 |
 |
| |
| "If it is to be it is up to me" |
|
|
Finding the Right Path
By Leanne Gluck, staff writer
Here's a riddle: What place is constantly updating with "new" things, but takes you back to the past? Give up? A museum.
Museums are amazing. They've got so much art to view in so many different forms, like painting, sculpture, and collage, just to name a few. You walk around appreciating the art—sometimes inspired, sometimes perplexed—but did you ever think of how that art got there? There's a lot of work that goes into running a museum and a lot of jobs and careers too. I met with Kenita Lloyd, director of pperations at the Museum of African Art in New York City, to learn about working in museum.
Train Conductor and Firefighter
Kenita's not really a train conductor or firefighter, but at the Museum of African Art, it's said that "the train runs on time because of her." This is because Kenita is responsible for nearly every aspect of museum operations from following up on the contracts and projects that put the art up on the walls, to opening receptions for museum exhibitions (when the artists' work opens up to the public for the first time at the museum).
The "fires" she extinguishes are problems—big and small. While I was interviewing Kenita, she was practically putting out fires—literally. The Fire Department was conducting a drill and it was her job to make sure the freight elevator was not blocked.
Party Planner Extraordinaire
Every year the museum has an annual gala. A gala is basically a big party where people come together to raise money for the museum. The tickets and tables go from $500 to $25,000. The gala is at the Puck Building in New York City (that's the building featured on the television show Will & Grace!). The dress attire is "festive," which means men wear suits and women wear beaded, fancy cocktail dresses. A LOT of planning goes into the gala, including planning what to wear! For a gala in May, the party planning starts as far back as November, and Kenita starts thinking about her outfit as early as January!
Variety is the Spice of Life
Kenita says, "I enjoy the fast-paced environment and varied responsibilities of my job. I'm involved in nearly every aspect of museum operations. It adds variety, and allows me to learn something new every day." It can be the toughest part too, though. It's equally as challenging keeping up with the variety!
Her College Path
In college, Kenita studied marketing and African-American culture. She didn't think of African-American studies as anything she wanted to do professionally. She chose her majors because she was interested in them and wanted to learn about her own culture. Kenita's college advice: "I would urge a girl to not only to study within her major but, if given the opportunity, study something she wants to learn more about. Don't think that a major limits you in your career. Real world experience, after graduation, will complement your class work."
Playing on Her Strengths
After she graduated college, Kenita worked at a finance department in a hospital, though she really wanted to be in marketing. Before long she discovered she didn't enjoy marketing as she hoped. But instead of giving up, she switched gears. She moved into software sales, and discovered she was really good at that! She said, "I recognized my strengths and my weaknesses. Where I can, I try to play into my strengths. "
"Take the Driver's Seat"
Kenita shared some parting thoughts: "Be aware of what you are doing in the present moment and how it is shaping you. Sometimes we are, what I call, in the passenger seat of life, and not aware of what we are learning at the time. Put yourself in the driver's seat. Take responsibility for yourself and try to be aware of the lessons that you are learning along the way. I've made mistakes, and only now have I learned that, really, I've been in control the entire time."
|
