Hello all! My name is Ava Jones. I am a first-year student at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Digital Media Production and Political Science on a pre-law track. I was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, but I was raised here in Tallahassee. Career-wise, I am primarily interested in intellectual property law and the advocacy for artistic rights through documentary filmmaking.
This summer, I am excited to begin my internship as a gallery assistant coordinator at LeMoyne Arts, beginning in mid-May through August, and likely again in the 2025 fall semester. I grew up getting dropped off at their summer camp sessions, and going to the Chain of Parks festival they host with my family to find local art. In high school, I won a student exhibition award at their gallery, so landing an internship with them means a lot to me. My community-based interests lies primarily with local artists at this point, as I am conducting intimate, qualitative research on the implications of corporate AI integration on working artistic communities. By interviewing LeMoyne’s directors and the artists featured in their installations, I intend to gauge the range of opinions and speculations community members have regarding the trickle-down effects of generative AI usage. How are independent artists addressing the changes in industry and societal impression? Who is optimistic, who is skeptical, and who feels conflicted? My summer experience will narrow that scope down to Tallahassee. My internship position will allow me to speak directly with the artists featured in the shows, fostering connections and establishing a well-rounded understanding of their multifaceted perspectives and potential envisions of the industry’s future.
During my time at LeMoyne, I expect to potentially be responsible for a wide range of tasks, including archival organization, customer service in the gallery, exhibition set-up, social media management, and even grant research for emerging artists. It is a social job, so I expect to meet a wide range of locals. Not only will I be interacting with the artists, but also the board members and the organization’s donors. An in-depth knowledge of the gallery’s installations and their themes, as well as knowledge of funding opportunities for artists looking to get connected, will be integral to my role. Within this opportunity I get back what I put into it; in order to actually connect with local artists and develop relationships that allow for the conversations I’d like to have, I need to be adaptable, friendly, and passionate about my role.
Because my interviews are so unstructured and dependent on the galleries exhibitions, I am a little nervous about the lack of a clear outline. Nevertheless, I’m ready to jump in and I’ve already spoken to my director about potential recorded interviews, and how they’d be great for the organization’s outreach. Ultimately, I am excited about this experience, both as an opportunity for professional development, and as a chance to give back to an organization that’s been such a large part of my life.
This photo is a picture of me in Strozier trying to do work for finals, but getting very distracted by the fifty states no outline quiz. I’m feeling anxious, but excited for my summer.
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