Name: Eleanor Kimball
Class Year: 2029
 
Internship Organization: Amherst College
Internship Title: Sculpture Studio Assistant
Location: Amherst, MA  

Welding in the metal shop

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

I’m working with working artist and professor Lucia Monge as she prepares for a large sculpture installation in the fall. I’m helping her to plan, create, and assemble all the pieces needed for the installation. The project examines the relationship between GMO crops and an invasive species known as Palmer’s amaranth, or more commonly, Palmer’s pigweed. The final installation involves many “clones” of a single larger sculpture, so my main focus has been the creation of these clones.

I’ve been using a variety of materials and methods throughout this process, such as welding metal stands for the pieces, using wire wrapping and plaster bandages to create vine-like structures, and sewing pieces of tarp together to form makeshift bean pods. The work I’ve been doing this summer has been incredibly valuable to me, as it has given me the opportunity to work in a studio filled with passion for art, as well as see (and appreciate) the less glamorous side of these projects – the emails, planning, and coordination that goes into every moving piece of an art installation.

Making identical cardboard accordions for sculpture clones

Why did you apply for this internship?

I’ve always been interested in both art and science, two subjects that seemingly conflict with each other, but this internship perfectly blends the two together. Much of the art Professor Monge creates is very much based in environmental science. Many of her past projects have involved working with the biological components of various materials to create her pieces. Specifically, she has spent many years creating her own biopolymers – plastics made entirely out of natural materials. She uses various plants, foods, and even fungi to create these polymers, which she then uses in her own projects. This made working with her particularly appealing to me, as it meant I could also learn how to view my work through both scientific and artistic lenses.

Planting potatoes at the farm for an ongoing project

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

Most artwork I’ve done in the past has been painting and ceramics, so I wasn’t expecting how physically tiring some of the sculpture work is. Especially when working with materials like metal, we’re doing a lot of physical labor that may not feel very difficult in the moment, but can take a toll on your body long-term. This meant I had to work hard to remember this, and make adjustments to my normal routines to take care of my body. This of course is not a challenge that would immediately come to mind when you think of an art internship, but it was one of the main things that myself and other interns learned to manage!

Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?

Adjectives: Creative, engaging, dynamic
Nouns: Community, growth, passion