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Fine arts interns occupy state of "limbo": Theatre, Art and Music internships let alums expand their portfolios, contemplate graduate school

BY JULIA BOTTLES

Ross Koon '06 finds Grinnell much less stressful now than when he was a student. After graduating in May, Koon stayed at Grinnell as a ninth-semester Art department intern. He said that his non-student status is like "limbo," but it is an in-betweenness that grants him much more freedom and time for his sculpture work.

Although he still goes to a few parties off campus, Koon said, "You're in a very different place than you were four years ago ... I've spent a lot more nights doing what I wanted to be doing, watching movies with friends, doing much more laid-back things."

Two other members of the class of '06, Kathy Cawthon and Graeme Miller, have elected to remain on campus in post-graduate programs in Theatre and Music, respectively. Miller will also remain for a ninth semester and Cawthon will stay for a full fifth year.

The post-graduate programs were developed to allow Grinnell students the opportunity to add to their portfolios before applying to graduate school. The programs, for which the interns applied last year, also give them time to contemplate further education or professional work in their fields.

Koon said that the previous ninth-semester student, Rachel Dobkin '05, told him it was one of the loneliest times to be in Grinnell because of the sense of disconnectedness.

But according to Miller, the shift from student to intern status is not necessarily a negative one. "I get to experience Grinnell through a different lens," he said.

Miller's position as the Music department's Curd Scholarship and Prize Fund recipient allows him to increase his experience conducting, the field which he would like to enter.

His duties also include being a teacher's assistant in two music classes while he decides whether graduate school is something he would like to pursue.

Koon's work for his Art department fellowship builds off of sculpture pieces he developed for a salon last year as a senior. Like Miller, he is attempting to "beef up" his portfolio in anticipation of possibly applying to graduate school, although he has not yet clarified his plans for the future.

"When you set up a number of pieces in this amount of time, I feel like you build a structure where it is hard to work in," he said. For now, he is focusing on a preparing a show for the end of fall semester.

Cawthon's work this year has already proved invaluable to the Theatre department, especially with the departure of professor Pip Gordon from the department and an increased workload for Technical Director Erik Sanning.

She will work for the entire year as a Technical Intern for the department, helping with art design as well as building and supervising in the scene shop.

Sanning said, "[Kathy] can guide the other staff members and volunteers to come in and work in the shop. That is invaluable to me."

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