Intern of the Week: Rebecca Borland for Visual Arts

Rebecca Borland

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Studio A101, Globe Dye Works

Location of the Organization (City, State): Philadelphia

Major(s)/Minor(s):  Visual Arts

Expected Graduation Date (Month & Year): 2015

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service- learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I am an intern in the studio of Stacey Lee Webber, an artist in Philadelphia. Her primary medium is metal sculpture, which includes the making of jewelry. As an intern, it is my job to complete assigned projects. So far, I have made all kinds of jewelry out of coins and screws. I have also assisted in the design and construction of lids for a collaboration project with a pottery artist.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I've never worked with metals before, so learning an entirely new medium has been a lot of fun.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

I've gained experience in an artistic medium that is entirely new to me, and I was able to learn in an incredible environment.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

If you're looking for any kind of internship, the internet is a great source. For visual arts majors, I suggest visiting art shows (there's one in Baltimore in the spring) where you can meet and speak to artists from all over the country.

How do you see your experience as meaningful? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.

Though my concentration is photography, my interests still encompass all of the visual arts. Learning how to sculpt with metal is a skill that I was very eager to learn, particularly because I have numerous sculpture designs floating around in my head. Now that I've learned the different techniques, I can start taking those ideas and making them three dimensional.

Please provide a short quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process / the Shriver Center:

My internship position gives me an opportunity to learn techniques from a professional artist, while also allowing me to utilize my own experiences and ideas.