Congratulations Academic Year Interns

As the spring semester comes to a close, the Museum would like to recognize our nine student employees who have made outstanding contributions to our work this year. They have brought enthusiasm and creativity to a range of curatorial, educational, and digital projects at the BCMA. In addition, the Museum extends our warmest congratulations to our five graduating seniors as they embark on their next adventures.

The five student assistants to the curators are: Andria Polo Brizuela ’22, Cassie Jacknson ’22, Brandon Lozano-Garay ’24, Elisha Osemobor ’22, and Lucy Siegel ’22.

 Andria Polo Brizuela, a double major in Visual Arts and Neuroscience from Miami, Florida, wrapped up her time at the BCMA having served as the inaugural Digital Media Assistant and as a Curatorial Assistant on the exhibition Jona Frank: Model Home. “I have been an intern for three academic semesters, and all my experiences have been filled with amazing supervisors and rich conversations,” Andria shared. “From learning how to do photogrammetry with Sean Burrus to working with Anne Goodyear and Jona Frank [in] curating and installing exhibition work, my experiences interning for the BCMA provided me with endless learning opportunities and challenges that pushed me to grow as a student and as an emerging artist."

A double major in Government and Economics from McLean, Virginia, Cassie Jackson joined the Museum this spring as a Curatorial Assistant on the Mina Loy project with Co-Director Anne Collins Goodyear. Cassie carried out original research on the modernist poet and artist, who will be the subject of a forthcoming retrospective at the BCMA. Cassie shared that this spring was a fantastic introduction to her understanding of curatorial work: “I’m thrilled to have been able to contribute to planning, arranging, and launching exhibits at the BCMA and have gained a healthy appreciation for how Herculean the tasks are. My only remaining job is to find a way back to Maine to see the new galleries launch!”

Brandon Lozano-Garay is an Environmental Studies and Art History major with a Visual Arts minor from Meeker, Colorado. This semester, he assisted Co-Director Frank Goodyear with researching Maine artists and was instrumental to an upcoming project focused on Monhegan Island. Reflecting on his work this spring, Brandon noted: “Having the opportunity to apply my interests in photography, art history, and the environment toward a single project was a truly rewarding and exciting experience. I learned so much more about the intersection of the three disciplines through my BCMA project, and I'm grateful for this opportunity.”

Elisha Osemobor, an Art History major and Francophone Studies minor from Stamford, Connecticut, spent this past year co-curating an exhibition on Helen Frankenthaler and Jo Sandman with Anne Collins Goodyear. The exhibition, which opens in Fall 2022, will put a selection of Frankenthaler’s works on paper in conversation with Sandman’s conceptual artworks, and consider how these two artists pushed the boundaries of their artistic genres. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to spend so much time in the museum space this year,” Elisha noted. “I have enjoyed building relationships with the museum staff and learning about the intricacies of curatorial work on a college campus. I am so grateful for this working and learning experience.”

An Art History and Government double major from Katonah, New York, Lucy Siegel worked closely this past year with Sean Burrus, Interim Curator and Andrew W. Mellon Post-Doctoral Curatorial Fellow. Lucy’s research culminated in the current exhibition Antiquity & America: The Ancient Mediterranean in the United States, which examines the centuries-long history of Mediterranean Antiquities in American culture. Lucy, who is passionate about the art, law, and politics, shared: “I was responsible for conducting provenance research for artifacts that have been a part of the museum's collection for generations. It was a privilege to work alongside curators to uncover the history of Bowdoin's collecting practices.”

In addition to the range of curatorial projects, another major initiative launched this past spring has been the Student Ambassadors program, which aims to further stimulate student engagement and increase the Museum’s presence on campus. Working with Curatorial Assistant and Manager of Student Programs Sabrina Lin, the program was conceived and spearheaded by our two Education Assistants: Sinclaire Ledahl ’23 and Jane Wang ’23.

Sinclaire Ledahl, from Pasadena, California, is an Education and Psychology coordinate major with a minor in German. From developing virtual family programs, educational outreach, and campus-wide events this spring, Sinclaire expressed her appreciation for engaging with the Museum and College community. “I have wanted to work at the Museum since I arrived at Bowdoin, and the experience did not disappoint! It has been such a joy to introduce students to the Museum, a resource that I have long appreciated but that many don’t take advantage of,” she stated. “I hope to continue working in my role as a leader of the Student Ambassador Program next year as a senior.”

Jane Wang is an Economics and Art History double major from Shanghai, China. Jane has applied her passion for art historical research and public engagement to the myriad of educational endeavors at the Museum. Reflecting on the launch of the Ambassadors group this semester, Jane added that her time at the BCMA has been shaped by close collaboration with museum staff and her fellow interns. “It is really rewarding to see how the [ambassador] program took shape since the beginning of last semester,” Jane commented. “Currently meeting with the student ambassadors on a weekly basis, I am constantly motivated by their passion and vision.”

Equally important to the Museum has been the work of Amira Oguntoyinbo ’24, Museum Shop Assistant as well as a member of the Ambassadors cohort. From Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Amira is double majoring in Francophone Studies and Digital and Computational Studies with a minor in Visual Arts. With her warm presence and knowledge of the BCMA, Amira welcomed many daily visitors to the Museum and introduced them to current exhibitions. Amira shared: “Working with Liza in the BCMA gift shop has been one of the highlights of my second year here at Bowdoin! I have really enjoyed getting to know the people who visit our Museum and generally making the BCMA a welcoming place for everyone.”

Lastly, we are grateful for the continued excellence of our Lead Digital Media Assistant, Cheng Xing ’23, who is a Computer Science and Math double major from Beijing, China. Cheng has been working with Sean Burrus to further the Museum’s digitization efforts and diverse suite of virtual resources, including performing High-Resolution imaging, video production, website’s proofing, and 3-D scanning. Cheng’s work has enabled the growing coverage of permanent collection imaging and widely used for teaching, research, and exhibitions.  

It has been a pleasure working with our nine students, whose dedication to the Museum and passion for the arts make our daily work possible. We look forward to seeing how they continue to grow at Bowdoin and beyond. And for our seniors, we will proudly cheer you on as you enter this exciting next chapter!

 

Sabrina Lin

Curatorial Assistant and Manager of Student Programs

Bowdoin College Museum of Art