Member Show and The end=Combined

2 1/2 Hours (Member Show)
5 Hours (August 14)
7 1/2 Hours Combined
113 Hours All Together

Member Show:
Right when the Gallery opened, One of the artist's had a piece fall (which just so happened to be right next to mine) and also there was a beer spill right underneath it. Luckily nothing was ruined. You could tell that the piece falling was pretty stressful because John was not happy. How could he be? The artist hung it up her self in a manner that was more experiment then experience. So John called in the artist and John with her found a solution. During the rest of my time being at the show i bartended with Rachel, another Intern. The Gallery had a good outcome, especially since it was the first weekend of the Infringement Festival and alot was going on that night.

Today:
Today i finished sending out all the submissions that needed to be returned. I also started and finished letters to those artists that weren't accepted for a show here at Hallwalls, but are going to be filed for other's to look at. After that i filed the artists who were sent a letter.

This is most likely my last day for my School Internship, but i might end up helping out with something if John Needs me when i come to pick up his Evalution of me for the Internship. But John says he wants me to come back to help out with artists installing during the winter break or maybe something else..

I really enjoyed my internship, but apart of me is glad it's over for the time being. It's been a long summer. I need a break. =P

Hang 'Um

5 and Half Hours
Today i got to learn how to hang up pieces for a gallery show. For this show the pieces are hung according to a central point. I had to measure the piece, divid it in half, then measure from the piece being hung to the top of the piece, then subtract that from the divided half. From that out come i would then add 56 inches. Then measure the outcome from the floor to the hanging spot. I got to learn a few different ways of how to hang pieces according to each one's needs. Hanging pieces and making sure they are level is very time consuming and exhausting. It was good experience and i am happy i got to have it before the end of my Internship.
I also got to hang my own piece, so that was exciting. (Even though the piece it's self isn't worth representing me as an artist.. but hey my other projects for this show didn't end up working out. C'est La Vie).

I am the Winner

5 Hours
100 Hours! I have reached my mainditory amount of hours!
I AM THE WINNER! ..... I am a real Pip as of today, according to John.
Today all i did was paint the walls white and take submissions from members for the show on Saturday. Thursday i will be hanging up the art work, which i am excited about b/c that is something i have not yet experienced.

De Install Me

4 Hours
95 Hours (overall)
Today was working on De-installing mainly Kirsten’s piece. John and I carried and threw away parts of the wall, floor, and skeleton of her piece. I also gathered pieces of wood from Kirsten’s piece and compiled them together for Hallwalls to be able to reuse.
After Lunch, I gathered materials and began working on painting over the turquoise wall with Jeannine (a girl who has interned at Hallwalls before but now is here doing community service).
In addition to restoring the walls back to white, we took submissions from members for the show opening on Saturday.

Photo Op Anyone?

2 and Half Hours
Today i got to experience something new. John and I went into the Gallery and photographed the two exhibits. For the One exhibit, we used two lighting stands to enhance the light and clarity of the pictures. John took the photo's while i moved the lighting around. I also stood as a "model" in some of the shots to show a comparison of the piece in real life. Photographing this exhibit took alot longer then the other due to lighting and also because there are beams intersecting the gallery rooms, meaning you have to try and take pictures around the the beams. John, the Visual Art curator, even made a comment to me saying that the beams are one of the downsides of the gallery. Doing the lighting and taking pictures has been the least fun out of the internship so far, except for editing and sending out letters to submissions that were rejected.
However, for Kirstin's Exhibit no lighting was used and i got to take the installation pictures. I didn't get to hear John's opinions on my photograph's taken and wether or not he re-took pictures for that installation beacuase i had to leave for work.

Float with a side of Sass

3 Hours
Today we went through the last of the 2006 or earlier artist submissions. Afterwards, i placed the submissions to their designated piles, and started to work on Letters to send back to the artists that were dismissed.
I also talked/reflected to John about the whole idea that people can be good artists when viewing them separately from the art world, but when looking at their work and them as an artists, it just doesn't seem to be good enough. I mean my work is not that great and even though I will become better, it won't ever be Gallery exhibit Good. Just Cassi good. Does that make sense? This internship just really made me re-think being an artists who has exhibits.
Oh, last time I was here (at Hallwalls), I had Polly, the Development Director, and John, the Visual Curator Director, help me go through the archives to find Kim Waales (one of my teachers from my college) Catalog from when she had a show up. I thought that was amusing.

Combination

5 Hours
Today John and I walked to the post office to return submissions back to people, which ended up being like 45 buxx to return them (them being in the teens). Which makes me realize that when sending in submissions to galleries in the future, to have a pre-stamped envelope (at least it will help pay for part).
Afterwards, I picked up where I left off of sorting through and organizing submissions. While I did this, Hallwalls had a staff meeting about upcoming events and programs in the near future and their possible concerns.
One thing I noticed while going through the files is that not all artists labeled their Slides... ARTISTS! PLEASE LABEL YOUR SUBMITTED SLIDES! It's for your own good. That is the thought that ran through my head as I organized. Yup.
After the staff meeting john and I looked at the submitted works, which I had just got done organizing by years submitted, starting with 2001 ending with 2006.
Our goal the next two weeks is to go through all the submissions before 2007, so that after the show, we are primarily only reviewing submissions from the year 2007.

Just another Day

2 and Half Hours
80 and Half hours (so far)
Today I gathered all the artist packages that have been waiting to be mailed, labeled them, and placed them in bags. I also started to sort through more submissions, many of which will be reviewed next time I am in at Hallwalls.
So far in this internship I have worked with artists installing and also viewing/sending back submissions. If this is the largest part of being a curator, I find that pretty sweet. I mean as an intern it's not like I get to deal with all the things that probably makes curating not so cool.
Lately, since I haven't been around others who are inspired by art, I have been questioning whether I want to be fully committed to making art. I know art will always be apart of my life, and that I will always continue to create it in some form or another, but how often and how much is the question which has been on my mind lately.
I mean would it be so bad to be able to choose and bring the artists you find best for your gallery, instead of being on the other side and having your submissions viewed by a gallery? It's not like I couldn't do both... but one side would obviously be heavy ended.

Just a Little

2 and Half Hours
Today i went through the send back pile from Wednesday and started putting together the envelopes and letters to ... send back.
John and I also went over the material from Cazenovia College sent to him. In addition, John wrote for me, a letter to the NYS High Education for proof of me living and interning in buffalo, ny.
John has also updated his blog, and in it he has an insert of an "Intern Watch" of which he dedicates a small portion of his blog to introduce one of his interns at Hallwalls. At this current time it is moi. So i had submitted some info about me to include in his blog, along with taking (another) picture of me.
Johns Blog: http://www.jmassier.blogspot.com/

Review Me

6 Hours
Today was fun. I enjoyed it. John (the visual art curator) and I looked at artist’s submissions. We separated the submissions into 4 piles. Sweet (which was has potential), the Look Again, The Ok, File, and the send back pile. John gave me pointers, like for artist statements; don’t make it over a page long, preferably about 2 paragraphs. He also said as a curator, he has to view artists with the mindset of not being repetitive with correspondence between shows and shows within. We looked painters, installation, performance, and video artists.
He also showed me a few artists that he had brought to Hallwalls that are now in the Venice Fair.
Time went by fast today.
You’d think there would be more to be said for 6 hours... but there isn’t.

Insert from before plus now

2 Hours
So today we didn't have enough time to review other artists submissions. So i just filed, organized, and reviewed the submissions.
The picture is of the installation that i earlier talked about. THis is the final product of Kirsten Reynolds. I thought adding a final product that i help install was important. Oh, i also forgot to mention that on the nigt of the opening she ask for Rachel's and I's contact info to keep in touch. I still havent herad from her, but i thought that was awesome.
Nothing else really to discuss.

Arrange, Pile, Organize

5 and Half Hours
Today I went through artist's mail submissions. Anything older then 2007 I would look through, take out the cover letter, and see if what was submitted is worth mailing back. I got to read what other artists have written for their cover letters, resumes, and statements. It was interesting to be able to look at "rejected" artwork from Hallwalls. There was actually one artist that I really liked. So that’s cool.
I think going through, reading and visually seeing what other artists do helps for my future reference. However, I also get to see (or ask) what John looks for in the artists he brings here to Hallwalls. Tomorrow we are planning on viewing artist's submissions and go over what will be looked for.
Today I place the "rejected" artist submissions in an envelope, edited a letter to each artist, and also organized different piles of the submissions. Such as: missing slides or art, re-look at, misc, ready to be mailed, need to add an address.
I thought it was pretty interesting and exciting.
I have been really happy with my internship thus far. I was really afraid that having an internship would make me realize that I didn't want to associate the rest of my life with art. But it has helped me realize and confirm, that my life will incorporate art in some way or form because I love it so much.

Opening

3 Hours
I think this exhibit was a lot more impressive in comparison to the last one that was up. Also, considering on how many events were going on in buffalo, i think the amount of people were good. One thing that i did notice and had asked Ed, the director, was about having the artists talk about their piece in the beginning of the opening. They didn't do it but he said that is something they want to do, especially for the September show.
Basically i came and helped out by setting up the food. Then i worked the bar with Rachel ( who i previously called heather by mistake in an earlier blog). It was fun. It was really refreshing to see it all complete and have outsiders there to see it.

Final Installation

3 Hours
Today was basically finishing up the last touches. I helped stenciling the wallpaper. I mainly went around the piece painting the ends of the fake wood so that it had the illusion that it was real. I also helped clean up and sweep the space around it. I got to talk a lot more to the artist since it wasn't as chaotic and not as many people around. I really enjoyed that. I asked about where she has been, her favorite, how much it usually costs and what not.
Later tonight is the opening. So i will write more later!

Installation Day 3

4 Hours
Today, i mostly worked on painting strips on one of the foam walls. Rachel, another intern, and I had to layout tape for the stripes, and then i did the first coat of magenta paint onto the yellow wall. I also painted over the mess-up stencils on the gallery walls, so that it can be restarted. I also swept and mopped a foam wall so that it could be painted over.
In the beginning of my internship, i had noticed a book called the Warhol Initiative, which is a book about the Andy Warhol Foundation and learned that Hallwalls has had past donations from this Foundation. SO i think i might write my paper on the Andy Warhol Foundation, especially since John Massier gave me a copy of the Book.
Tomorrow is the gallery opening, and i am going to come in again tomorrow before, to help the artist install the rest of her piece. I hope that we can finish it all by the time of the opening plus time to spare.
I really enjoy working with the artist and being able to hear about her process and her reaction to her past pieces when talking about the final outcome. However, i am starting to think i would like to sit down with John and work/hear about what he does on days that artists or shows aren't being put together or taken down. (Even though i realize that, or at least seem to, that alot of what needs to be done.)

Day 2 for Installation

5 Hours
Today i painted some of the foam walls. But mostly we worked on placing the "foam walls" onto the wall skeleton with a intense spray mount. After we would use an exacto knife to make the foam wall and wooden skeleton frame flush.
I also, went and picked up lunch down the street.
I also learned that Ritous Babe Records is also in the church, which is the label of Ani DiFranco. So i thought that was interesting.

John Massier, the Visual Arts Curator, has a blog based on the events of Hallwalls. http://jmassier.blogspot.com/
If you go there, you can read and see pictures from the even Nocturminal. You can also see pictures of the up coming show for this saturday, and the installation that we have all been working on here at Hallwalls. Fun Fun!

I am really excited to see the end result of what we have been working on the past two days and the next two to come. It's going to be sweet to look at the piece and know that i helped another artist make their vision into reality.

Installation

7 Hours
Today I got to meet, help, and work with Kirsten Reynolds, one out of the two artists in the next show. Kirsten's piece involves a room, which has been collapsed/ askew/warped. Leaving the viewer only one place to stand within this piece. Cory (another intern, she will be a sophomore in college this coming semester) and I both helped prep the gallery walls by painting a turquoise blue on the wall. We also helped paint the backs of the walls of the room. I also, four about 4 hours sanded down the primed walls.
I also talked with John, the visual arts curator, about submitting a piece into the member show because he mentioned earlier in the internship that interns were allowed to enter a piece. So I have decided to make a new floor piece for this show.
I still highly enjoy helping install, but im not going to lie, I don't like doing something so repetitive when all alone.

Nocterminal

35 Hours
6 hours on Tuesday
6 Hours on Wednesday
8 Hours on Thursday
7 Hours on Friday
8 Hours on Saturday

On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday i helped make signs, load and unload materials for the event, run errands, and helped Artists install their pieces for the fundraiser on saturday. THe one artist i helped the most was named Seth. He did an installation that was a large cylinder painted black, approx. 12 feet high and 8 feet wide. Inside, the ground was covered with about 3 feet of grain, and on the ceiling projected a video about graining. I also helped other artists by holding things, getting things for them, and applying materials to the piece. On Thursday, i also went down to the Thursday in the Square and did flyer-ing for about 3 or 4 hours. On Saturday night, i helped fold pamphlets before it started, then for the rest of the night i did some bar-tending with a break to see the exhibit. This past week was very exhausting, and the interns weren't there nearly as long as the curators were. I enjoyed helping the artists install, but there were times when i didn't want to be there ( but i think that if it was my own piece it would be different.) One thing i also noticed was that majority of the artists installed the very last day allowed to install, and didn't come in earlier. I thought that was interesting to take note. Overall, i think the event was successful, fun, and a good learning experience to see how much time and dedication goes into a show from both the organization and the artists.

Friday(25th) and Thursday (24th)

2 Hours (between both days)=>1 and half at Hallwalls on friday, and half an hour flyer-ing on thursday.
I have spent my general time randomly handing out flyers for the nocturminal event. On Friday, we all met to talk about availability, what jobs are possible to work at the event, introductions to those we have not yet met, and got to listen into an earlier meeting ending, which was volunteers who were contacting everyone. We also talked about this up coming week, which is when artists are going to be installing, so tomorrow at 10 we are meeting to discuss availability and the possibility of which artists might need help installing. They expect approx. 6 hours each day, all leading up to saturday which is going to be like 9 or 10 hours. HOoray! lol. Im excited to see how it all works out.

Day 2

2 Hours
Yesterday, i ended up going to the Central Terminal, which is where we are having the Fundraiser event. I got to meet more people who work at Hallwalls and also an intern under visual arts and an other intern who works with the intern coordnator. I got to talk to the other intern, Cory, which was cool because she seemed passionate about art. She aslo knew about contemporary artists, which is first for me when talking to someone in buffalo about art who is my age, so that is really exciting for me ( i am excited to work with her). While i was there, i got to meet a couple of the featured artists in the show and also get to listen about the curator and artist talk about their space and plans. John, the curator, at the end went over a play by play of who was coming, what they were doing, and where they were doing it.

Day 1

1 hour
Yesterday, i met with John Massier of Hallwalls Contemporary Art Cente. We went over the three main dates and events taking place during my Internship. The first one, which is June 2nd, Nocturmenal, which is a one day fundaraiser event. The other two events are gallery openings. The one is by featured artists, and the last one is by Members of Hallwalls ( John also said that i Interns are allowed to place a piece in this show also). I am really excited about the diversity i get to see while working with John at Hallwalls. I also would like to make a piece this summer, since all my pieces are in storage back in Manilus, but i am afraid i wont have time with Internship, a Job, and doing my part to pay back the Bakers for letting me stay at their house. Next time i do something Intern orriented, is tomorrow at 5:30. I get to hear and watch what goes on when it comes to artists and their proposals for this upcoming event.!