When the summer of 2012 began, I never thought I would be sitting where I am right now writing this. As the school year wound to a close and summer began, I was hoping (if I was lucky) I would find myself with volunteer opportunities at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. I finished my first year of school at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and headed home with my love of art history fortified by the classes I had taken the past two semesters.

When I started fishing for volunteer positions, Lori Geiger, the Visitor Services and Volunteer Manager went above and beyond to help me get involved with the Museum. It is thanks to her help that I found myself in a Curatorial Intern position - a daunting title for an art history major with only one year of college under her belt.

When I met with Lori at the beginning of the summer she told me about some opportunities that would be turning up in July. They seemed pretty standard: being a gallery attendant and helping the museum staff. I was excited at the prospect of hanging out in an art museum all summer, but never imagined I would be doing anything too official.

In early July I worked with Martin Hanahan, the Museum’s Registrar, in the deconstruction of two outgoing exhibitions, the 61st Annual All Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition and the Artists’ Guild Biennial Exhibition. During the two-day period I got to know Martin, and I met Kelli Bodle, the Assistant Curator of the Museum. I got advice on being an art history major and my future in curating.  The experience of just being behind the scenes of a museum exhibit and meeting the people that make it possible made me want to help more and see more of what it takes to operate a museum.  I began wondering if there was anything else I could do, any odd jobs or research projects. I was completely willing to freelance.

A few weeks into my new Big Art: Miniature Golf gallery attendant position that I shared with about 10 other college students, I received an email from Kelli asking if I would like to be a Curatorial intern for the rest of the summer. On top of my ‘Golf Marshal’ status, which I loved having, I would do more behind the scenes work with Kelli and Martin, which is what I was interested in all along! I quickly got started on learning the collections database, and becoming familiar with the various offices in the Museum.

So now, here I am - writing in my own cubicle in the Curatorial Office; almost in disbelief, but mostly just loving every minute of working at the Boca Raton Museum of Art.

Hello to all again, my chronicle of The Art School’s summer community is at an end with this final post of the trilogy. I have learned so much through this assignment which has opened my mind and expanded my creative sensibilities. Growing up I experienced art through dance and music. Once I had the freedom to discover different courses and areas of study at college, I fell in love with all forms of the visual arts.

Observing the creativity of all the students and the development of each project has given me a fuller understanding that art takes patience and time. That being true, the instant gratification that is seen on the artist’s face once the project is finished is worth a thousand words.

	Gabby, 15, attends Dreyfoos School of the Arts and studies photography. She finished her teddy bear for the Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, and See No Evil project and the progression of it just became more and more beautiful.
	Kiersten , also 15, worked out of her comfort zone in what she likes to define as “dirty art” also known as graffiti. She worked on a painting of two people displaying retro objects such as a record and a camera. She applied the grey undertones, added bright colors to make the piece pop and injected a little of herself into the painting.
	The adults finished up their egg tempera pieces, artistic interpretations in oils, and fixed up the minor mistakes. This journey has reinforced for me the importance of exploration and finding one’s true passion. This unique experience has strengthened, expanded and brought new ideas and a different mindset as to how I will approach my new endeavors in the art world. Thank you to all the artists I had the pleasure of meeting and their stories of how they were inspired by art. I hope you all continue creating your beautiful pieces and remember that life is short, enjoy every moment! It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon. Have a wonderful rest of your summer!
Oh and the Group Youth Summer Camp Exhibition opens today at the Boca Raton Museum of Art. starting today and going through September 16th. Come by and see all the projects created this summer, including Gabby's finished teddy bear.