallery. Brittany loves sharing her passion for the arts with the many students who visit the Museum on field trips.