Even though Mario Almaraz '17 is an art major, he wasn't too familiar with the world history of art or knew how large art institutions functioned. It wasn't until his classes with Professors Danny Jauregui and Anna Katz where he learned how to look at art with a different perspective and it truly sparked his interest beyond making art. Thanks to his newfound knowledge, dedication, and talent, Almaraz has been selected to take part in the competitive Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) 2015 Summer Academy.
LACMA's Andrew W. Mellon Summer Academy, is a one-week behind-the-scenes introduction to the curatorial process in a large art museum. The project is a component of the Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program, supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The individuals selected to be part of th LACMA Summer Academy comprised an impressive cohort of undergraduate students currently enrolled at colleges, universities, and community colleges throughout Southern California, with an expressed interest in art, art history, or the museum field. Many of the participants have never worked in an art museum nor have they learned about the curatorial process in an art institution through professionals in the field. Summer Academy at LACMA aimed to change that by exposing students to a rich experience in the museum environment with workshops, tours, field trips, and networking events with museum staff.
Almaraz, a Lincoln Heights native, found in Whittier College a perfect haven to pursue his interest in art. He was looking for a quality liberal arts institution, close to home, where he could get personalized attention from his professors. He is currently an art assistant for professor Jauregui where he does data entry and finishes drawings.
"I am mostly looking forward to the experience of spending a whole week networking with actual curators and learning from them," said Almaraz when asked about the Summer Academy.
As far as future plans, Almaraz is keeping his options open. "I want to do something affiliated with art such as a curator, illustrator for a company, or become an art teacher," he said.
LACMA will be selecting two multi-year Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellows from the promising students in the Summer Academy group.The Andrew W. Mellon Undergraduate Curatorial Fellowship Program provides specialized training in the curatorial field for students across the United States from diverse backgrounds. The fellowship seeks to make a critical impact on American art museums by developing gifted curators who are committed to engaging with the full spectrum of museum audiences.
