Two Birds

One itty-bitty stone

After missing another day of blogging I have some catching up to do. So two birds (days) and only one stone (entry).

Both Wednesday and today were days of non-stop projects. Many of our recent projects are time commitments and high priority.  Megan and I have been pushing the pedal to the metal, in hopes of completing the assignments with fliying colors, and within the given time frame.

Ellie, HMA's Marketing Specialist, handed us a new project concerning a promotional idea that will tie in local southern restaurants and the High's current "Picturing the South" exhibit. As the intern, my job was to contact each of the listed restaurants and talk to the manager. I essentially had to sell them the idea of partnering with the High for the up-coming promotional campaign. This project has been drawn out over the past two days and will surely continue on to Friday, if not the beginning of next week. I never realized how many up-scale Southern restaurants are located in Atlanta. One thing I did realize was how amazing their food looked. Southern food, being my all time comfort food, was not what my eyes nor stomache wanted to see before my PB&J lunch. Torture.

I also have been busy with updating the clip books, but more importantly assembling the top clips for our clients. For example, a top priority client at the moment is Talladega College's Hale Woodruff Murals (Rising Up). We are currently the first museum on the  murals travel, and the college would appreciate a PDF of all the top hits their murals have received while being displayed at the High. Something that sounds as easy as "1,2,3, scan" can never go as planned. Finally, Megan and I were able to complete the Talladega presentation, as well as a presentation for the exhibit Modern by Design.

As interns we have been fairly busy and on our toes this week with incoming projects. If we are busy, surely our full-time team is constantly researching, developing and executing projects, as well. To help ease tension and stress during communication meetings, our team ends the discussion by asking a simple question that everyone must answer. The question this week was:

What is your favorite game show?

There were answers such as Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, The Dating Game, Family Fued, Supermarket Sweep, and Wipeout. My personal answers were flops, because the two shows I mentioned were greeted with puzzling eyes! My first answer was Lingo, a word based game similar to the dice game Boggle. By the way, my cousin Maria and I would kick anyone's butt at Lingo. We should have been on that show! I thought it was a fairly well-known show on GSN, but apparently I was mistaken. Then to make up for that fail of an answer I decided on picking a 70's game show. I assumed that my older teammates would recall this show, because anytime I mention it around my own friends they look at me like I am crazy. Turns out, that the "you're crazy" reaction is not strictly a Millenium resonse. It is also a Gen X response, as well. My second answer was Card Sharks. Come on! How has no one heard of this game. People obviously hadn't because I still received baffled looks However, it was nice to have off-the-record conversation with my team. It lets everyone relax and get to know each other a little better.

This week has been interesting. The days have passed quickly, but the week itself is strolling on. I am incredibly ready for the weekend in order to catch up on some rest, family time, and good memories in Athens. But until then I have to make it through tomorrow (and a Braves game). Go Bravos!

Avril Lavigne Kind of Day

SK8ER GIRL

There is nothing quite like a work day where very little desk work takes place. Today was surely one of those days. From field trips, lunches out, and a scavenger hunt in the museum who says work can't be fun?

The beginning of the day was like all the rest -research. Once 11:30 rolled around it was goodbye Frida & Diego and hello skateboards. Wait, what? Yup. Megan and I joined two other team members for a little field trip across Peachtree Street to MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta) to view their Hang It or Skate It  skateboard exhibit. Despite growing up across from a skateboard park (shout out to Woody's Ramp and Rails), I have never shown an interest in this hobby, but this exhibit highlighted something besides the act of skateboarding. The concept behind the exhibit was that skateboards are nothing more than art...on wheels. One of the earliest skateboards in the exhibit was from the 70s and it showed how graphics and styles have changed over the decades. The front of the exhibit had an explanation of the concept:

Because skateboards can have such intricate designs,

boarders want to show them off by doing cool tricks.

It only takes a few heel kicks, nose dips, and blow outs

until the artwork has been scratched up and ruined.

So the big question is: Hang It or Skate It?

          

  


"Someone once told me: You are only young once, but you're immature forever. I took it as a compliment."

  

MODA was a great 'field trip' and gave Megan and I a chance to hang out with our team members outside of the High's white walls. We ended the field trip with a trip to Vespucci's for an Italian lunch. Even though we only had an hour together, we learned so much about our team members. They talked about their career life and how they got where they ended up at the High. They even shed some light on job searching and gave some worthy advice. This lunch really was a time for us to hang out and bond over similarities and to grow stronger within our differences.

After lunch Megan and I got to end our day walking through the new exhibits at the High (Picturing New York and Picturing the South). We were doing more than simply admiring the works and photographs, we actually had an assignment to complete. In the beginning of August, the High will be hosting a Tweet Up for High visitors to partake in. The Tweet Up is essentially a scavenger hunt through the exhibits where patrons participate through Twitter and receive prizes for accomplishing each scavenger search. Megan and I had the job of developing the scavenger concepts. We came up with great material and even had the chance to enjoy the photographs. The photos are beautiful and capture each "you guys" and "yalls" perfectly.

As sad as it might sound, that is all my Tuesday consisted of. I definitely cannot complain about the unique tasks of my days here at the High. After completing my mid-term evaluation for GCSU, I realized that I have had amazing opportunities and learning experiences here at the High. To think there is still one more month of this!

Frida & Diego

Research: 9 to 5

I did nothing more today than research the infamous Mexican couple Frida and Diego. I have mentioned this research project at the beginning of my blogging adventure. This particular project is an on going assignment through the summer. However, for some reason I was sucked into their artistic and politically tyrant world for eight hours straight -and there was no complaining on my behalf. I sat in on lectures at the High concerning the Frida and Diego, but now I have moved onto solitary research. My personal hype over Diego, and especially Frida, has only begun.

Using over 30 sources, I have learned an incredible amount of information on the private and public lives of the star couple. For both artists to be so incredibly outspoken with their political views, it’s a wonder how they found time to paint. I suppose their answer was to combine the two worlds: art and politics. Frida, in particular, has caught my attention. In the 90s Frida became the revolutionary icon for feminism. Obviously. This woman had a thriving life after being diagnosed with polio at age six, being involved in a life-threatening car wreck which should have ended her life, along with many doubts toward her artistic ability. Finally, Friday was able to step outside of Diego's 300 pound shadow and find a light of her own. She has painted around 145 works, with over one third resulting in self portraits. With roughly 40 surgeries throughout her life, Frida was the person she knew best and she decided to use herself as a muse. From her iconic unibrow and dark mustache, Frida was able to portray a side a beauty that embodied the concept of individuality at its finest. Frida, you were one amazing woman.

Even though my Monday consisted of non-stop research, my day flew. It's nice to have something as engaging as Frida and Diego to make an eight hour work day seem like a play date. I actually ended my evening with a play date! I met a sorority sister, Hilary, for coffee to discuss our plans for the future. There is nothing like catching up with a best friend and discussing our future, especially when they plan to coincide.

Here's to a great Monday and hopes to an eventful Tuesday.

Free Friday

Awesome Weekend

WOW. My weekend was amazing and everything but ordinary. I have been on the go since Friday at 8 a.m. and haven't stopped until....well, right now.

Everything started with a private tour of the American art collection at the High. After previously touring the museum, I had already seen the American art exhibit. However, I had never listened to it. Having the chance to have a private tour truly does open your eyes to the talent and beauty of the art work. Like I have said in previous posts, being given the background of the art enhances its true beauty one hundred percent. Seeing how the curators grouped works and displayed then 'salon style' was interesting. I love the salon style of similar works, because it helps tie the entire message and theme together. We only had enough time to be given a tour of the 18th - early 19th century, but I learned lots. Many of the art works had gone through transformations from the European style painting to a more patriotic/landscape/rustic/country vibe. At this time there were also many portraits executed. I normally just saw a portrait for what it was: a painting. Throughout the tour I realized how talented these artists were, and the time and patience it took for them to simply paint a bust, nonetheless a full pose plus background. America, you are fascinating now as you were then.

After the exhibit, all interns were catered Vespucci's pizza because we had a Luunch and Learn with the museum's director Michael Shapiro. Sadly, Shapiro was caught with a time conflict, and had to reschedule. The High didn't leave us in the dark; however, and arranged for us to meet Shapiro's great friend and colleague Philip Verre, COO, High Museum of Art. Philip was a great substitute and blew us away with his awesome job as COO. He has traveled to numerous countries in search of art collections to display at the High. Along the way he has made great connections, met wonderful people and has had the experiences of a lifetime.

My Friday ended with a great night at the Georgia Aquarium for a monthly event, Science on Tap. Morgan and I attended the event and enjoyed wine and a lecture by Joel Kostka, a microbiologist researcher and Georgia Tech professor. It was a great way to unwind, be educated and enjoy a different atmosphere.

Friday night gradually evolved into Saturday which meant the original bat mobile (shown at the Mall of Georiga) and the Atlanta Beer Fest. To me, the bat mobile means nothing, but to the four boys I was with --it meant the world. Apparently it meant the world to all the other present googley-eyeres and drooly-droolers, too. The bat mobile was the start of my 'bro day' with the boys. This lead to the most amazing time at the Atlanta Beer Festival at the Masquerade in downtown Atlanta

First off, the Masquerade is a run-down building from the outside and should possibly be avoided at all cost. However, behind its facade is where all the magic happens. Walking in there are food trucks, some vendors, bands and of course BEER. Taps and taps of beer to be correct. Seen as a beer tasting event, you could positively find a new (if not 5) favorite beer. Here are some of the beers I tasted, just to name a few:

Fox Barrel Pale Ale
Fox Barrel Apple Cider

Fox Barrel Blackberries Pear

Magic Hat Circus Boy
Laughing Skull
Koppaberg Pear
Koppaberg Pale Ale
plus a few more here and there where the names were lost....

The beer festival was a great day/night out with friends to enjoy the great (hot) weather, bands, beer and socializing. Running into old friends and making new ones was the theme of the night. Our whole group had a great time, and I am glad the boys let me tag along this time around. Maybe if I am lucky I will get to attend the Winter Beer Festival with them. Here are only a few pictures from the event.

To finish off the weekend, I attended the Georgia Bridal Show at the Gwinnet Center. No one in our group was getting married, but the expo didn't need to know that. Six signatures, seven emails, four swag bags and 12 brochures later, the 'bride', 'maid of honor' and 'mother of the bride' were exhausted. We did enjoyed the free samples of cake and flowers that were available at the show, along with the other vendor's goodies. The exposition ended with a greatly entertaining fashion show to exhibit David's Bridal and Men's Warehouse's attire for any wedding style. The fashion show was an hour of music, dancing, laughing, and gorgeous gowns and tuxes. The show was definitely a great ending to the bridal show, and was a great time for the three of us girls to enjoy a day out.

Now the work week starts up tomorrow, and this is when I wish the weekend was one extra day long. Curse you fun weekends for spoiling me.

Need caffeine....

Need caffeine now

One day early and Megan and I completed part one of our festival research project. We gathered roughly 75 summer festivals (June-September) in Georgia, plus 10 or so in neighboring "drive cities" (Knoxville, Chatanooga, Birmingham, Greenville). It feels wonderful to complete a project, especially when it is ready before schedule! I also found a last minute festival worthy of attending: Woodstock Art & Wine Festival .

Today was a tough day. Everything was fine during the drive to work and clocking in, and then....the cubicle. Once I sat down in my comfy chair, my cubicle was beckoning me to sleep behind his protective walls. After about an hour and a half of sleep deprivation, I succumbed to walking to Starbucks for a $5 coffee. That iced skinny caramel machiato was 100% worth it! After a few sips, my research was easier, more interesting, and lead to productive findings. Oh, the wonders of caffeine. Not exactly great for you, but lord knows it will kick your butt until you are awake! Apparently I am not the only person whose butt needs coffee during the first half of the workday. There was 15 other people with the same caffeine withdrawal, and they all happened to have made it inside the Starbucks' door a second before meI. It took a whopping 30 minutes to get to Starbucks, pay five dollars, and get back to my desk. Regardless of the hassle, I was so happy to have my coffee!

Once the caffeine set in, it was lunch time before I even knew it. Today Megan and I ventured out to Colony Square. I had the ever-loved bimbimbop at Jaffa Cafe. The bimbimbop is a plate of brown rice, chicken or tofu, eggs, cucumbers, sprouts, lettuce, and your choice of spicy or tzatziki sauce. Mix everything like a salad and you have a delicious lunch which is a special meal served only three times a week. Note: if a restaurant serves a particular dish only a few days out of the week --get it! Note: if everyone else in line, on those specified days, orders the bimbimbop --get it! It was a delicious treat for the week.

With only a few hours left in the day, I started back on the media clips and began to digitally log them. The pile gets smaller and smaller everyday, and it is nice to see how many times the High is mentioned in various publications and medias outlets! I had a stack of 20 AJC newspapers to look through and that was a project in-and-of itself. All the articles are not clearly marked (i.e. picture of a featured artist/work, have the High mentioned in the title), and can be as simple as a two liner about "what to do this week" along with 20 other suggestions. My hands were black from handling those newspaper, but thankfully I had anti-bacterial at my desk. And for that, I am sorry to everyone who sits near me. I apologize for the smell of concentrated alcohol you smelt every 5 minutes.

Tomorrow and this weekend should be a fun and interesting time! A little heads up: Michael Shapiro (the High's director), fishies, beer, friends and more beer. Weeeee.

Humpday

Festival Throwdown

1st floor, baby. Of the parking garage that is. I suppose the parking gods heard my complaining yesterday and sent me an IOU. I got a parking spot on the first floor of the parking garage, so there was no need for a daily reminder this time. Thank you parking gods. I owe you one next time.

Another cubicle-endearing day was today. I sat in my cubicle for eight straight hours staring at the screen. That can't be healthy. I ended up eating lunch at my desk so I could simply look at crafts on Pinterest for an hour. I'm a girl...it's fine. I am actually not one for Pinterest. I have an account, of course, but I have never spent more than 5 hours on the site total. Since I am using this social media outlet for the museum, I decided to wonder through some craft ideas. Let me tell you how many crafts I saw that I wanted to do right then and there at my cubicle -TOO MANY! I love crafting in the first place. I especially like refurnishing tables, shelves, bookcases and other crafts that require some elbow grease. Because I will be looking for somewhere to live in the near future, what better place to get ideas than Pinterest?

Speaking of Pinterest....what a great segue to mention my completed Pinterest project. Check out the High's Pinterest page and see the two new boards I added! I was going to push this projet until later in the week, but I decided I might as well make myself useful if I was going to be on Pinterest already. So yay for completing another project!

I am also wrapping up my research project on festivals in Georgia and nearby "drive cities." I stated in a previous post I would mention any cool festivals coming up, so here it is as promised:

• June 23 Atlanta Summer Beer Fest
• June 30 The Revival of Vintage
• July 14 Atlanta Street Food Festival
• July 19 -22 Atlanta Summer Arts Festival
• Sept 21 -22 Music Midtown

Check out all of these festivals and think of stopping by. I am sure they all will be a great time. I am personally going to the first two for sure! I am so excited and I will more than likely head out to the other events as well. It's the summertime (as today was the summer solstice) and we need to be outside enjoying the sunshine! There is no better way than with some handmade jewelry, a candy apple and your sunglasses on.

To end my day I received great news that one of my sorority sisters, Sararose, was offered a teaching job in Macon. I ended the night by celebrating with her and her family. I am so excited for her and the new changes this will bring. She is going to be a special education teacher and I know she will excel at it, without a doubt. Love you SR and congrats!

Tour de Parking Garage

Marco. Polo.

After work all I wanted to do was plug in my phone and jam to Pandora during my rush-hour ride home. Is that too much to ask? Apparently. The parking garage decided to hide my car for a solid 10 minutes and laughed as I walked all five floors without luck of finding my car. After the humiliation of all my co-workers seeing mey on every floor as they head to the exit, I finally found my car on the fourth level --which was the original floor I started searching, might I add. That parking garage has it in for me, I swear. That is surely not the first time I have felt like a lost child in Disney World. Only this time there are no fun rides to distract me nor keep me entertained. Finally finding my car was a humiliating relief. I simply sat in the driver's seat getting everything set: phone charging, Pandora station playing, my parking ticket in hand, credit card ready to be charged. As I got to the top floor I was in line with 10 other cars waiting to leave work. Once I got to the gate, the girl working and I had a giggle over the stupidity a long work day brings upon others. Silly people, the gate arm doesn't rise willingly. It's called monayyy.

To accompany this long afternoon, I had an equally long morning. The American Red Cross was visiting HMA and offered appointment times to employees. I signed up to give blood and was actually very excited. I haven't given blood in a while, and now was my chance to A.) do a good deed and B. ) get away from my cubicle for an hour. In the past I have had problems with my iron levels, and have been turned away numerous times for being anemic. To offset this common occurrence I woke up an hour early and treated myself to an IHOP breakfast. After ordering I was stoked to give blood. Who wouldn't be excited to have an excuse to eat a delicious breakfast of pancakes topped with bananas, bacon, scrambled eggs and chocolate milk?

Breakfast was absolutely amazing and helped me stay focused during my work day (I guess those mini-wheats are speaking the truth). After lunch I headed to Hill Auditorium to do my good deed of the day. That was another wild goose chase. I honestly do not know the lay of the land at the Woodruff Arts Center. That being said, I walked around for 15 minutes attempting to find the American Red Cross. I eventually found the room and was able to successfully give blood. Yay for saving the lives of nine babies! I will say I was getting nervous while waiting, though. Right as I arrived three ladies had previously passed out/were feeling flushed from giving blood. Some claim the cause was the slightly warm room and the lack of breakfast the ladies had eaten. Regardless, I was starting to psyche myself out. I held it together and pumped that little stress ball like my life depended on it. After an hour of waiting, freaking out, and filling up one bag of blood I was a proud blood donor. Now I know that "I make a difference."

After giving blood, I entered the office just in time for a communication meeting. Our department met and discussed potential ads and marketing concepts offered by a highly revered ATL/NYC ad agency. This was the same agency our department met with earlier this summer to discuss the idea of the High's newest campaign. It was cool to see the proposed advertisements that had been influenced by our inputs and ideas. Even though we were presented these ads, they are by no means the final draft. There are still things to be edited, deleted and ideas that have room to grow.The ads are going to be great and the marketing placements and concepts will hopefully catch the eyes of those interested in seeing the High's soon-to-be exhibit. Sitting in on these meetings helps me feel like a true component to my team. I have a chance to be face-to-face with each member and to make suggestions and comments that will respectfully be considered and heard.

Everyday I work my way up an incline of how great my internship is. There are no drastic dips or hills, rather everything is consistently improving. The one thing that isn't? That daggum parking garage. From now on I am going to have to leave myself a note on my phone as a reminder. How embarrassing. I am already losing my memory at the young age of 22. Oy vey.