Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern Summer 2023 Final Post

Mary here, Craft in America’s Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern for Summer 2023. I can’t believe it’s been ten weeks since I started my internship. I am amazed by how much I’ve learned about the world of craft in such a short time. I came to Craft in America having just graduated from college, with little awareness of opportunities to learn new creative skills outside of academia. Since then, I’ve been exposed to so many local artists and organizations dedicated to furthering the art of handmade craft. I am thrilled to be able to promote these opportunities to the creative-minded people in my life. Allied Woodshop, for example, offers woodworking classes specifically for women, trans, and GNC individuals. I don’t think woodworking is for me, but I am hoping to take a blacksmithing workshop at Adam’s Forge, another LA-based nonprofit, sometime in the future. I still treasure the advanced weaving workshop I took at the Craft in America center with Ferne Jacobs, and will definitely be back for more.

During my second week at Craft in America, part of my duties included attending an artist talk at the Center given by Jeff Oestreich. In preparation, I researched the legacy of Leach Pottery in the Midwestern United States as carried on by Bernard Leach’s students (Jeff Oestreich, Warren McKenzie, and Clary Illian). This helped me comprehend the significance of craft as a bedrock of community. Not only has this internship increased my understanding of the necessary administrative work which underlies the craft world, it has brought me closer to finding a place in my own community of fellow makers.

I am sincerely thankful to the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship program for this opportunity, and to all the staff at Craft in America for making this such a positive experience.

Filming at Allied Woodshop for the Craft Video Dictionary

Mary here, Craft in America’s Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern for Summer 2023. Earlier this week, I participated in another shoot day for the Craft Video Dictionary. We filmed several woodworking techniques at Allied Woodshop in East LA. At various points throughout the day, I was awestruck by the skill and speed each artist brought to the table. Woodworking is not my area of expertise, but everyone from Allied was extremely helpful and communicative. The shoot went smoothly and I’m proud to say we filmed the creation of some humble yet beautiful objects. Everyone has been putting so much work into this project, and it’s exciting to see it grow continuously. 

Allied Woodshop frequently offers beginning to advanced workshops, many of which are specifically reserved for women, nonbinary, and trans students. For more information, visit alliedwoodshop.com. 

The Craft Video Dictionary is supported by the Decorative Arts Trust’s Prize for Excellence and Innovation. To learn more about the Trust or to become a member, visit The Decorative Arts Trust.

Header image: Martin Alexander turning beads and coves on a lathe.

2023 Getty Marrow Intern — Mary McCord

Mary here, writing from week 5 of my Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship. I can’t believe my time at Craft in America is half over! The diverse range of projects I’m working on have made the experience fly by.

My role at Craft in America is in digital communications, but the opportunities I’ve been given through the Getty Marrow program encompass much more than that. Yesterday for example, the Getty sent members of my internship cohort on a walking tour of public art in Long Beach. I had little experience in the realm of public art, but the Arts Council of Long Beach presented an informative snapshot of the entire process including conception, funding, community input and engagement, and conservation. A few weeks ago, the Getty Center hosted a leadership summit for this year’s internship cohort. We were treated to a series of lectures from Getty Marrow alumni, and encouraged to explore the museum’s exhibitions after the day’s activities concluded. My current immersion in craft gave me a new perspective on the value of handmade objects in museum collections.

Week to week, I’ve been working on a number of exciting projects. I am currently focused on conducting research for our upcoming Craft Video Dictionary project, supported by the Decorative Arts Trust’s Prize for Excellence and Innovation. The Craft Video Dictionary seeks to be a resource for craftspeople of all skill levels by providing a video encyclopedia of common techniques, materials, and tools spanning a variety of craft media. Contributing to this project has deepened my appreciation for the extensive knowledge and skill craftspeople bring to their work. I’ve also been promoting different facets of the Craft in America Center on social media. This includes our current exhibition, Couples in Craft, as well as the ever-expanding Craft in America library. The library houses a collection of over 3,000 craft books, catalogs, and publications, all completely free and open to the public. I would love to see the surrounding community utilize this more often!

A highlight of my internship so far was attending an advanced weaving workshop led by Ferne Jacobs, a prolific fiber artist whose work I’ve admired for years. I was thrilled when Craft in America agreed to let me film the event for social media while participating as a student. Jacobs is a gifted educator, and the small class size allowed her to spend ample one-on-one time with each participant. We had a great discussion about our individual goals, inspirations, and the creative process, receiving constructive feedback throughout. It was one of the most energizing creative experiences I’ve had – all because this internship gives me the opportunity to make my passions part of my job description.

On a related note, the exhibition “Ferne Jacobs: A Personal World” is on at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art until September 24th. Thoughtfully curated by Craft in America’s own Emily Zaiden, the exhibition is a 60-year retrospective which includes rarely-exhibited works. It’s a great source of insight into the more esoteric themes in Jacobs’ work. I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.

Looking back on the first half of my internship, I am awed by how much I have learned about the world of craft. I am looking forward to the second half of this experience, excited about perfecting skills I have begun to develop.

Filming with Ryan Taber at California State University Long Beach

Mary here, Craft in America’s summer 2023 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern. Last week, I had the pleasure of accompanying Craft in America to California State University Long Beach to shoot content for an ongoing project: the Craft Video Dictionary. CSULB is my alma mater, and returning to campus for my new job less than two months after graduating was surreal. The team set up in the school’s wood shop, nestled in the center of the fine arts building complex where I’d spent most of my time in undergrad. We were filming with Ryan Taber, head of the University’s Wood program, as he demonstrated a variety of woodworking techniques.

The Craft Video Dictionary is one of the most ambitious projects I’ll be working on throughout my internship. The project’s website, which launches later this year, will host an extensive library of videos illustrating craft techniques and their associated materials and tools. We filmed Ryan demonstrating a few common processes in furniture design. I had no prior knowledge of woodworking, but Ryan thoroughly explained each step to the crew. He advised us on presenting the material with clarity and accuracy throughout the day. I left with a deepened appreciation for the minutiae of furniture construction. It was one of the many ways this internship has helped me notice the subtle craftsmanship I interact with every day. The expertise and skill Ryan brought on set made me even more excited for the launch of this project.

The Craft Video Dictionary is supported by the Decorative Arts Trust’s Prize for Excellence and Innovation. To learn more about the Trust or to become a member, visit The Decorative Arts Trust.

2023 Getty Marrow Intern — Mary McCord

We are pleased to announce that our 2023 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern, Mary McCord, has joined us for the summer.

This spring, Mary completed their Bachelor of Arts in Art History at California State University Long Beach. Prior to enrolling in CSULB’s Art History program, they studied fashion design and fine arts at Mount San Antonio College near their hometown of Claremont, CA. Exposure to the scale and speed of today’s garment industry, as well as its ecological implications, led Mary to explore the world of artisan craftsmanship in pursuit of a sustainable alternative. Their interest in craft was solidified at CSULB, where they were lucky to take several Art History classes in conjunction with the University’s thriving American Indian Studies department. During that time, they became enamored with the vibrant history of craftsmanship on the North American continent, as well as craftsmanship in the Caribbean diaspora. Naturally, an internship at Craft in America seemed like an excellent fit.

In just one week at Craft in America, Mary’s appreciation for a variety of craft traditions has already deepened. They are especially excited to continue learning about the communal element of craftsmanship: from the teachers who form a link between old and young generations by passing down traditional techniques, to the artisans who dedicate themselves to making their crafts accessible to local communities. They are inspired by the dedication of craftspeople to the lifelong process of honing their skills, as well as their ability to create deeply personal works within traditional craft techniques. Mary hopes that this experience will inform their own multimedia arts practice, teaching them to utilize craft for the purpose of community bonding and resilience as generations of craftspeople have done before.

2022 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern Sophia Li – Final Report

Hi, this is Sophia Li, Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern. This is my last week of my internship and I want to thank Craft in America for allowing me to be part of this organization and participate in all the ongoing projects. I am also extremely grateful to the Getty Marrow Internship program for their passion to promote the next generation of art enthusiasts and art historians. I had a wonderful time at this internship, and I am looking forward to keeping up with Craft in America and the community of craft! I’ll be continuing at Otis College as a senior studying product design and contemporary clay. Thank you for following my time at Craft in America.

Photo: Madison Metro | Beautiful artwork: Tibbie Dunbar

2022 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern Sophia Li

It is already 7 weeks into my internship at Craft in America, time sure goes by fast. Although my internship is mostly remote and consists of digital projects, I am really glad to have experienced in-person tasks as well. 

My work includes some on-going projects like captioning our artist talks, which if you haven’t checked them out yet, you definitely should. My favorite video so far is Arline Fisch’s artist talk. Although I’ve watched the videos 10 times or even more, it’s still fascinating and her explanation of her work is so engaging. Arline Fisch works in metal but uses fiber techniques not traditional to metal. You really have to see the video for yourself. Other than working on the videos, I have also been assigned many graphic design projects like creating flyers for our current Craft in America Center exhibitions, Tibbie Dunbar: Assemble and Location Services: Jewelry Perspectives On Time & Place, and also formatting advertisements for our new upcoming PBS episodes. 

During the installation of Ferne Jacob’s show and installation of Tibbie Dunbar’s show, I was able to assist in-person at the Center. I learned about packing art pieces to help protect the artwork during transportation, wrapping the artwork multiple times, double boxing, and making sure every inch of the artwork is covered and secure. This is a skill not taught in art school to artists, although it really should be, because artists need to know how to protect and ship their work to ensure the longevity of the artworks. To install the show, we had to prepare the gallery which involved painting and cleaning the walls and all the pedestals. I helped Tibbie set up her show and got to see the exhibition assembled, and come to life which is something I’ve never experienced. I have to say it feels really good to be part of completing a show, helping out behind the scenes and knowing that I painted all the pedestals used in the show. 

Overall it has been great getting to work on and dabble in all the projects at Craft in America. We have a lot of projects going on so please continue to follow along!

Filming with Kazuki Takizawa for the Craft Video Dictionary

Hello, it’s Sophia here, the 2022 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern at Craft in America. Craft in America is working on creating a Craft Video Dictionary that will be released in 2023. Craft has had a long history, and therefore there are many techniques and terms used in each medium. The Craft Video Dictionary aims to build a centralized source for artists and art enthusiasts to learn about each craft technique, through video, in order to create a dictionary of informational content. 

I had a behind the scenes experience watching glass artist Kazuki Takizawa and his assistant Deshon Tyau’s creative process during the filming of this project… I must say, I now have the highest respect for glass artists seeing how labor intensive and technical the whole process is, and especially all while having to work in a really warm environment.

The Craft Video Dictionary is supported by the Decorative Arts Trust’ Prize for Excellence and Innovation. To learn more about the Trust or to become a member, visit The Decorative Arts Trust. Nominations are due 6/30/22.

Filming with Joan Takayama-Ogawa for the Craft Video Dictionary

Hello, it’s Sophia here, the 2022 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern at Craft in America. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to be on-set for the Craft Video Dictionary filming with ceramic artist Joan Takayama-Ogawa, who just so happens to be my ceramics professor at Otis College. Joan demonstrated some of the ceramic handbuilding and decorating techniques she uses in her beautiful work, and it was amazing seeing an in-depth demonstration of her process. It was my first time visiting Joan’s home and studio in Pasadena, so it was especially awesome to see her at work in her creative space. 

The Craft Video Dictionary is supported by the Decorative Arts Trust’ Prize for Excellence and Innovation. To learn more about the Trust or to become a member, visit The Decorative Arts Trust. Nominations are due 6/30/22.

2022 Getty Marrow Intern — Sophia Li

We are pleased to introduce our 2022 Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern, Sophia Li.

Sophia is a rising senior at Otis College of Art and Design, majoring in Product Design and minoring in Contemporary Clay. She spent the first half of her life in Beijing, China. Growing up, Sophia’s mom was obsessed with art, collecting antiques and taking her to museums. It is no wonder both she and her sister are interested in pursuing a career in the creative realm. Sophia had the privilege of taking art lessons from a young age, having her little canvas next to her mom’s full size canvas, oil painting in their home. Sophia’s current artwork incorporates her cultural influences along with nostalgic elements from her childhood and upbringing.

Having experienced the isolation of online school during the pandemic, Sophia began to value the significance of human interaction and connection, the irreplaceable mode of in-person learning, and the impact of her work environment. She felt like she missed out on the “taken for granted”, the “just a Saturday night”, and the “spontaneous boba hangouts”— the seemingly mundane moments. As a result, Sophia picked up the hobby of film photography. Film allowed her to document these moments precious to her life, imitating the photos she found in her parent’s photo albums. 

As the Getty Marrow Undergraduate intern at Craft in America, Sophia hopes to learn all about the behind the scenes of the organization, to learn about what part Craft in America plays in the art community, and how to connect people to artists— how to inspire and introduce community members to crafts. Craft in America’s mission is to increase the knowledge and understanding of handcrafted work, and Sophia hopes to play a part in this process of using digital media to inspire an appreciation of craft.