Museum Career Internship Program

Greetings, my name is Richard Cabrera (he/him), an Ecuadorian-American artist residing in Queens, New York, and a recent Fine Arts graduate from LaGuardia Community College. This opportunity to work with the American Folk Art Museum presents a rich source of culture, individuality, and a level of respect toward artists, assisting my career and my artistic identity. Folk art contributes a unique set of origins and influences that relate to creative expressions throughout time.

My objective in making art is to express my personal beliefs and visions of beauty and elegance. Displaying and exploring what is “beautiful” to the human eye is what motivates me to draw and paint. I create sensitive works that target the essence of individuals and nature. These two pieces are work in progress, which I plan to complete soon. 

Browsing through the American Folk Art Museum collection, the artwork “No Place, Someplace, and Blankville, (double-sided)” by William A. Hall (1943–2019) impressed me. The lightness and transparency of this pencil drawing offer the sensation of a soul and a story to tell. In the details of the house, Hall’s color choices demonstrate a sensitivity and an impression of open welcoming. Also, Hall’s value and cross-hatching techniques on the trees and the house successfully capture volume and texture which makes the overall drawing delightful to view. William A. Hall has written an innovative and distinctive fantasy he created between the worlds of No Place, Someplace, and Blankville. This piqued my curiosity to understand what Hall was seeing from his perspective. An artist’s sketchbook is a document that presents a portion of one’s life, which is why I love seeing the thought process behind their work, studying to view their technical and conceptual skills, and understanding who they are as a person.

Hi, my name is Nelson Ramirez and I’m a Fine Arts/Design major at Laguardia Community College. Art was always an interest ever since preschool. I’d get inspiration from anything, whether from window displays, video games, people, or even gum wrappers. I’m a bit introverted, so putting ideas into words can be challenging, but art was something that helped me express my thoughts visually. I like trying new things and experimenting with different mediums. My style would probably be defined as controlled and precise yet expressive. Recently, I made a collage based on a song from one of my favorite artists and wanted to capture the theme and ambiance of the instrumentals.

A piece from the museum’s collection that caught my attention because of its vivid imagery is an untitled oil painting by Minnie Evans. There’s a lot going on visually while still remaining harmonious. I feel a sense of peace because of the warm colors and calm expressions. Reading about the work, I can relate to how the artist got inspiration from her own environment and interests.

I joined the internship because I wanted to expose myself to different career paths in the art realm and working in a museum is something I am curious about. Hopefully, this program helps me have a better understanding of what I want to do in the future as an artist.

Hi! My name is Fae Smith (they/them). I’m twenty years old and a Fine Arts/Design Studies major focusing on art history and museum studies at LaGuardia Community College. I’m originally from California and moved to New York at eighteen years old. Moving across the country on my own was hard, but I have learned so much and have blossomed into myself these past two years. I currently live in Brooklyn and enjoy running, reading, and going out with friends.

When I envision my future, I see myself working within an art museum. I would love to design exhibits and art installations while educating the public about art. I love art pieces that challenge the norm and showcasing works that spark a range of emotions from viewers. I was originally a painting major, but after taking a gap year in 2022, I realized that my passion was more for interpreting and writing about art. Going to museums and interpreting my ideas about artworks felt so fulfilling, and I realized I wanted to share my fulfillment with others. I believe that understanding art can help us understand the world, and I believe that art is a powerful tool that can evoke emotions and change. It helps us learn, it builds our critical thinking skills, and art will always be with us as a society. I want to help promote the artists of the world who are overlooked or ignored by art dealers and art institutions. I am honored to be interning for the American Folk Art Museum. I firmly believe this museum is different from any other museum. It is focused on educating the public, and giving culture to our community. The American Folk Art Museum really showcases all types of artists, and believes that art and culture should be free. Culture is for everyone, and everyone should have the opportunity to feel and experience it.

One artwork that really spoke out to me was Ionel Talpazan’s 1993 painting Mysterios Energie din Cosmos UFOs [Mysterious Energy from the Cosmos UFOs]. I think the composition of the painting is stunning.The painting feels surreal; it conveys galaxies and different universes. Each part of the painting tells its own story–the UFOs, the stars, the galaxy.  Talpazan had a fascination with UFOs after having an experience with one as a child. I think his art shows how his brain operates, and how whatever experience he had was life changing. I believe in the power of imagination, and how the brain can alter memories and experiences. I think Talpazan’s experience was very real to him, and this is shown in his paintings. 

Hi, my name is Ryen Slaughter and my major is Fine Arts: Design Studies at Laguardia Community College. I’m from Harlem, and art has been a part of my life ever since I was very young. When I first came to LaGuardia my major was Nursing, but after thinking about what I REALLY want to do in the future, I changed my major to Fine Arts. I always thought of art as a hobby, and I find many different types of art interesting. I am happy with my decision and I’m glad that I get to do what I love.

I can definitely say that I am into makeup and fashion. I am a HUGE fan of color. I am instantly drawn to anything that has bright colors. My art can be very colorful and it has its own unique style. I am thinking of becoming an animator but I’m not quite sure yet, and I’m excited to see where it goes. Cartoons have always been a major enjoyment of mine growing up and I want to learn more about the basics behind it. During my spare time I draw different cartoons that I create from my imagination. I also paint and am a huge fan of abstraction. I love the mystery of truly understanding not only what’s going on in the painting but also what that artist is trying to say. 

An artwork that stood out to me in the American Folk Art Museum’s collection is this painting by Thornton Dial Sr. I just love how it’s very abstract and bold but yet gory at the same time. The title of the painting, Animal Crackers. Play and Eat., makes me think that the animal crackers that we loved so much while we were young magically came to life and are seeking revenge. Perhaps this is why there seems to be a lot of terror coming from this painting. I’m seeing a lot of red and the paint looks smudged on the canvas, which gives the illusion that it’s blood.

Another reason this painting stood out to me was because it reminds me of my own work. This is a painting made with acrylic paint in my sketchbook. I had a Sharpie marker in my hand and I closed my eyes and just started drawing whatever felt right to me. I am very happy with the result and I just love how freeing it is to make something abstract because it’s so effortless in a way and a good way to truly express yourself. 

Hello! My name is Kathryn Gonzalez (she/her) and I am 21 years old. I am from Sunnyside, Queens and I am a Fine Arts: Design Studies major at LaGuardia Community College. Art is something that I’ve been passionate about for my whole life, and I’ve loved to draw ever since I was a kid reading “Calvin and Hobbes” comic strips. As I’ve become an adult I’ve branched out to more mediums such as illustration, collage, and sewing.

This internship at the American Folk Art Museum is an amazing opportunity because I want to have a career that gravitates towards art in any way possible. I’ve always been content with the possibility that I might never commercialize my own art, and I am drawn to the idea of working in an art museum because I love to observe the art of others and am just as passionate about art history. Going to art museums is important to me because it has always been something that I’ve done with my family, and I associate it with my dad who has shared his love for art with me. I feel lucky to live in New York City where we have an abundance of art and culture, so being an intern at the American Folk Art Museum feels like a great step in that direction.

This piece in the American Folk Art Museum’s collection titled “Diplomatic Adventure” by Felipe Jesus Consalvos spoke to me because I love the medium of collage and the potential that it has for communication. Collage is so powerful because it gives the artist an unlimited ability to create anything that they want, while still giving the appearance of something carefree and light-hearted. I think that there is value in extracting images and words from many different places, or even from your own collection of photographs, and arranging them to create an entirely new and unique picture. In this piece the artist seems to be redesigning the American dollar bill, and there is an obvious humor in the way they’ve attached George Washington’s head to a lingerie-clad woman’s body and framed him as something “the cat dragged in”. 

On September 14, 2023, The American Folk Art Museum welcomed its 9th group of Museum Career Internship Program participants from LaGuardia Community College. This fall, these eight students will gain knowledge about the museum’s collection and staff through a variety of experiences including behind the scenes tours, staff presentations, research projects, and field trips. In January, each intern will be placed with a different museum department for hands-on learning experiences. In the coming weeks, each of our new interns will introduce themselves on this page, so stay tuned!

Hello! My name is Victor Guaman. I am 18 years old and majoring in Fine Arts at LaGuardia Community College. I am originally from Brooklyn but was raised in Queens so I tend to have the best of both worlds, which are reflected in my ambition and pride that stems from being a New Yorker. This internship is an opportunity to find a creative ambition that will propel my skill set and my mentality. Art has always been a stand-out area for me. I think that art is the primal human instinct to let out a form of expression. My ambition is simply to see how far I can take it, and this internship will push me into an environment that will lend me insight to accompany my ventures.

One of my passions is sewing and fashion, which brought me to the work of Kumiko Sudo. This piece, Kimono Hanging, is anything but straightforward. The vibrancy of the different colored silks and the subtle balance of dark and light colors create a meticulous depth. Many different patterns in unorthodox positions gives the appearance of a scrambled composition, but it actually falls into place like a puzzle. The geometric shapes found throughout the piece are brought to life with the blending of colors and the flower and ribbon shapes express a positive aura.

Abstraction is so attractive to me due to its mystery, and it’s exciting to find it colliding with textile work. Finding these artists and diving into their experiences is allowing me to further my experiences in the art world. I’m looking forward to how much knowledge I will gain through this internship.

Hello, my name is Alanis (she/her). I major in Fine Arts/Studio Art at Laguardia Community College. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York and I’m Mexican American.

I’m interested in interning at the museum because I think it will be a cool experience. Museums are interesting places because I’m able to discover unique artwork. I don’t know what type of art career I want to have in the future, but I hope after interning at the American Folk Art Museum, I can find something that’s right for me. I am excited to learn about folk art and accomplish art assignments as well.

My hobbies are video editing and going on walks in nature. I am interested in science. My favorite types are environmental science and biology.  My favorite hobby is art. I like to do sketching, drawing, painting, and digital art. I draw cartoons and paint still lives. Learning new things is fun because it challenges me and I gain knowledge. Doing work keeps me busy and engaged. Challenges motivate me. For example, I always make art and it makes me feel better when I finish. I also like to be organized. In the future, I plan to keep learning about art and be involved in creating artwork because it is a passion of mine. 

An artwork that stood out to me in the museum’s collection is Abigail Munro Bosworth by Sheldon Peck. In the composition, a woman is in the center. She is staring at the viewer and does not express emotion, but her posture says a lot. She is in an enclosed space surrounded by a square frame. The frame has dark brown to light values making it look three dimensional. Surrounding the painting there is a thin frame that has vertical lines repeated. They face towards the figure. The woman has black curly hair, red cheeks, and light skin. Her dress is gray with a decorative pattern. Her appearance makes her look wealthy and her posture makes her look confident. For example, she holds a book making it seem like she is knowledgeable. The expression makes me think she wants to be seen and respected. She wears a necklace with a small pink bow on the side. The dark background makes it seem like she’s in a three dimensional space, which helps create depth. The yellow creates a sense of warmth. Overall, this painting leaves an impression on me.

Hello, my name is Anastasia Lovera (she/her/they/them). I am 28 years old, Afro’Nuevoyorkino (second generation from the islands of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic), born in Harlem and grew up in Queens. Art has always been a part of my life. However, having to decide my career at the age of 18 years old felt impossible. With the pressure of graduation coming closer I thought choosing secondary education as my major was the way to go. I believed my years of experience in the arts would be useful in teaching others someday. After dropping out in 2014, I got kicked out of what I once called home and tasted freedom for the first time. Going back to college did not seem like a priority anymore–I wanted to explore without a destination. Eight years later, I enrolled at LaGuardia as a fine arts major, and this time I plan to graduate by the end of 2022. A few years does make a difference now that I have confidence in my goals and a better mental state.

During my first semester, I was required to take art history classes. I’m interested in studying the growth of art, its past and its future. Although pieces may be hundreds of years old, somehow they still influence and inspire so many people today. If you’ve ever wanted to time travel through history, just visit an art museum. They can teach us so much about ourselves or connect us as a people without words. Studying art is another form outside of creating art, and to understand it you must observe it. By obtaining knowledge of art over the years through classes and on my own, I realized how much I would love to pass what I know onto others by becoming an art teacher. I believe a big part of that has to do with studying other artists.

Over the pandemic I decided to pick up roller skating as a hobby. At first I did it just to keep my mind off of the world which seemed to be crumbling and no one knew where it would take us. Almost three years later, roller skating has taken me on an unexpected journey from Venice Beach to Central Park, to Mexico City and to London. I was not aware of how many skate communities exist, but they’ve been here this whole time.

I’ve always admired family trees because they help you connect with your past, where your ancestors come from and how you exist today. This family tree is made of paint and foil on glass. You can see the paint has peeled away–it seems time was unkind. In the middle is a tree with a circle of photos of different people. It is so important to connect with your family. I am currently trying to do this myself since a lot of my family has been disconnected and part of me feels my identity has been lost.

Hello, my name is Angel Martinez (he/him) and I recently graduated from LaGuardia Community College with a major in fine arts. My medium of choice is pen and paper, but I also like to use markers and acrylic paints. Art is liberating because it can be a form of expression, a way to escape reality, or just make something really amazing. I want to make something of myself with art because it’ll allow me to live a life where I can create everyday.

I feel similar to a folk artist because I usually don’t have a teacher to educate me about different art skills, and I find myself experimenting with different mediums. Through this internship I want to learn more about folk artists and what inspired them. This could take the form of studying the materials they’ve used in order to better understand their process.

I like to practice tattooing on my off time. I want to be a tattoo artist and eventually want to own a tattoo shop. To practice, I use a variety of surfaces like oranges, grapefruits, and my personal favorite, fake skin. It was interesting getting used to the vibration of a tattoo gun and what I learned through experience is how to properly hold a tattoo gun in order to get the best lines.

A piece that I really like from the museum’s collection is Bald Eagle and Arrows by S. Fagley. What draws me in is that it looks like an American traditional tattoo of an eagle both in size and pose. What is even more interesting to me is that this is pen and ink on paper. The amount of detail that is achieved with just these simple tools is impressive. This reminds me of my time at the Bronx Zoo when I would spend my mornings sketching animals like peacocks, lions, and mice. I especially loved to draw peacocks because I learned how to draw their tail feathers and funny enough, they look similar to S. Fagley’s eagle feathers.