When did you start working at the i.d.e.a. Museum and what is your role here?
I started in April 2009, so I’ve been here 10 years! I started as a Gallery Educator and, since 2011, I’ve been one of the Museum Education Assistants.
Share some of your responsibilities in your role.
My position includes multiple roles – I coordinate all the volunteers who work with the education department (including many wonderful teen volunteers and college interns), schedule field trips, work with the design team on some of the educational activities and text labels for each new exhibition, and schedule the gallery educators for our daily operations as well as many programs.
What do you love most about working at the i.d.e.a. Museum and the work you do?
I really enjoy seeing the kids’ artwork when I walk around the galleries, and I love hearing their excited comments as they explore the museum. It also makes me happy to receive nice comments from teachers, many of whom bring their classes year after year. Additionally, I enjoy getting to know our volunteers and seeing our teen volunteers’ confidence grow as they get more comfortable with their role as a representative of the museum and member of our team.
What is your all-time favorite i.d.e.a. Museum exhibit?
That’s a hard one after being here for 10 years! Ultimately, I have to go with Sonoran Safari, but Underwater FantaSEA, Jeepers Creepers! Bugs in Art, and Junkyard Jungle all follow very closely behind.
When you’re not at the museum, you are…
Playing with my pets, working on my yoga practice, or enjoying some time on a local hiking trail.
What is your favorite piece of art or who is your favorite artist and why?
It’s hard for me to pick a specific favorite, but one of the things I’ve really enjoyed about working here over the years has been getting to know the work of local artists – there is so much creativity and talent in our community! Until I saw the work of Denise Currier, I never knew quilts could tell such an engaging story, and Scott McNeill’s painted relief sculptures are fascinating and have so many fun details to discover. I always look forward to seeing the artwork in each new exhibition at the i.d.e.a. Museum!