How did you decide on the Art History major?
My general interest in art stems from growing up with an artist as a mom. It was common for our house to change colors on a regular basis and to clear the breakfast table of paintings in the morning. Interested in self educating, my mom also left an impressive library for my little brother and me to dig into whenever. I found her books on art history hard to put down. When I took my first class on art appreciation, I couldn’t help but read past the required reading. My mom always pushed us to do something we genuinely loved because of the fulfillment she has found by her choice of profession. I chose a major I loved and reach past the classroom to learn.
What confirms this for me now is how I feel in classes for my major. I remember my first semester at George Mason, coming home to my best friend with my eyes lit up and a mouth that wouldn’t stop talking. For every class, I feel as if I am binging on my favorite season on Netflix and each class session is a new episode. That sort of pure enjoyment is something I like to share with people around me.
Are you minoring or double majoring in anything else? If so, how do the two work together – or separately?
I am not minoring or double majoring at George Mason. However, I have taken chemistry courses and studied art conservation texts on my own. Art conservation or restoration is where the world of art history and chemistry come together. In order to better conserve a work of art, one must know its origin and purpose. A piece of its story may mean a different means of conservation. Knowing its story also transforms an ordinary object into a fascinating window into history.
I am a Gustav Klimt fan. One day I got a bus ticket to New York just to see his Portrait of Adele Bloch-Baur I. I would say I cried when I saw the painting, but it was more like a soft embarrassed whimper.
What have you learned in an art history class that really surprised you/changed your perspective?
Besides an entire contemporary art class (Art Now by Dr. De Armendi) blasting my mind wide open for four months, I actually found my perspective change after doing a final research paper for Monuments of East Asia taught by Dr. DeCaroli. I chose the Ise Shrine of Japan as a topic, thinking I’d be able to explore my interest in art conservation. It was in this paper that I learned the notion of intangible cultural heritage, making me question my perspective on culture and people’s relationship with objects. The train of thought wrapped me right back to thoughts about contemporary art.
Tell us about your dream occupation…
My dream occupation is to work in a conservation lab where I can revitalize art objects, and therefore moments, of history. I also have an interest in teaching in a museum setting in order to share with others what I find so enriching about art history. I hope to show the importance of art history in the education system because of its web-like spread into other disciplines.
Have you had any internships? Or interesting jobs or volunteer experience? Tell us about it/them.
I’ve had the opportunity to work a restoration internship in DC. We are stripping away the wear and tear of history on a 1920s Art Deco building. I feel grateful working alongside professionals bringing back to life a piece of history that hasn’t been seen for almost a century. It is awe-inspiring to reach the final layer of marble and to envision the pores that times past laid witness.
Any accomplishments you’re proud of? Opportunities you’ve taken advantage of? Brag a little!
I’m pretty proud of the amount of traveling I have done from a young age. My mom is a "travel junkie" and my father is a "foodie." I’ve had the opportunity to experience many different cultures firsthand and every experience has affected me as a person. When I was younger, I traveled to five European countries with the Eisenhower People to People foundation. Two years ago, I spent a month each traveling all around Colombia and Australia. For Australia, I saved the majority of every paycheck for almost a year! It was the first major goal I ever reached as a young adult.
As for grades, I have done very well at George Mason and made it on the Dean’s list many semesters. I keep almost all my class notes and reference when need be. Although I am proud of A-graded papers, it is the comments written by professors that have genuinely moved me as a student. I have multiple papers that say “This is the best paper I’ve seen written on this topic.” I’ve also received some shout-outs, in The Museum course taught by Dr. Butler, for having the best undergraduate exam and taking one of my papers a step further by arguing the book instead of accepting it. When I’m in a class alongside graduate students, those comments mean a lot to me and remind me that I chose the right profession.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
People would probably be surprised to hear that my best subject in school was always math. To me, chemistry, art history, and math are all one and the same. They are puzzles in their unique medium, waiting to be unraveled or challenged.
Secondly, I don’t know if this is all that shocking, but I love to create art, not just study it. I draw, paint, sculpt, and make jewelry. I got into it by working with my mom and helping her create pieces for art shows. People would assume I just do it in my free time, but I actually use it as a creative outlet for when I’m most stressed. Isn’t that why Christmas is after finals week? Merry Christmas Dad! I made this gloomy wire sculpture to encapsulate the agony of studying for three exams in one day. I think it will look good in the kitchen.
I also was a failed girl scout and swam competitively in high school.