Release Date: July 11, 2005

COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM TEN STATES, SEVEN COUNTRIES AND FOUR CONTINENTS AWARDED SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

GROUP #1
Front row: Elizabeth Cronin, Jennifer Bantz, Bokyung Koo, Rachel Goldberg, Lauren Kroiz, and Meaghan Brown
Back row: Jeff Hensley, Christoph Brenner, Peter Dueker, and Carly Halayko

GROUP #2
Front row: Maira Rodriguez, Joyce Tsai, Elena Stal, Sara Tarissi de Jacobis, and Eric Meier
Back row: Anne Simmons, Shravan Vidyarthi, Kevin McKenna, Christopher Nygren, Michael Parsons, and Nathan Tiimpano

Washington, DC–The National Gallery of Art awarded internships to 22 college students representing ten states, seven countries, and four continents. The Gallery’s summer internship program, which offers paid professional museum training, began its full-time, nine-week session on Monday, June 6, and will run through Friday, August 5.

The interns represent diverse backgrounds with a range of educational experience— from art history, photographic preservation, and Italian literature to gerontological services, communications, law, and media studies. They were selected based on their strong interest in museum work, outstanding academic achievement, and letters of recommendation. Many of the students are pursuing advanced degrees.

The interns were selected through a competitive process by a Gallery-wide committee. Each intern will complete a project directed by a Gallery curator or department head and participate in biweekly orientation sessions in order to become familiar with all aspects of museum work. They will work with curatorial, education, conservation, library, and administrative staff. Information about this and other Gallery internship programs is available at www.nga.gov/education/interned.htm or by calling (202) 842-6257.

2005 Summer Interns

Jennifer Bantz: Jennifer received her B.A. from Wake Forest University in 1999 and is currently enrolled in the M.A. program in art history at the University of California, Riverside, as a UCR/California Museum of Photography Fellow. Before graduate school, she was a broadcast producer at VitroRobertson (San Diego). Jennifer is also a docent and studio workshop leader at the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego. This summer, Jennifer will be assisting the department of photographs with research on the permanent collection catalogue. Hometown: La Jolla, CA

Christoph Brenner: Christoph was born and raised in Vienna, Austria. After completing his army service, he studied at the University of Vienna, graduating in January 2005 with a degree in the history of art. Christoph has previously held internships at the Austrian Cultural Forum in London and at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. He currently works as a university assistant at the University of Vienna. This summer, Christoph will be in the department of Italian Renaissance paintings, undertaking research for an upcoming exhibition. Hometown: Vienna, Austria

Meaghan Brown: Meaghan graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in family studies and human development. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in gerontological services at Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia. Meaghan also works with several community organizations representing the interests of the elderly. This summer, Meaghan will be working with the department of adult programs, assisting in the development of a program for senior audiences at the Gallery. Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Elizabeth Cronin: Elizabeth received her M.A. (art history) from the University of Minnesota, where she is currently a Ph.D. student studying the history of photography. She also holds an M.A. in German studies from the Technical University of Dresden, Germany. In Dresden, she worked at the Prints and Drawings Cabinet and published in the bimonthly journal Dresdner Kunstblätter. Elizabeth has interned at the Albertina and at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. This summer, she will be working in the department of photographs on an upcoming exhibition. Hometown: Houston, TX

Peter Dueker: An artist and art instructor, Peter received his M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University and his B.A. in psychology from the University of Southern California. A native of northern California, he currently lives and works in the Los Angeles area. This summer, Peter will intern in the department of imaging and visual services, helping to catalogue images and assist with the production of digital imaging methodologies. Hometown: Atherton, CA

Rachel Goldberg: Rachel is an M.A. student in the photographic preservation and collections management program offered jointly by Ryerson University, Toronto, and the George Eastman House, Rochester. Rachel received her B.F.A. in photography from the University of Colorado, Denver. She has interned at the Colorado Historical Society and was a teaching assistant at Ryerson University. This summer, Rachel will work in the gallery archives, assisting in the organization and preservation of photographs and historical files. Hometown: Denver, CO

Carly Halayko: Carly is a recent graduate of James Madison University with B.A. degrees in art history and English. She has interned at the Sawhill Gallery, at the Madison Art Collection at JMU, and at Hillwood Museum and Gardens. In the fall, Carly will begin the M.A. program in art history with a concentration in museum training at George Washington University. This summer, she will be working in the publishing office preparing materials for the Frankfurt Book Fair. Hometown: Fairfax Station, VA

Jeff Hensley: Jeff graduated in May with a B.F.A. in painting and an M.A. in teaching from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Jeff is a practicing artist whose work has most recently been displayed at the Southgate House Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. This summer he will be interning in the department of teacher, school, and family programs, assisting with summer programs and helping to develop activities for the Winslow Homer in the National Gallery of Art and Dada exhibitions. Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Karen Hung: Karen received bachelor’s degrees in German and art history from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.A. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, where she is now a Ph.D. student. In 2001 and 2002, with a Fulbright scholarship, she studied at the universities in Göttingen and Heidelberg, Germany. This summer, Karen will work with the department of northern Renaissance paintings on an exhibition. Hometown: Daly City, CA

Bokyung Koo: Bokyung is a doctoral candidate of arts administration in the department of art education at Florida State University, where she is working on a dissertation entitled “Connecting Digital Technology and Museum Collections”. She was awarded a B.A (art history and criticism) at Hong-Ik University, Seoul, Korea, and an M.A. (art history) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She also studied museum studies at FSU, where she worked as department webmaster. This summer, Bokyung will intern in the library image collections department, assisting with the art history database project. Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

Lauren Kroiz: Lauren is a Ph.D. student in the history, theory, and criticism of art and architecture program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She received a B.A. in art history from the University of Chicago and was a video production intern at the public access station, Cambridge Community Television. This summer, Lauren will be working in the department of film programs documenting the existing collection and helping to develop future programs. Hometown: Lovettsville, VA

Kevin McKenna: Kevin, a recent graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, is now pursuing an M.A. in public and international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. Kevin majored in art history and political science as an undergraduate and now has fused those interests in his current study of the international trade in illicit fine arts and antiquities. This summer, he will work with the office of protection services, reviewing existing policies and helping to develop future procedures and guidelines. Hometown: Latrobe, PA

Eric Meier: Eric received a B.F.A. from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and an M.F.A. from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Eric’s art and designs have been shown in Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Canada, and mentioned in Sculpture Magazine and the New York Times. This summer, he will work in the design department assisting with upcoming exhibitions. Hometown: Detroit, MI

Christopher Nygren: Christopher earned a double B.A. (art history and Italian literature) at the University of Notre Dame in 2003. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the history of art at The Johns Hopkins University. This summer, Christopher will be interning in the department of old master prints, assisting with The Origins of European Printmaking: 15th Century Woodcuts and Their Public exhibition and researching the Gallery’s collection. Hometown: Mesa, AZ

Michael Parsons: Michael graduated in May from the Courtauld Institute of Art with a B.A. in the history of art. He has previously interned at Sotheby's, London; the Hotel Drouot, Paris; and the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome. This summer, Michael will be working in the department of sculpture and decorative arts on Italian Renaissance marbles in the Gallery’s permanent collection. Hometown: London, England

Maira Rodriguez: Maira is entering her third year at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. She is an active member of the Volunteer Lawyer Program and farm-worker advocacy group. Maira received her baccalaureate in political science and Spanish at the University of Arizona, and studied abroad in Guadalajara. This summer, she will be working in the personnel office assisting attorneys with the preparation of cases before the EEO Commission. Hometown: Yuma, AZ

Anne Simmons: Anne received her B.A. in liberal arts from Eugene Lang College, New York. After graduation, she worked for the New York Public Library and this past December completed a masters of science in information studies (MSIS) at the University of Texas (UT). In Austin, Anne worked for the UT libraries, and among her projects developed a Web orientation for UT’s Architecture and Planning Library. She also interned at Austin’s Art in Public Places. This summer, Anne will be working in the library’s reader services. Hometown: Dallas, TX

Elena Stal: Elena was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. After graduating from the St. Petersburg State Academy of Art and Industry, Elena had her first solo exhibition in Moscow in 1997. She worked as a freelance artist for eight years in St. Petersburg and Moscow. She is now an M.F.A. student at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, Philadelphia, on a Fulbright Scholarship. This summer, Elena is working with the silkscreen department in the production of signage for exhibitions and for other sites throughout the Gallery. Hometown: St. Petersburg, Russia

Sara Tarissi De Jacobis: Sara graduated from the Universitá La Sapienza in Rome after a two-year exchange program in the Netherlands. She completed her M.A. at the Universitá degli Studi di Firenze, and was a fellow at the Fondazione Roberto Longhi, where she wrote for in Proporzioni. She now works in the exhibitions office at the Borghese Gallery. This summer, Sara will be interning in the department of northern baroque paintings on projects including the cataloguing of recent acquisitions and the future Frans van Mieris exhibition. Hometown: Rome, Italy

Nathan Timpano: After receiving his B.A. (art history) from Whitworth College, Nathan worked at the Gallery in the department of special events. He is now an art history Ph.D. student at Florida State University, where he recently received his M.A. He is finalizing a project on the contemporary German photographer Peter Neusser and has also published on Kara Walker’s racially coded art. Last summer, Nathan was a graduate intern at The Kreeger Museum. This summer he will work on the Rothko catalogue raisonné project (the drawings) in the department of special projects in modern art. Hometown: Lewistown, MT

Joyce Tsai: Joyce is a Ph.D. student at The Johns Hopkins University (in the history of art department and at the Humanities Center). She completed her B.A. at Princeton University (art history) and studied at the Universität der Künste in Berlin with a Fulbright grant. This summer, Joyce will be working in the department of modern and contemporary art, researching objects for a catalogue of the 20th-century collection. Hometown: St. Louis, MO (born in Taipei)

Shravan Vidyarthi: Shravan is pursuing a master's degree in media studies at The New School University, New York City. He was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, where he writes regularly for Awaaz, a journal of Kenyan South Asian history. In 2003 he began production on a documentary film about Priya Ramrakha, a LIFE photojournalist killed in action in 1968. This summer Shravan will work in the department of exhibition programs assisting with research for and the production of documentary films. Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
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Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
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(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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