1. The End. El Fin. Finale. O Fim. However you choose to say it, the grand production that is the
the ArtWorks program has come to an end. Curtain call and all, we bowed and curtsied to the
six weeks of daily assignments, weekly projects, and preparation for the final show.
Nevertheless, I hope the interns don’t say goodbye to the boundless creativity that took place
between the confines of two white walls.
Or say adieu to the sound of the oye that shattered the crowd’s silence and the steady
3/2 rhythm of the clave, the 2-minute rendition of a modernized Romeo and Juliet replete with
sassiness and flair, the essence of black girl magic infused with the championing of the color
black over red, white and blue.
The energy of these past six weeks gained momentum with every hour as interns and
MTA’s and ATA’s alike buzzed and hummed to the beat of the theme Influence. Influence from
social media, school, work, parents, family, tradition, beliefs, culture, society. As the web of
these influences becomes more entangled, what I saw is that it leads one to want to disentangle
it through poetry, dance, monologues, contour drawing. And much more.
There were issues and misunderstandings. From believing it was acceptable to be glued
to one’s phone to feelings of favoritism and almost buckling under the pressure of rigor and
intensity, these issues and misunderstandings became small blots on the painted canvas of this
internship experience. Without these small blots, the painting wouldn’t have been nearly as
intricate and memorable.
Learning also occurred during certain pockets of the day (i.e. all the time). Learning what
investigative reporting was, learning how to embody and personify a character and making the
character one’s own. Learning the subtleties between fine art and a book carefully balanced
atop a water bottle, learning what grand plie and “woke” meant (‘woke’ means consciously
aware). Learning how to deal with unpleasant moods and exaggerated silliness, learning what
not to say in a work environment.
Moments of vulnerability, care, and connection ensued. More than once, the various co-
ops described their group as a tender lovin’ family. Many stated that creating an open and
accepting atmosphere led to the formation of relationships that were sure to last beyond the
span of the program.
Overall, the brevity of the six week program left everyone wanting more (good thing that
there’s a school-year long ArtWorks program). This was like a taste test leading up to the
entree. Still, I appreciate the concentrated duration, because not only does it make for each new
day to be a fresh intriguing experience, but it also puts pressure on interns, MTA’s and ATA’s to
maximize their performance and output throughout the six weeks. And this led to astounding
and amazing results showcased during the final performances. After all, didn’t you go? (In other
words, you definitely do not want to miss out on this incredible program and performances).