2025 Getty Marrow Mid-Point – Jana Mae Rubio

Good morning everyone! This is Jana Mae, reporting live from the Craft in America Center in sunny Los Angeles. It doesn’t feel like five weeks has passed – it’s been so fun meeting everyone at the Center and the other interns in the Getty Marrow program. I’m really looking forward to hanging out with the other West LA interns next week.

It’s been eye-opening to see how social media is approached and analyzed internally. I have been learning about the back end of Pinterest, Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook. Recently, my projects have centered around optimizing our Pinterest account. Pinterest, in general, is an underused platform by many American museums. This avenue will be amazing to showcase the beautiful work featured in our Center space.

An upcoming project of mine is brainstorming short-form videos to promote our current exhibition! There’s always something new to adapt to – converting the momentum from a viral post (e.g. Helena Hernmarck’s video) to more engagement with our social media overall is challenging. But I’m learning more about what resonates well with users and what makes them more likely to interact with a post. 

Pop culture is always trending, so I’m currently managing a balance between a personable video style with Craft in America’s academic approach to media. I have hope that this can reach a new audience of Gen Z users. 
Learning WordPress and organizing past artist talks and interviews has been very satisfying. I’ve also been updating Craft in America’s artist database with all of the people featured in their episodes and exhibitions. If you are an artist, I implore you to at least have an Instagram or website. We need your contact information! We want to keep in touch with you!

One of the highlights of the internship so far was going to the Arts Summit where I met the interns from the other institutions for the first time! It was so fun seeing everyone’s outfits (we all seem to be artsy…) and what keychains people collected on their bags. My favorite bag was definitely Dylan’s. She thrifted hers and immediately took to decorating it. I, too, have my own cherished bag that accompanies me to the Center. It was great to bond over the little details of an outfit! 

Everyone has been so receptive to all the social media ideas I’ve had. There’s more in the works so watch out for updates! See you soon!

2025 Getty Marrow Intern — Jana Mae Rubio

Jana Mae recently finished their Bachelor of Arts in Narrative Studies at the University of Southern California. A native Angeleno, Jana Mae grew up visiting many beloved institutions such as LACMA, the Getty Museum, and the Huntington Library. It was here that Jana Mae’s interest in museums began.

During their time at USC, Jana Mae always gravitated towards areas that prioritized hands-on experiences. From sewing traditional clothing for Troy Philippines, 3D printing her graduation sash at 3D4E, to becoming a writer within USC’s video games program, Jana Mae has always been a restlessly curious individual. Most significantly, Jana Mae’s love for handicraft started with researching her family history. Her mom comes from an island renowned for textiles in the Philippines, and as such, Jana Mae joined the Southern California Handweavers’ Guild to learn more about weaving traditions. Jana Mae’s senior thesis paper discusses piña, a traditional Filipino fiber, as a form of nationalism in the Philippines.

Upon researching handwoven textiles, Jana Mae learned about the laborious process of weaving, and the intimate nature of passing this knowledge on to others. At Craft in America, Jana Mae hopes to meet other people interested in workmanship and community-building. Especially after seeing how difficult primary sources were to find for piña weaving, Jana Mae hopes to utilize digital media during their internship to make handicraft knowledge accessible for all inquisitive minds.

Getty Marrow Digital Communications Paid Internship 2025

The Craft in America Digital Communications intern will provide support and assist in various aspects of organizational digital media content and management. The intern will be involved in researching and writing content to support the organization’s exhibitions, programming, website, and PBS documentary series. The intern will be involved with episode post-production tasks. The intern will assist with the Craft in America book proofs and coordinate with the writers/artists involved. The intern will work on the Center exhibitions and programming. In addition, the intern will catalog and caption our digital video library as well as catalog our physical library. 

The intern will participate in outreach with artists, outside organizations, collectors, local businesses, student groups, and art schools. The intern will be trained to use our website and Constant Contact and will have structured time to familiarize with Craft in America’s resources, artist database, and style guide. Familiarity and knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Google Suite is a plus.

This internship is on-site at the Craft in America Center two days a week and remote for three days a week for a total of 40 hours a week.

To apply:

Submit résumé, two letters of recommendation or contact information (phone/email) for two references (teacher, professor, former employer, etc.), and a description of how you meet the requirements for the position. Email all submissions to apply@craftinamerica.org with the subject heading “Internship.” APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 18, 2025

Eligibility

Students must:

– Be a member of a group underrepresented in careers related to art conservation, museums, and/or visual arts organizations, which can include groups defined by – among other things – socioeconomic status, cultural background, physical or other disability, geographical origin and/or any life experiences that add diverse and underrepresented perspectives.

– Be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate in either a bachelor’s degree program or an associate’s degree program. Students must have completed at least one semester or two quarters of college by June. Students who graduated the semester or quarter immediately before the internship begins are also eligible. (Students who are enrolled in a second BA or BS program are not eligible.)

– Attend college in or be a permanent resident of LA County; and

– Be a United States citizen or permanent resident (non-citizen authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis; also known as a “green card” holder). Students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status valid through the internship period are also eligible.

About Craft in America

Craft in America is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2004 with the mission to promote and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media. 

Craft in America produces a Peabody Award-winning, Emmy-nominated documentary series, which first aired nationally on PBS in 2007 and has produced 33 hour-long episodes to date. These programs are filled with artists, techniques, and stories from diverse cultures, blending history with living practice. In addition to the series, Craft in America’s organizational efforts include extensive websites (pbs.org/craftinamerica and craftinamerica.org), a YouTube channel youtube.com/craftinamerica, multi-disciplinary educator guides that adhere to national standards, a small permanent collection, and the Craft in America Center in Los Angeles. All organizational content is provided to the public at no charge. 

The Craft in America Center is a public gallery, programmatic space, and library located in the heart of Los Angeles. The Center organizes contemporary craft exhibitions, educational outreach, artist and scholarly talks, and hands-on art workshops. 

Final Getty Marrow Intern Blog Post – JD Davillier

Hello again, it’s JD (Craft in America’s Getty Marrow Undergraduate Intern). Unfortunately, though, this one will be my last post here. The classic line in situations like this is to be shocked at how fast it went by. I won’t break that tradition today; I really do feel like I was just writing my midpoint post. Still, when I think back to everything I’ve done at this position so far, it takes a while. I’ve done and learned a lot over this summer both in and out of work, and the fact that I need more than a few minutes to run through everything in my head is proof of that.
So, obviously I can’t summarize this whole experience in a blog post, but I will share some highlights and hopefully some insight from the past few weeks. One such highlight is working on diagrams for the various woodworking joints featured on the Craft Video Dictionary website, something I’m very glad I was asked to do. I didn’t expect to enjoy making those diagrams as much as I did, but it was so satisfying to engage with the joints I had been watching videos of for weeks in that way. Finding the best way to present those images was a motivating challenge, and that experience was so valuable for me to see how rewarding it could be to engage with that work in a professional capacity. I won’t list everything I’ve worked on because it would take too long, but I truly feel like I was able to learn something from every project, which is not something to take for granted.
Beyond professional development, I appreciated the community and people I met greatly. Whether it be fellow Getty interns, visitors to the center, or the staff at Craft in America and Freehand, it truly was a pleasure to meet everyone and gain those new perspectives. It was great to meet artists and be inspired by them, but it was just as valuable to meet art appreciators and people who work for art-focused organizations. The art world is complex and varied, and the understanding you gain from directly interacting with people in it cannot be replicated. Beyond insight into potential paths for my future career, meeting a variety of people has helped me become a more well-rounded person with a deeper understanding of the world, and that, too, is not something I will take for granted.
That understanding is something that should be thought about more with opportunities like these in general. There is a lot of pressure in our world to go to school and get an internship as ways to ensure your future career. A future career is certainly important, but it’s also crucial that degrees and internship experience have meaning in terms of development and not just because of their title. That’s why a large part of what I loved about this internship was being exposed to so many different situations and pushing myself to come up with solutions for them. My goal with experiences like these, and everything really, is always to grow in ways that can’t just be put on a resume. Those statistics do matter, but there’s so much to life that you miss out on if you let them define you. Being happy with the person you grow to become is a big deal because it affects you in all aspects of your life rather than just one. I hope that I and others can continue to remember that.
I’m so grateful that I had an internship where it was easy to make the most out of it in that way, for both my personal and professional development. Thank you so much to Craft in America, the Getty, and everyone else I’ve met and interacted with who shared experiences with me. And of course, thank you to anyone who is reading this, and I hope you got something out of it!

Best wishes,
JD

2024 Getty Marrow Intern Midpoint – JD Davillier

Hi everyone, this is JD, the summer 2024 Getty Marrow Undergraduate intern at Craft in America. A few weeks ago, I remember talking to someone who, many years ago, did an engineering internship at a company where the engineering department was in a bit of an off season. The first half of their internship was going into the office, sitting at the computer next to their supervisor, and playing solitaire. Now, they did eventually get a project to work on besides “familiarizing themself with the Windows game suite,” but hearing that definitely made me grateful to have an internship where I’m learning about things I’m passionate about (not that there’s anything wrong with solitaire).

Jokes aside, I was genuinely surprised when I realized it was time to make my midpoint blog post. The first half of my internship has flown by because all of the projects I’ve been working on have felt very directly engaging, interactive, and interesting. A big part of that is that the team here truly values my input and contributions. Early on, I became interested in social media and online content, so I shared some of my thoughts with my supervisors which eventually led me to make a document with some ideas and analysis. They were encouraging of my ideas right away, and I ended up creating social media content. That was an exciting creative project that I got a lot of control over and was able to feel personally invested in very easily.

A few weeks in, I started to want to do more on the graphic design side, and the team very quickly had a project with me on that front. I was given the resources and guidelines I’d need, but ultimately I was encouraged to be creative and make the project my own. That trust in my abilities and perspective has been very exciting, and it makes the lessons I have learned through working here that much more valuable. It means a lot to know that the work I’m doing has a significant impact, and I find that roles like these where I can take on a higher level of responsibility are always the ones that lead to the most development.

Of course, the content itself is also an aspect that I have learned so much from. Even while I’m working on tasks that sound less creatively exciting, such as updating the website, I am able to stay engaged because I am constantly discovering new things about the craft world. Craft has such deep history and community, so I am often surprised by all the different ways artists use materials to make interesting objects. For example, just yesterday I was blown away by Joan Takayama-Ogawa’s ceramics. So many of the artists I’ve seen or even met have truly inspired me with their work and I find myself thinking about them, looking them up, or showing people their work even when I’m not on the clock. That level of direct interaction and connection to artists and people who know so much about the craft world adds so much depth to everything I learn about. I also had the chance to meet other people my age in the intern events through the Getty, which was great because there are so many interesting and talented people.

Opportunities like these are definitely a situation where you get out of it what you put in, but to a degree they also depend on what you are allowed to get out of them. The trust of my supervisors to give me tasks and responsibilities that they know I can handle has allowed me to get a lot out of this experience, so I truly am grateful for that.

2024 Getty Intern Announcement

Hello everyone, my name is John Davillier (I usually go by JD), and I am very excited to be starting the Digital Communications Intern position for Craft in America through the Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship Program! I am currently going into my senior year at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design studying BFA Art with a minor in computer programming. I am mainly interested in telling stories with my work, so I am interested in a wide variety of fields whether it be animation, painting, fashion, or design.

I was born and raised in New Orleans, where I was constantly surrounded by artists working on their craft and expressing themselves, so it became very apparent how art can be used to express ideas with a level of spirit that is often not possible with logical understanding alone. The power that art has to make someone not just learn things about someone else’s human experience but to actually feel those things is what makes it such an effective method of communication. Craft is one of the areas where I feel this the most, as it has been a core area of human experience since the beginning of our existence. We as humans have always stood out because of our ability to merge with the tools nature provides us and create something new in tandem with it. A large topic of interest to me at the moment is how this core experience shifts and changes as a result of the heavily digital world we live in today.

Craft in America has offered complete immersion into that topic, and I consider myself very lucky to have joined the team in time to see some of the background work for the upcoming show and help participate, which has exposed me to the work of a group of very skilled woodworkers. Although I have just recently started, seeing the show and the various online content I have worked on so far has already significantly demonstrated how important the connection the artist has with their craft is, and how the spirit they pour into it translates into a unique final object. I really enjoy Craft in America’s emphasis on showing process for that reason. Often from the perspective of a consumer, the final product is everything. However, for the artist, the process: the feeling of using their tools, the texture of the objects they’re working on, the sounds that reverberate through their studio, might be more important than any possible result. 

As I continue to work this position, I am very excited to learn more about the connection all kinds of people have with their craft, and how that can lead them to connect with each other. For my generation, the threat of alienation and overconsumption seems to loom over the heads of many. There is a fear that the work we as humans do will become irrelevant as technology takes on more and more roles in our place. Still, for me personally, I have hope, and I feel that working with an organization like this one, where I am surrounded by artists who are passionate and longing for connection, only further strengthens that hope. There is no better demonstration of the idea that, no matter how hard it gets, humans will always have a desire for and love for the act of creating things and expressing themselves than experiencing the communities that are based around those very acts.

Getty Marrow Digital Communications Paid Internship 2024

Craft in America is pleased to announce that we have received a Getty Marrow Undergraduate Internship grant for this summer and we are offering a Digital Communications internship.

The Craft in America Digital Communications intern will provide support and assist in various aspects of organizational digital media content and management. Projects include cataloging and captioning our digital video library, research for the Craft Video Dictionary, cataloging our Craft in America Center library, researching and writing artist biographies for the website, and creating promotional materials.

Over the summer, the intern will participate in outreach with artists, outside organizations, collectors, local businesses, student groups, and art schools. In addition, the intern will be involved in researching and writing web and social media content to support the organization’s programming, website, and PBS documentary series. The intern will be trained to use our website and Constant Contact and will have structured time to familiarize with Craft in America’s resources, artist database, and style guide. Familiarity and knowledge of Adobe Suite, Google Suite is a plus.

This paid internship is on-site at the Craft in America Center two days a week and remote for three days a week for a total of 40 hours a week. Intern must be available for 10 continuous weeks between June 3-Aug 23, 2024.

To Apply
Submit résumé, two letters of recommendation or contact information (phone/email) for two references (teacher, professor, former employer, etc.), and a description of how you meet the requirements for the position. Email all submissions to apply@craftinamerica.org with the subject heading “Internship.” Applications due April 15, 2024.

Eligibility
Students must:

• Be a member of a group underrepresented in careers related to art conservation, museums, and/or visual arts organizations, which can include groups defined by – among other things – socioeconomic status, cultural background, physical or other disability, geographical origin and/or any life experiences that add diverse and underrepresented perspectives.

• Be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate in either a bachelor’s degree program or an associate’s degree program. Students must have completed at least one semester or two quarters of college by June 2024. Students who graduated the semester or quarter immediately before the internship begins are also eligible. (Students who are enrolled in a second BA or BS program are not eligible.)

• Attend college in or be a permanent resident of LA County; and

• Be a United States citizen or permanent resident (non-citizen authorized to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis; also known as a “green card” holder). Students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status valid through the internship period are also eligible.

About Craft in America

Craft in America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2004 with the mission to promote and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media. The Peabody Award-winning, Emmy-nominated Craft in America documentary series first aired nationally on PBS in 2007 and has produced 31 hour-long episodes to date. These programs are filled with artists, techniques, and stories from diverse cultures, blending history with living practice.

In addition to the series, Craft in America’s organizational efforts include extensive websites (pbs.org/craftinamerica and craftinamerica.org), a YouTube channel (youtube.com/craftinamerica), multi-disciplinary educator guides that adhere to national standards, and the Craft in America Center in Los Angeles. All of Craft in America’s multimedia educational content is provided to the public at no charge.

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.

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.