"We shape our dwellings, and afterwards, our dwellings shape us", so says Winston Churchill (Drmardy.com) in the House of Commons in 1944. Although he said this in various different ways, sometimes referring to "dwellings" as "buildings", this statement has made a profound impact on how much I wanted to be an archaeologist. I share Churchill's view that buildings, or any forms of art or architecture, initially assume the characteristics of the maker. Soon enough, when complete, the makers adopt the meanings the creation depicts. This is exactly what happened to me with the appreciation I have for the Arts. Thus, it is my interest to pursue a summer internship program at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a prospective intern, I am ecstatic over the idea of gaining practical museum training experience, including the general knowledge and broad understanding of how particular departments function within the context of a major museum.
I have been preparing for this opportunity ever since I started at Columbia University, where my desire to become an Archeologist was further strengthened. I knew back then that I wanted Art History to be part of my program. Next summer 2013, as a School of General Studies scholar and William Strong Fund scholar, I will earn my degree as Archaeology major with a minor in Art History as Summa Cum Laude. I commence my Masters program in NYU Institute of Fine Arts in September.
The classes I took for my undergraduate degree, such as Roman Art and Architecture, Renaissance Architecture, Masterpieces of Western Art, and Divine Images of Ancient Greece introduced me to mentors such as Professor Francesco de Angelis, William Harris, and Ioannis Mylonopoulos. The classes helped me gain appreciation in subjects such as the relationship between visual images and writings in Greek and Roman art, the legendary imagery and their meanings, and the function of shrines and monuments in spreading cultural recall and identity, all of which I can use during my internship program. Although the course is challenging and demands extensive research on my part, it is also absorbing and exciting as each subject quenched my thirst for learning more about the arts and archeology. I believe my existing knowledge and my burning passion for this field could be my greatest contribution to either the Department of Greek and Roman Art or the Education Department, or any other department that would fit my skills.
However, the Villa degli Antonini was not my first experience in excavation. During the summer of 2009, I joined the Belize Valley Archaeological Reconnaissance Project (BVAR) field school at the ancient Maya sites in San Ignacio del Cayo, Belize. This provided many opportunities to practice my knowledge of field archeology. BVAR offered me the chance to have a practical experience in administrative work such as documentation, on-site recordkeeping, and laboratory application, including data management and the interpretation of the archaeological evidence (Bureau of Labor Statistics), especially ceramics.
As helpful and exciting as Belize was, it was certainly my time in the Genzano fieldwork school that made me consider graduate school. The project consisted of learning the fundamentals of field research in Classical archaeology, aside from teaching the in-depth study of Roman baths, in general, and the archaeological evidence acquired during the excavation of the thermae of the Villa of the Antonines, in particular.
In between completing my University education, I have worked in other fields such as the TV Networks as an international correspondent for three years. I also worked for a documents legalization company, which helped me develop and practice my communication and organizational skills. Apart from Italian, I am also fluent in English and Spanish.
I am comfortable to work independently, but in the competitive environment of archaeological excavations, my experiences at the dig sites and actual interactions with people involved in the project and the locals have particularly strengthened my understanding and appreciation of team dynamics as well as honed my time management skills. Because of the administrative tasks assigned to me during the month-long digs, I learned to multitask, which, in turn, taught me the art of prioritizing tasks through a flexible and structured planning method to meet my deadlines.
Undertaking an internship with MET will provide the ideal climate and opportunity for me to apply my knowledge in a public museum setting, as well as enhance the communication, organizational, and numeracy skills I have acquired working in another field. As the administrative/public track offers education for students interested in the public aspects of the museum, including program development, evaluation, exhibition planning and design, education, and the organization and management of museums (BLS), my experience on the field will complement the training I will receive from the MET. Thus, this experience will help broaden and enrich my general understanding of art, archaeology, and other curatorial and research aspects of museum work.
Works Cited
Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS]. "Curators, Museum Technicians, and Conservators." Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. < http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Education-Training-and-Library/Curators-and-museum-technicians.htm>.
Drmardy.com. "Masters of Chiasmus: Winston Churchill." Drmardy.com. n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. < http://www.drmardy.com/chiasmus/masters/churchill.shtml>.
