Behind the Scenes at SSG: Life of an Intern

I remember checking my email last spring and feeling a huge wave of relief flood through my system. The answer to every third year student’s prayer of finding an internship before graduation had been answered: the University Internship Program, better known as the UIP. The pressure to find an internship had been building up and I had little direction as to where to go with an Art History major. The UIP piqued my interest, and their variety of hosting organizations seemed to have a spot for everyone…

And it did. For me, it was Second Street Gallery. Before starting the internship, I had visited several galleries in New York and was always curious as to what went on “behind-the-scenes:” Who chose the art? What went into the installation process? What type of events were affiliated with an art gallery, and how did it promote new exhibitions to the public?

The answers to these questions awaited me at Second Street. I have been interning here since last June and I find myself learning something new everyday. It is interesting to see how different types of organizations operate. Working with a non-profit is a real eye-opener as to how much the gallery depends on the community, which makes our work here so valuable. With a three person staff bolstered with several interns, the input of each person is vital.

As an intern, you can assume that I get the tasks of highest importance at Second Street, such as mailing, filing, and cleaning. (Note: the office of an art gallery is never clean). While these are the duties of every intern across America, I also get to witness and partake in the creative process behind closed doors. Did you know that over 100 artists submit their work each year to be reviewed by an anonymous panel?

Personally, my favorite part of working at Second Street is getting to experience the different artwork and meeting the different artists. The amount of forethought that goes into each exhibit is incredible, namely the time put in by the artists themselves paired with my director’s knack for installation design. It is always fascinating to see the way artists’ ideas manifest into art.

Accompanying the “on-site” part of my internship with Second Street there is a weekly seminar hosted by UIP. These weekly classes consist of discussions of the ongoing events in each of our different internships; it is a great way to see how much one workplace can differ from another. I am appreciative of an office environment where there is constant change taking place around me, where relations in the office are amicable, and where new ideas and creative incentives are valued. As a native New Yorker and as a fourth year student getting ready to pack up, I find working with Second Street Gallery a great way to integrate myself with the community of Charlottesville for my final year in Virginia.

- Chelsea Coppinger, UIP Intern 2009-2010 -