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So far, my summer spent at LeMoyne Arts has introduced me to a wonderful spread of individuals. Some artists, some curators, some donors, some administrators, but all people who care deeply for the Tallahassee art community. Some of my favorite conversations so far have been with older, longstanding LeMoyne members, those who either know most of the local artists featured or are artists themselves. The way they speak about the arts, and the way their eyes light up talking about the intricacies of the work we feature, always reminds me that art – in the face of technological uncertainty, political unrest, ideological polarization, and more – will always be loved and respected in a way that allows people to take a break and catch their breath. It isn’t just the product people are awed by, it is the journey. Most people I talk to have questions about the artist’s process; how in the world did Beth Appleton have the patience to cut and glue together 10,000 tiny pieces of paper to create that massive assemblage? How does Mary Ellen Free secure the ornate animal sculptures onto her already very delicate pieces of pottery? The wonder people have for the arts oftentimes comes down to the admiration we have for the humans who take the time to create it.
My influence on the surrounding environment is definitely a helping hand. I’m willing to take on just about any task around the gallery. This Tuesday, I wrapped and packaged sold artwork from the exhibit we just took down, handed one over to a buyer, and contacted the rest. I also singlehandedly removed all the sculpture pedestals from one of our showrooms, and hauled them across the campus to storage. I helped our exhibit curator lay out & flatten some of the larger pieces that are about to be put up for the exhibit opening July 10th; I was her second pair of eyes and hands for hanging them up and bringing in furniture. I also create a good bit of promotional material, update our archives, and handle document revision and communications on a case-by-case basis. But for visitors, I would say I do my best to be more than just someone sitting at the desk when they walk in. I love to encourage the passion that many people have when they step into the gallery, and I like when they seem recharged or enthusiastic when leaving.
Co-constructing knowledge, to me, means the reciprocal relation of learning and teaching between two parties. I think the most productive methods of growth in life are far from one-sided, especially when it comes to community action. In my community and many others, I see co-constructed knowledge as the development of understanding and action that comes from building off of one another’s ideas, experience, and conversation. What I spoke of earlier – my understanding of how the people I interact with appreciate art – is co-constructed knowledge that came about from conversation and shared passions within my community
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