Intern Spotlight - 2008

Emily Duke, Crafts Major with a concentration in ceramics (clay) was awarded a fellowship at the Ox-Bow School of Art. Ox-Bow offers a guaranteed fellowship each year to one CCS student.

During Emily's time at Ox-Bow she had the opportunity to focus solely on her work and explore the possibilities of sculpture while enjoying the rural setting and tight artist community. While at Ox-Bow Emily was able to meet a multitude of visiting artists, professors and art critics.

"This opportunity made it clear to me that artists really do have the best role in society."

"The most important thing I learned while at Ox-Bow is the importance of community. The exchange of ideas and techniques is contagious and Ox-Bow is the best place to explore."

"I will be going back again this May...I can't wait."

Michael Burdick, Illustration student, had the opportunity to spend the summer of 2008 interning at Converse. At the end of Michael's Shoe Design internship he presented about his internship project to the entire staff. The head of Converse Brand Design was so impressed that he asked Michael to stay on longer and work which allowed him to draw and paint all day!!

Michael became completely engrossed in the sneaker sub-culture, spending his spare time digging through the Converse archives and doing research by reading books and magazines and blogs. He became obsessed with talking about shoes.

"Living in Boston for the summer was great. I love to travel, but I was able to live in another city for three months. It was easy to embrace their culture and I'm grateful to have been introduced to the music and art scene throughout the city's neighborhoods."

"I succeeded in the work space because I was having fun with the projects and the shoes that I was working on."

"Converse was much more than I expected. I learned what my flaws were as a designer, so I approached the following school semester with a restored sense of confidence, motivation, direction and a mindset to resolve those weaknesses."

Brooke Houghton, Photography student had the opportunity to participate in the New York Studio Program. Students are selected from their schools to participate in this program which allows them to earn credit while studying & interning & living in New York City for a semester.

Brooke's internship through the NYSP was at 20x24 Studios home of Polaroid's 20x24 camera. Originally, this camera was developed to accurately reproduce works of art but is now used as a creative tool for photography.

"Working at the Polaroid Studio was a unique opportunity because every week I was working side by side with photographers from various industries from commercial to fine art."

"I also had the opportunity to interact with famous photographers that I learned about in school such as David Levinthal and Mary Ellen Mark."

"The internship taught me how to be professional and helped me gain the skills necessary to succeed in the photo industry."

Chantelle Mozingo, Fine Art student had the opportunity to spend a year interning with Building Arts & Conservation. During this internship Chantelle discovered a passion for restoration work and plans to continue her education in this area of study.

"The internship program provided me with an opportunity to realize my skills as artist within the working world and become more confident in the idea of "life after graduation."

"More importantly, I learned the importance of documenting my work and using that recorded experience to build on a more comprehensive understanding of historic materials."

"I was grateful to be given this opportunity to earn credit while developing a job history that will aid me in continuing my career."