New York City, thank you for having me.

As a child, I at one point developed the notion that New York City was the penultimate location for all of my hopes and dreams. In fact, the allure of Field Work Term and the potential to spend seven weeks in New York City was one of the reasons I decided on attending Bennington four years ago. Although my previous three Field Work Terms were absolutely satisfying as I learned to navigate the art world back home in Chicago, I grew increasingly anxious as I approached senior year and New York City still felt like a pipe-dream. Without financial support for my family, the generosity of friends, and connections & emotional support of the Bennington Visual Arts faculty, this winter would not have been possible, and I am forever grateful for everyone who made this winter a reality.

In planning for my final FWT, my only (very personal and not expressly shared) requisite was to work with women who are immersed in and occasionally challenging their field. Having spent three winters working primarily for men in the art field, I thought that as a female artist I needed to seek out female mentors in my field. And I found excellent mentors in each of the women I worked with. All three of these ladies worked very hard to get where they are at, even going against the grain at times to get what they wanted. The perseverance of all these women in their fields was incredibly inspiring as I prepare to leave Bennington, where being a woman and attempting work is only met with incredible amounts of support by friends and faculty. So having found valuable mentors and learning their stories the past 9 weeks has been an invaluable experience.

This was really the first gallery experience I had where I was able to be so hands on and involved in the daily operations of the gallery. In addition to learning how to put together press packages, artist bios, and update artworks in the computer system, I was able to expand upon my skills as a artwork documenter photographing a performance by Alejandro Guzman. Every day at the gallery was an invited challenge, just when I rediscovered my comfort zone A or S would throw me a new task. Both A and S provided excellent guidance and all this newly retained knowledge is incredibly useful as I begin to plan for the future and hopefully find myself within a gallery or museum setting once again.

Working with Nancy was just a total dream, all-in-all. It was my first time really working for someone and not occupying a shared space with them at least a few times a week (though we really genuinely tried!). In our final weeks, the trek down to Dumbo became an escape from the general roughness of New York. Nancy's studio became a safe haven for ideas, seeking advice on adult-life-artists-dreams, a space for mapping out potential life scenarios post-graduations, conversations about commitment and cohabitation, gushing over the minds and work of great creators, and occasionally space for blasting Madonna while getting work done. I had a blast working side-by-side with Nancy, and I feel more collected and confident regarding my future as a result of it.

Despite the general roughness of New York and a few incongruous experiences, NYC was very kind to me. I had the opportunity to attend an opening for Charles Marville at the Met and the press preview and opening of What Is a Photograph? at the International Center for Photography. I met a handful of the photographers whose work I have admired for years. Friends and family visited on several weekends and sharing the city with everyone was such a special experience. The amount of art I had the opportunity to take in was incredible, and I could not have had the same opportunity anywhere else.

All in all, I am walking away with positive feelings towards my NYC experience. Although I probably won't find myself settling there right after college as I had first thought, I do believe that New York and I have a future together at some point, and that the connections, skills, and overall confidence I developed this winter will be what brings me back.

week 7, a bit late.

I accidentally forgot to document my final week on this blogspace, but I think my absence says it all. My final week was a bit hectic (work, gallery openings, press previews, fitting in as many trips to the doughnut plant as possible), I was finally caught up in the full bustle of the city that I forgot that my staying here was only temporary.

Nancy and I were extremely productive in the studio. The seeds we spent the winter researching were finally planted, we transformed her space by installing what might possibly be the world's largest mood board, and Nancy dove right in to various movement / miming exercises. Needless to say, the final week was very physical and it prepared / excited me for returning to my own studio space back in Vermont.

And at the gallery, I finally felt as though I pulled things together-- new skills for navigating the various systems used, knowledge about the represented artists and current shows, and general familiarity with the area I was working. I built upon the art-handling and administrative skills I have acquired at my previous gallery internships, but also learned a whole new skill set working within a gallery of this caliber. Working the front desk has been a real pleasure in terms of being able to have a lot of face time with various individuals from artists to collectors to tourists.


Xx,
A

when things aren't as you dreamed them.

The theme of this week is keeping busy. Between kicking things into gear with Nancy at her studio, preparing for the opening of a new show at the gallery, an opening at the Met, and an opening / press preview (^^^see above, crazy, right?!) at The International Center of Photography (ICP) -- not to mention a whole list of personal tasks, events, and guests, I've been extremely preoccupied the last week. And it's a good thing. 

To be honest, I have not loved my New York experience. I have loves my experiences -- openings, seeing art, poetry readings, visits from family and friends, and the occasional sunny day perfect for walks through SoHo and Little Italy. But overall, I am not as in love with this city as I was before living here. And I am okay with that, I'm actually really glad I figured that out now before maybe committing to live here post-Bennington.

But New York has been worth it. The connections I have made, the new skills I have learned, and the macgyver tactics I have inherited from these witty New Yorkers. I don't get lost (as much). I've learned which groceries stores are best for what. And to pretty much avoid buses / taxis at all costs. I've had the opportunity to follow the work of some of my favorite artists at various institutions, and in my FWT roles I feel as though I have acquired some pretty impressive mentors. Overall I am satisfied with my New York experience, and finally settled. But I am excited for this final week to come and go, and to bring my new skills back to Bennington, back into my studio, and finally beyond Bennington.

Positive bits about the last week// the candlelit stairs at the Met opening, a slow dinner at ABC Kitchen, comfortable shoes (finally!), first outing to Bushwick, seeing Liz at the ICP opening (and meeting some artists who are total superstars in my book), diner burgers, french philosophy books, artisan tea shops, yoga, visits from M (and his mom!), and sunny afternoons at my favorite coffee place on Jane Street.

Xx,

Autumn