This past summer, four LMU Art and Art History students earned internships at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, where they were able to gain a variety of experiences, including conducting research, exploring art history and working with kids. The Getty Marrow Internship Program aims to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students who are part of a group underrepresented in museums and visual arts organizations to gain experience in curatorship, conservation, education, and publications. The interns included art history majors Gabrielle Jones, Gabrielle Riter, and Jordan White, and studio arts major Jose Camacho.
Gabrielle Riter, an art history major with minors in classics and archaeology, worked at the Getty Conservation Institute in the Information Center. Her work included cataloging books, journals, and other peer-reviewed articles that involved the conservation of art and other cultural heritage objects. In the future, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in library and information science.
The Getty Marrow internship combined Riter’s love for art with her desire to learn more about library science, she said. “The highlight of the internship was talking to so many professionals that work in the field that I want to pursue,” she said. “Everyone at the Getty that I have met has been so kind and giving with their time and advice. Through their guidance, this internship has made me feel more secure with my chosen career path. I truly cannot wait to start working in the art field if everyone I work with is as interesting and helpful as my coworkers at the Getty.”
Another art history major, Gabrielle Jones, worked at the Getty’s Research Institute as a Curatorial Department and Research Programs and Academic Outreach intern. She had an eye-opening experience learning about the business of art this summer. “I walked away having met a ton of amazing art professionals and gained a world of knowledge about an industry I can’t wait to work in one day,” she said.
Jones assisted with the production of upcoming exhibits and enjoyed being exposed to a myriad of career opportunities throughout the summer. “I loved being able to discover new artists that I had never heard of or come across in my studies before, and familiarize myself with their work,” Jones said. “I had the opportunity to go through several oral histories from Black artists who rose to prominence between the late 60’s and the 90’s. It provided me with a deeper understanding and respect for the history, and legacy of artistic production within the Black community in the United States.”
Jordan White, art history and political science double major, interned at the Getty Conservation Institute on the Los Angeles African American Historic Places initiative. He completed a research project that compiled useful tool typologies and techniques from global institutions. He also attended cultural heritage meetings with the city and selected a site to nominate for consideration for the heritage commission.
“My supervisors were amazing resources for my curiosity in art-related professions and conservation as a whole. They have extensive backgrounds in Los Angeles community conservation efforts, Getty administrative services and conservation abroad in places such as Egypt and Peru,” White said.
White tailored his experience to his own specific interests, which had particular impact when it allowed him to reconnect with his father’s family. A highlight of White’s internship was the opportunity to talk to his 94-year-old great-grandfather who had a lot of knowledge to share about Sugar Hill, Central Ave, and his own experiences growing up in Los Angeles almost a century ago.
Jose Camacho, a studio arts major with an emphasis in graphic design, interned with the Teen Programs under the Education department at the Getty Center. He facilitated and led the Student Gallery Guides program, where high school students from the Los Angeles Unified School District learned how to create space and conversation around a work of art. Camacho also gave guided virtual art experiences to K-12 classes around Los Angeles.
“Growing up, I never knew any other people who were as into art as I was, and I never had that supporting creative community until later in my life,” Camacho said. “To know that there even were so many high schoolers who enjoyed art gave me so much passion and hope and excitement for the future.”
