How did you decide on the Art History major?
I came into GMU with my major undeclared. The second semester of my freshman year I took an art history survey class, fell in love with it, and have taken pretty much nothing but art history courses since.
Are you minoring or double majoring in anything else? If so, how do the two work together – or separately?
I’m minoring in visual arts, mostly concentrating in painting. Growing up I wanted to be an artist so being able to study it still in college is nice. Personally I think the two subjects compliment each other fairly well; art courses have given me some insight into techniques and materials used throughout history and studying art history has really helped me to improve my own art.
What have you learned in an art history class that really surprised you/changed your perspective?
I think learning about how tightly intertwined art, politics, and society are and have always been has really given me a new way to learn about the world. I recently took the museum course here and that really opened my eyes and helped me to better understand the complex relationship between art and the public in the modern era.
Tell us about your dream occupation…
I would love to go into conservation and work in a museum fixing up and preserving old paintings. However those careers require a fair bit of chemistry, which is not my strongest subject. I am also really interested in restoration and curation. Mostly I want to work somewhat hands on with art.
Have you had any internships? Or interesting jobs or volunteer experience? Tell us about it/them.
This past Summer I interned with the Navy’s underwater archeology conservation lab. I got to work with artifacts recovered from Navy shipwrecks and document them and research their history. Conserving artifacts that have been submerged in a marine environment is a very long process so I assisted with the conservation of a multitude of objects rather than doing just one on my own.
Any accomplishments you’re proud of? Opportunities you’ve taken advantage of? Brag a little!
I spent last semester studying art history in Florence, which was so amazing. I’m not the most outgoing person so spending four months in a different country was a bit frightening for me but I’m so glad I did it. Everything is so old over there and the artwork is breathtaking.
As for accomplishments I’ve made deans list every semester here at George Mason, which I’m pretty proud of.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
I collect and repair old cameras. Photography is a hobby of mine and over the past few years I’ve begun to collect old cameras as well. A lot of them are not in very good condition though so in my free time I like to try and fix them up.