As 136 framed photographs arrive at SUNY Potsdam—a portfolio of work showcasing the career of photojournalist Stephan Savoia '75—three students are there to intercept the boxes and begin the uncrating process.
Katelin Babbitt '26, Lance Wilson '27 and SharonMarie Bartz '26 carefully remove the artwork in the Gibson Gallery before beginning the meticulous process of hanging the show.
"Each of the interns has a specific way to apply their experience to their degree program. Katelin is a Museum Studies minor, so this experience gave her more opportunity to perfect her skills in art installation and artwork conservation," said Dr. Caroline Downing, a professor in the Department of Art overseeing the internships.
Babbitt has been involved in a half dozen installations at the Gibson Gallery as an undergraduate. This year she has installed artwork for Raquel Acevedo Klein’s “Pluralidad” (an exhibition of mixed media collages), the Art Attack show (Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition), the St. Lawrence County Regional High School Art Show (artwork by 95 local young artists) and then Savoia’s “F4 and See It: An Exhibition of Photojournalism.” With each new installation, she has been gaining valuable hands-on experience in a professional gallery setting—most recently handling Savoia's Pulitzer Prize-winning images.
"You're holding pieces of art that are really significant. I'm blown away by the caliber of his photography and the newspaper spreads. It's surreal and a little nerve-wracking because you're handling such important pieces," Babbitt said. "I think my favorite part is being able to talk to the artists. He's taken photos of Barack Obama, Bush, Clinton—that is mind-blowing to me. It's really cool to meet these people, talk to them, and hear more about each of the stories behind the work."
An archaeological studies major with a minor in museum studies, Babbitt has gravitated toward experiential learning at the College. Whether she's collecting data such as inscriptions and symbols at Bayside Cemetery for her Historical Archaeology class or leading a forensic anthropology workshop for her peers, interactive learning has always led the way.
"I have ADHD, and I've always found traditional learning very hard. So, it's really cool at SUNY Potsdam where we have a lot of hands-on experiences that translate into the real world. If I were to get a job at a museum, I already know a lot of the archival rules, and how to handle artwork and artifacts," Babbitt said.
That hands-on approach has extended beyond the museum's walls. With the alumni reunion approaching, Downing wanted to restore one of the outdoor sculptures on campus, a white geometric piece titled "Friday the Thirteenth." Babbitt scrubbed away years of accumulated grime with a soft-bristled brush and warm, soapy water—a highlight of the summer internship experience.
For Wilson, the field of museum studies is a completely new experience. A history major with minors in classical studies and art history, he was encouraged by Downing to enroll in the summer internship as an extension of his degree.
"The first exhibit, the St. Lawrence County High School Art Show, now feels like lower-stakes practice for Savoia's exhibit. We received the work for the high school show and gradually I learned how to install. It required learning new techniques, heavy mathematical calculations, and developing an eye for precision. When we began setting up for the F4 exhibit, we had three days to use those skills to perfect the gallery for opening for the Alumni Weekend," he said.
The internship is one of numerous grant-funded projects through the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning, and it covered not only the costs of the three-credit course but also came with a living stipend, which Wilson said was vital to covering his day-to-day expenses. After finishing the installation of Savoia's work, Wilson manned the front desk at the Gibson Gallery throughout the month of July, welcoming visitors to the exhibition and answering questions.
"The most enjoyable part of the experience was branching away from my academic studies into a more practical, hands-on direction. For somebody who spends most of his time pouring over books and articles and writing essays, this was a welcome change to figuratively 'get my hands dirty,'" he said.
"Lance is a history major, and this experience will be great for his C.V. I think it will enhance it quite a bit as he applies to ancient history grad programs this fall," Downing said.
Though not completing the internship with Babbitt and Wilson this summer, Bartz was there, working alongside them as a volunteer. After taking all the required courses for the museum studies minor over the past few years, she provided valuable expertise to the installation team.
"I've been doing the calculations of the length of the wall, length of the images, how to distance them out, and then of course hammering stuff into the wall and leveling. I have a fun time," she said. "The first step is putting the work in order, working with the artist to figure out how they want things displayed and making sure the works aren't damaged."
Beyond their own hands-on experience in the Gibson Gallery, the three students have been giving back to the College and community through their efforts.
"This group of students has made an outstanding contribution to the functioning of the Gibson Gallery during the summer. We wouldn't have been able to do it without them," said Downing. "They have been reliable, hard-working, and have made a positive impact on the community. Katelin, Lance and volunteer graduate student SharonMarie are among the best students I've worked with in my career at SUNY Potsdam."
Article and Photos by Jason Hunter