First Job, First Internship, First Museum

During the first couple of days working at the museum, I got to meet the excellent staff who make the Centennial Museum such a great place. Daniel Carey-Whalen, Sam Winer, Amy Briones, and Jessica Castro are the backbone of the museum as well as the key factors to my success here at the museum. Throughout my time here, I have been able to reach out to these wonderful individuals for almost anything. Nevertheless, I strongly believe being able to work with such great people is a luxury not many people have, and for that I am very grateful. Every day I go to work I am able to experience a healthy and professional workplace first hand.

Most people my age have jobs in either the retail or food industries, which can be quite a drag whilst also trying to balance everything along with school and their social lives. Therefore, being able to have this internship as my first job is something that will always be of extreme value to me. I have been able to work and be a part of exhibits that go far beyond artifacts or panels. They represent the ideas and problems that have been present throughout our history and have an effect on our future. I have been able to be involved in contributing directly to the community and the city.

One of the exhibits I was able to work on was the Uncaged Art exhibit, which featured art created by the children held at a children’s detention camp in Tornillo, Texas. There has been much controversy over the treatment of the wave of immigration coming south of the United States border. Nevertheless, the reality is that children were separated from their parents and have been kept in more than questionable conditions, and the art that they were able to create is a reflection of their spirit and their humanity. This art project was created by two local clergymen who sought to relieve the children from tension and stress of being alone in a completely unknown place.



The art featured a theme that reminded the children of their homelands in Central America. Many of the pieces depicted the beautiful Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala, the main country from which a large portion of immigrants have thus far originated, and the homeland of the children detained in Tornillo. As of January of 2019, the facility has been shut down, and the thousands of children have since left the "tent city."  Being able to be a part of this exhibit was a prime example of the importance of institutions like the Centennial Museum—not just to the local community, but to the larger world. The Uncaged Art exhibit was featured in several internationally renowned newspapers and media outlets that ultimately help shine a light on situations like Tornillo.  For me, the value of being able to contribute to the process of the exhibit is unmatched, and it makes me extremely grateful to be part of the Centennial Museum.

     

Artifacts and relics were among some of my constant encounters at the museum. This observation became especially relevant when my former colleague and I, Humanities Collaborative at EPCC-UTEP Undergraduate Research Fellow Kristina Bennett, were tasked with doing inventory for the artifact collections in the museum. Now, keeping in mind that there are over 60,000 items in the collections of the Centennial Museum, Kristina and I were only able to scratch the surface of a vast array of objects. But in our time exploring and discovering, we found so many interesting pieces that captivated us and sparked thought-provoking conversation and newfound interest.

Working with a fellow intern from The Humanities Collaborative was an absolute benefit for me, which is something not many people can say about their co-workers. Kristina had been working at the museum a couple months prior to my arrival, so she had already learned the “ins and outs” of being an intern at the museum. Not to be presumptuous, but I think it’s safe to consider us a dynamic duo. I learned many things whilst working alongside Kristina. From properly plastering and painting walls, to mounting images onto foam boards for an exhibit, she taught me everything I need to know. Kristina graduated from UTEP this May with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, and will be undergoing the law school preparation summer program at UTEP. Her college experience and general knowledge was always indispensable when I had questions about the university and handling life as a successful college student.

As in any job, working at the museum has its busy days and slow days. Despite this, there is still always something to do. Sometimes we will only receive about ten visitors in an entire day, yet the following day the entire building will be filled with excitement and laughter of school children waiting to look around at all the ancient objects and items. Regardless of whether the day is slow or fast paced, being able to work at this institution has given me the satisfaction of knowing I am playing a part in my community and that I am able to assist in the education of said community no matter the circumstances.

During the last couple of months, I have been introduced to the world of museums and how impactful they can be, both locally and internationally. I have been able to meet and build relationships with the very minds that turn mere ideas and concepts into real life exhibitions. I have been able to observe and analyze the functionalities that make a professional workplace successful. I have learned what it means to be a part of a community that cares about the well-being of its people, and the well-being of society. Overall, my experience in the Humanities Collaborative and as part of the Centennial Museum team has been very valuable to me and will continue to be so moving forward. 

Written by Saul Fontes, El Paso Community College
Undergraduate Research Assistant, The Humanities Collaborative at EPCC-UTEP

(All images courtesy of Saul Fontes.)