Art has influenced nearly every part of my life, from my mom’s first museum job in a small West Texas town, to my time as an OJAC Jr. Docent, and my decision to major in Art History. When I started my search for a summer job my mind immediately went to the OJAC - I was thrilled to discover the museum offered an undergraduate internship. Despite growing up with the Old Jail, nothing could have prepared me for the wonderful experience of working behind the scenes with the talented and dedicated museum staff.
On my first day of the internship, I learned I would be curating my own mini exhibition with the archive department. It took a minute or two for this information to sink in – I couldn’t believe there would be an entire case for me to research and design. The hours working in the archives flew by as I chose my topic and searched through the files for photos, documents, and letters.
Although I wasn’t quite sure what to expect next, I assumed my time with the education department would be similar to my work as a Jr. Docent; I was surprised to discover I would have a wide range of tasks, including artist research for social media posts and the chance to film my own OJAC tiny-tour! But perhaps the most rewarding of these jobs was reorganizing an entire drawer of lesson plans.
One of my favorite parts of the internship was how hands-on I was with the museum collection, especially as I worked with the registrar department. Cleaning and waxing the outdoor sculptures, documenting exhibits, and helping with the installation of new shows were just a few of the projects I completed. I was struck by the detail that went into the care of the museum collection and the immense amount of planning put into each exhibit on the part of the registrar.
During my time as the Museum Studies intern I experienced an entirely different side of the OJAC. I had the chance to spend time with the museum’s permanent collection as well as the work of guest artists, and throughout the internship I noticed the staff’s passion for their work and their dedication to serving the Albany community. I’ve learned so much these past few weeks and I will always remember my time working at the OJAC.
Mary Ellis Ferguson, Museum Studies Intern