Interns document UNG art collection

Students Sara Courtney and Ruth Phillips are researching the University of North Georgia (UNG) art collection as part of individual internships. The pair didn't know one another prior to the research and, ironically, have only once been in the presence of the other while working. Phillips is the photographer, capturing images of each piece for cataloging purposes. Meanwhile, Courtney is researching the pieces.

For Courtney, a senior, historic preservation has been a lifelong interest and the inspiration behind her degree choice: a degree in history with a minor in art history.

"I have always been interested in historic preservation, and the more I've gone into it, the more I've assured myself that's the path I want to take," Courtney said. "And the people I know who have taken this path have also invested in art history."

The Dallas, Georgia, resident originally aspired to work with the State Historic Preservation Office but hasn't ruled out working in a museum.

"I love small museums. I've worked with a couple," she said. "Either way, I'll be happy."

Courtney has an impressive list of experiences in museums of all sizes, including the Marietta History Center. She spent her summer interning with The Oddities Museum in Chamblee, Georgia, home of the largest private collection of oddities in the country, where she cataloged the collection and made text panels and was a docent.

Working at the unique museum allowed Courtney to use her knowledge and expertise of history to connect the pieces to a bigger topic and teach history in a nontraditional manner.

Dr. Ana Pozzi Harris, principal lecturer of art history, offered the students two separate internships that intertwine.

"I was determined to find all of the dozen or so artists who we didn't have any information on, and I'm proud to say I found all of them to some extent, which is very impressive," Courtney said. "Some of it was just knowing where to look and research sources, but a couple of them were we misread the signature."

Courtney said she wants to preserve the legacy of the artists and promote them.

"So many of them would create paintings in the 70s, and then they disappeared and retired for whatever reason," she said. "The pieces are beautiful, but there's no information on them on the internet. It means a lot to me to make sure their legacies are preserved.”

Meanwhile, Phillips is diligently photographing each piece as she continues to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual arts degree with a focus in photography and a minor in art history.

"We are working on the same project, but we are never together. I'm creating the media, and she's doing all the research," she said. "So if there’s a need for an article or to put something on the website, the research and the information is available to go with the images."

Phillips said she jumped at the internship because she wanted to sharpen her studio photography skills.

"I'm working with Chris Dant, who helps me, especially when switching mediums. He's given me a lot of input on how to set everything up and how to take the photos," she said. "I knew the basics, but I hadn't been in a studio space very often. So this will allow me to later take pictures for museums or for art galleries."

Phillips said the items range from student work to current collection pieces to newly donated items. First to be photographed was collection pieces "so patrons would see their pieces are being shown and we are taking care of them."

The amount of time it takes to photograph a piece of art depends upon several things, including the type of artwork. Once lighting is set and camera settings are chosen, paintings and prints can be shot quickly. Sculptures and other three-dimensional pieces require multiple images because of angles, a variety of camera angles and lighting, Phillips said.

Her work has her bouncing between campuses, and engaging with Victoria Cooke, director of art galleries.

"Ruth is an amazing intern. She has photographed most of the collection this semester, producing professional photographs to replace the current record shots in the database. This is a major step on the road to giving public access to the collection," Cooke said.

Cooke uses photos for catalogs, the Department of Visual Arts website and among other uses, and the majority of the items are currently stored in her office.

Phillips is a senior from Canton, Georgia.