OK so here's a long post about how much I love museums and what I'm doing this summer.

This summer I'm a volunteer intern at the NMAI CRC (National Museum of the American Indian Cultural Resource Center) in the conservation section. The CRC is where a lot of the behind the scenes stuff happens for the NMAI. Both are Smithsonian run and the CRC isn't on the mall. I'm working to archive photos taken of some efemeral sculptures that are outside of the museum on the mall (for those of you who dont know, the mall is a big green area in DC which issurrounded by museums). These sculptures were designed to wear away over time and kind of go back into the ground (for more info on the sculptures, check out the Always Becoming podcasts). Theres a lot of change over time so the documentation of them is very important because eventually they will be gone. Anyway, my project is kind of a big deal because it will be the first time anyone has started to digitally archive anything at the NMAI.

Anyway, I'm very excited to work at the CRC this summer. I've already met a ton of really cool people who all have the best jobs. On Thursday, I toured the CRC's conservation offices, the collection room (which oh my god, is huge and the most amazing place I've ever been), seen RTI in action and attended a presentation about canvas stretching. Today, Friday, I went directly to the mall museum where I metthe collections manager there. After that we (my boss/supervisor is the other person) went to the Hirshhorn to talk with a woman there about how they are settingup their digital archives. After that, we went back to the NMAI and met more people, had lunch, met some Choctaw indians, watched them dance, and started my project. 

I am having so much fun and I'm sorry for making such a long post but it's so awesome I just had to share.