KJB, The Summer Intern

 "Fashion is a language. Some know it, some learn it, some never will- like an instinct." - Edith Head

This week on Thursday, marked the first day interning at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, my summer internship placement. This summer I'll be interning at DACO, in conjunction with the Edith Head exhibition along with classes and other needs that I can help fulfill. It's been a whirlwind the past 4 days, but I'm thrilled with the experience thus far and cannot wait to see what is in store for the rest of the summer. On my first day, I was able to shadow a tour of the museum, learned about the house and the museum gift shop. Friday, I went through docent, museum tour guide, training. Then later that night, in Lancaster the museums in town have an event, Walk-A-Bout, where it's free admission and it causes people to visit them all in search of the items on a scavenger hunt. Saturday, I worked my first shift and then later that night I helped work the members-only opening event for the Edith Head exhibit.  This afternoon, I worked another museum shift and I got to spend my day in the gift shop.

Usually meeting new people is rather nerve wrecking to me. Recently, I've felt concerned about graduating and moving away from the friends I've made in Akron, citing that it's taken two-four years to make these friendships, but meeting the new people I've met through DACO, makes me excited to see who all I've yet to meet. This exhibit has brought so many people from near and far, because everyone loves Edith Head. I met a woman from LA, a board member that has a background in fashion history, another costume historian from Cincinnati and a woman that makes drill team and dance team costumes in Columbus. And there was yet another board member that reiterated the fact that when you're young you've got to just jump and know that when your feet finally touch down again it'll all be for the better. Exactly what I needed to hear with my December graduation date looming over my head. I'm not sure where the wind will blow me, but I know that I'm excited to find out. After listening to the curator talk about Edith Head and himself, it just made me realize that it's all about the right timing and who you know. I have my whole life ahead of me and I'm so excited to see what I'm able to accomplish. The networking and encouragement I'm bound to get out of this experience at the Decorative Arts Center is something else. Adventure awaits.

                    "You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it." - Edith Head

xoxo

KJB