Author: Evelyn Medendorp
I never imagined myself holding a fuzzy microphone and writing a script while at an art exhibit, but I have always said I will never not try anything once (there are few exceptions to this, of course!). Being a quite shy person who appreciates working behind the scenes and out of the spotlight, it is safe to say that being a subject in a video for social media is not something I do on a regular basis. However, one of the most valuable things about internships is being able to be a part of a new experience and learn where your passions lie. As an intern at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, these new experiences are not few and far between.
On my first day at the job, I learned very quickly about the importance of networking. The majority of my time was spent chatting with individuals who work at the organization or are artists themselves whose art has been shown at the AAP. Although this was quite overwhelming for me, I could not stop thinking about how awesome it was to create these connections on my first day! That moment was a great peak at what the rest of my time would look like at the AAP. There are days where I spend all day addressing letters, but the connections and experiences I had throughout easily made that worth it.
One day, I came into the AAP expecting another fruitful day around the gallery and at my computer. Oh, was I mistaken! My coworker asked if I wanted to be a part of a video for the AAP Instagram page. Since he gave me the option to say no, I knew what the answer was; it was right at the tip of my tongue. However, I remembered why I am here in the first place—new experiences. Doing a video for their public Instagram page was such a nerve-wracking thought for me. I don’t even have my own Instagram profile! He said we would get started on the filming process next week.
We get to our filming spot, Contemporary Craft, and he gives me a rundown of how to use the microphone, what to say and how to say it. It took many tries, but one take was better than the rest, so we could move on. At this point, I was just trying not to pay attention to the gallery workers or visitors. After we completed my outro dialogue, I was so relieved, and I felt really good about what we filmed. I had to write a script and perform a voice-over when we got back from Contemporary Craft, and it turned out well.
The video was to be posted in the next week or so, and safe to say I was quite anxious to see the results of the final product. Who knew a week could feel like an entire month. I get texts from my family and peers about a post on AAP’s Instagram page. I immediately knew what it was. They were all congratulating me on getting this amazing opportunity and for how well the video turned out. I felt proud of myself in this moment, because not only did I make a video that showcased the beauty of an exhibition, but I showed myself that new opportunities and experiences are priceless and should not be taken for granted.