Internship solidifies career choice for art student

Olivia Tinsley transferred to the University of North Georgia (UNG). Her major changed a few times, but she remained steadfast with her art history minor.

"I loved my art history minor so much, and it completely changed my career plans. UNG doesn't offer an art history major, so I chose digital marketing because I knew it would be applicable to anything and I do enjoy it," Tinsley said.

She found herself becoming excited about the subject thanks to an internship with Dr. Ana Pozzi, principal lecturer in UNG's Department of Visual Arts, whose own passion for art history has created countless opportunities for students.

Tinsley's internship, which focuses on the work of the late Lenn Redman, came about after Pozzi met with Redman's son Mark at the 2024 UNG Art History Symposium last fall. After learning more about his collection, Pozzi realized that senior Redman's "What Am I?" provided a fabulous research and curatorial project for a capable student: Tinsley.  

Pozzi said that art history "offers valuable employment and advancement opportunities to students, in addition to a rich interdisciplinary education founded in the humanities."

"I offer opportunities such as the Lenn Redman project to students so that they may not just find their path but also succeed in it. Students who have worked under my supervision are now in graduate school or employed in museums, libraries and nonprofit organizations," Pozzi said. "Their success in those settings owes at least in part to the blend of academic and real-world experiential learning they received in art history courses at the Department of Visual Arts. From observing the experiences of our alumni, I expect that the research, writing and curatorial skills that Olivia has gained through the Lenn Redman project will prepare her amply for a career path of her choice."

The goal of the internship is for Tinsley to research and curate an exhibition based on the senior Redman's work and then give research talks on her findings.

"I knew from how much I enjoyed my art history classes that I wanted to do something in art history, but I lacked experience doing any art history research," Tinsley, who is originally from Conyers, Georgia, and lives in Cumming, Georgia, said. "I was excited going into it. It seemed like the perfect opportunity, but I was really scared that maybe I wasn't going to be good at it, or I wouldn't like it.”

Tinsley's efforts are focused on a poem and a series of 11 lithographs that the artist turned into a book. She utilized Redman's private foundation library, archives and art collection to gather her research. 

"I look at the art, I study the art. I basically look at every aspect and make connections to what could have inspired or influenced him in creating the work," she said.

As she experiences her internship, Tinsley said she's gotten to work with a lot of cultural centers, including Sautee Nacoochee Center and Quinlan Visual Arts Center, both of which have provided volunteer opportunities for her.

"Being around people in the art world has solidified that I'm on the right path, which has been the most gratifying thing," Tinsley said.

Mark Redman said that Tinsley's work has helped him see his father’s career and commitment to education.

"I knew my dad was an artist and had written a book about drawing caricatures, but I didn't understand all he was doing to help people learn to get along," he said. "It was interesting to me that 50 years later, people of all ages are still drawn to the art and its message, “What am I?” We are all as different as leaves on a tree and can use our differences to better our world.”

Once her internship is completed, Tinsley's work will be exhibited at Sautee Nacoochee Center, Quinlan Visual Arts Center and UNG.

“I'm excited because they're all different spaces and that really changes how an exhibition is viewed and laid out. I think it'll be a fun challenge to navigate it from place to place," Tinsley said.