We Have a Nurse in the House

I have lived in Syracuse for four years this summer, and I can still remember meeting my neighbor, who is an artist. She, Lew Graham, talked about her studio at Delavan Center and how much she loved her space and her landlord, Bill Delavan who is also the Director of the Delavan Art Gallery. She kept telling me that I had to stop by and see the place. Well, it took me almost three years to discover the gallery.

First of all, I have to say that for the past 26 years, I have been moving all over the world, following my military husband. Initially, I worked as a Practical Nurse and later discovered there is more to life than medicine. I took classes at varying colleges as we moved 15 times over the years. When my husband retired and promised we wouldn’t move any more, I pooled all my credits together to find I was very close to earning my BA. Majoring in Art History and graduating from SU took up most of my time. However, I did acquire some experience in the art world before applying to the gallery.

Working as an intern and afterwards, a full time volunteer at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, gave me a wealth of experience. Also in the summer of 2007, I worked as an intern at the Albany Institute of History and Art with the Registrar in collections. I never forgot about the Delavan Art Gallery though. So, I took a chance and applied and was offered a volunteer position. I’ve been here since the middle of January of this year.

Lew was right about the personnel here. Everyone is very warm and welcoming. It didn’t take me long to feel like one of the gallery crew. The gallery manager, Caroline, put me right to work from small jobs, like watering plants, dusting pedestals, and answering phones, to hanging labels, climbing ladders for lighting, and most importantly, hanging artwork for the opening exhibits.

I look forward to getting ready for the openings the most. It entails meeting the artists and learning about the art they are submitting to the show, which I think, gives some history to the art. Helping to de-install a past exhibit then installing the new art, along with the opening reception is a lot of fun. It’s almost like changing the décor in your house and inviting everyone over for a party to celebrate the new look!

Another treat is working with the interns who are still students at area colleges. They have fresh ideas, love to work hard and have their artistic biases. The first intern I ever worked with was Kari, who majors in photography. She taught me a lot about different styles of photography and particularly wanted to hang all of the photography work that we have in the gallery. Ryan, who also majors in photography, looks at the world through the camera lens, which has become very contagious for me.

It’s also funny how my past experiences have merged with the present. At times, when Gloria, the PR Coordinator is feeling under the weather, or when Caroline tries to take off her finger with a cutting knife, or when Kari’s shoes are digging into her heels, or when Reggie, the “Very Handy Man” gets a large piece of lumber stuck in his hand and calls it a splinter, somehow, they tend to make me feel special in calling me for some medical advice or better, medical treatment.
Lew has since moved south to live near her family.

Lew, if you are reading this blog, you were right and thanks for the encouragement!

-Kathy Simpson, Gallery Volunteer

(Left: Ryan Petrus, Right: Kathy Simpson)

Return to Delavan

(Left: Ryan Petrus, Right: Kathy Simpson)

Hello everyone, my name is Ryan Petrus and I am the new intern here at the Delavan for this summer. I just finished my senior year at SUNY Purchase where I majored in photography, but I have to return next semester to finish up two required classes. My goal for next year is to return to the NYC and find a job working in either a gallery or assisting an advertising photographer. For the future, I plan to take some time to travel and work, to pay off student loans and then eventually return to school to get my MFA.

I am really no stranger to the Delavan. I have been making work in this building for years in my teacher’s studio and have been a regular visitor to the gallery since I was in high school. I originally attended Onondaga Community College for my first two years of college. Working here is nice because I get to see a lot of my old teachers’ art hanging in the gallery and see them stop in from time to time.

Since I started interning here, I have had the experience to travel out to two of our artist’s houses to pick out work for our upcoming show. I have learned how to properly hang and display artwork in a gallery setting, along with properly wrapping and organizing the art we keep in storage. Caroline, Delavan’s gallery manager, has showed me how to use the software Masterpiece to keep all of our art organized. Reggie, the man who keeps this place standing, has showed me how to maintain a gallery and the actual amount of work it takes to keep it running and working properly. Working at the Delavan and having the experience to meet other artists has enlightened me on how a gallery works and functions. I have made a lot of friends and met a bunch of artists who have made this experience fun and influential.