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Participating in the Education Abroad Program in Rome, Italy, in
2006, Christine Bors, a fourth-year studio art undergraduate at
the University of California, Santa Cruz, expanded her knowledge
of the world, opening her eyes to a beautiful culture, art, and
history—history that humbled her and deeply strengthened her
interest in the world of art museum. An ambitious painter and studying
fine artist, Christine has always had interest in the arts.
“I remember being 8 years old, and excitedly flipping through
all the illustrations in James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl,”
she explained. “And knowing right then that whoever was inspired
enough to paint the picture of that story for me was who I wanted
to eventually become.”
Though appreciative of art at 8 years old, it wasn’t until
beginning her art education in Italy that Christine began to fully
understand how powerful art could be. “Seeing Michelangelo,
Raphael, Titian, Bernini, those men talked to me in a way I never
knew artists could. Seeing their work preserved in the museum setting,
and seeing the atmosphere that could be created by their arts’
presence in that space astounded me. Thousands of people flock to
Italy yearly, just to witness those paintings in person. Those paintings
have become entities, with lives and histories of their own. To
experience them, in the venues of Ancient Rome, was unforgettable.”
After returning to the United States to continue her art education
at UCSC, Christine was granted the CUIP Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery’s
Educational Outreach Coordinator Internship for the 2006 - 2007
academic year. “It was so exciting for me to be a member of
an art gallery team. It was the first chance I had to see what happened
behind the scenes, and discover how both artists and curators created
such inspiring atmospheres in the museum space.”
During her time as the Sesnon’s Educational Outreach Coordinator,
Christine was eager to welcome community and University students
into the gallery, in hopes of encouraging creativity and allowing
other students to experience the awestruck sensation of being surrounded
by art, as she had felt in Italy. Through her outreach activities,
which included school tours and activities at the gallery, art projects,
and performances, Christine tried to spark new interest in the arts
to Santa Cruz students with each class. “To see a child, or
one of my peers, light up when they either created a piece of art
that speaks to them, or witness a piece of art that does the same,
is why I wanted this job. That spark is what I search for in all
of my endeavors.”
Christine’s main project for the Sesnon Gallery, a mural located
at Thimann Labs Greenhouse at UCSC, and painted on Earth Day Weekend,
2007, was designed with that spark in mind. “The worlds of
science and art are often so separated,” Christine said. “To
get the art that we have here at the gallery to be seen by the best
possible audiences, we should branch out and expose art to people
who aren’t necessarily inclined to look for it themselves.”
Admittedly, UCSC, being such an expansive campus, has difficulty
finding a sense of community. With each college its own separate
microcosm, getting the Sesnon Gallery to be a more viable attraction
is a mission that cannot be solved by one student. “The mural
was the initial step in introducing art media to an art-absent area
of campus,” Christine explained. “It was an amazing
project, and it turned out so beautifully, but I cannot claim it
to be the binding this University needs to come together. It was
a small step, but an important one.”
Working at the Sesnon Gallery, Christine learned vital skills in
communication, gallery clerical work, press and event coordinating,
curatorial practice, installation, and time management. Her mentor,
Shelby Graham, courteously gave her the opportunity to curate an
exhibition, Vasja Ulrih’s On my Way, in February 2007. “To
be handed such an important job, and being trusted enough to execute
it, was so flattering,” she explained. “It was a great
learning experience for me, and also gave me such a large amount
of confidence. It made me feel like a true member of the gallery
team.” Additionally to being a member of the gallery staff,
Christine worked as a liaison between artists and students. “It
was wonderful for me to meet so many talented professionals in this
industry. It was an opportunity to see how the art world functions
daily.”
Dean Bill Ladusaw and Internship Coordinator Barbara Silverthorne’s
internship class was another great learning experience for Christine,
giving her the opportunity to get to know the other interns and
their internships. The weekly meetings allowed for her to meet and
listen to several keynote speakers of the University. Topics addressing
UC Santa Cruz’s organization and function helped Christine
gain a better understanding on the workings of the University as
a whole.
Christine plans to pursue her education in the arts by applying
for a Masters in Fine Arts in 2008 with focuses in illustration
and visual criticism. After graduating UCSC in fall 2007, Christine
will be interning for a publishing house in San Francisco. Her desire
to plunge into the art world is going strong after her internship
with the Sesnon Gallery. “Some of the artwork I got to experience
over the past year admittedly blew those James and the Giant Peach
illustrations out of the water.” Christine laughs, and adds,
“nothing against you, Quentin Blake, but the world is filled
with amazing creative artists.”
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