As our spring interns wrap up their time at the Phillips, they share what they hoped to achieve during their internships and what they have been working on over the past few months.
Alessia Amato, Georgetown University
“My name is Alessia Amato. I recently moved to Washington, DC, from Long Island, New York, and am a second semester graduate student in the Art and Museum Studies program at Georgetown University. While I appreciate the contributions of all departments within a museum, I am most interested in the Development Department. As a Development Intern at The Phillips Collection, I researched current and prospective art donors while managing the art donor project, compiling and organizing data regarding artwork that was donated to the museum. This project was a major component of the Phillips’s fundraising and strategic plan. My experience in this department solidified my interest in advancing in a career in development, especially at an art museum. During my free time, I enjoy vintage shopping, hiking, making clay jewelry, and visiting museums and galleries (when they’re open).”
Kyrie Blackman, Morehouse College
“My name is Kyrie Blackman, and I am a 2020 graduate of Morehouse College where I earned my bachelor’s in Sociology. I am a Los Angeles native and transferred to Morehouse after earning my associates degree from Cerritos College. I am passionate in the arts and curating after spending my free time volunteering and interning at various museums. I am very excited for this internship opportunity and to work with the DEAI Department (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) and I hope to gain even more insight into how museum institutions function. Though the pandemic has shifted our lives very abruptly, I am thankful for the opportunity it has presented me in connecting with the Phillips and its diverse staff. From the insightful dialogue with members of my cohort, unique activities within our anti-racism trainings, and personal check-ins with my mentor Yolanda Hester, I have amassed great knowledge and warm energy at the Phillips. I have been given the opportunity to create a newsletter centered around DEAI inspired news and information that I am grateful for. As the DEAI Intern I was also tasked to reach out to past interns and fellows to conduct the 2021 alumni survey.”
Oscar Flores-Montero, Elon University
“My name is Oscar Flores-Montero and I recently graduated from Elon University with a bachelor’s degree in arts administration and minor in business administration and studio visual arts. Raised in Durham, North Carolina, I am thrilled to be setting my sights on Washington, DC. Furthermore, I’m incredibly excited and honored to be interning at The Phillips Collection during its 100th year celebration. As an aspiring curator, I look forward to learning all there is to know about representation within 21st century modern art throughout my internship. The Phillips Collection has an incredibly multi-talented museum staff and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to learn from and work beside them this spring. I hope to broaden my knowledge of modern art, learn from their experiences working at The Phillips Collection, and look forward to surrounding myself with others who love modern art. While at the Phillips, I have had the privilege of working in the Curatorial Department. I’ve worked on public programming for our upcoming Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle exhibition, as well as working to support our other upcoming shows such as the juried exhibition. Many of my day-to-day tasks involve research, meeting with other departments to discuss future programs, and helping my supervisors with editing.”