Art Museum Senior Profile

Caroline Gillaspie '08
Position: Receptionist
Majors: Art history and history
Hometown: Athens, New York
Favorite piece at the museum: I love Bierstadt's Hetch Hetchy Canyon. I am partial to the Hudson River School of art because I'm doing an independent study on Thomas Cole. I also love the ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian room. Classical art is my all-time favorite!

Throughout this academic year, Caroline Gillaspie '08 has spent part of her Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at the front desk of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. From that post, she has greeted visitors, answered phones, and had a hand in helping staff members with organizational projects for events. Gillaspie also has helped to create digital designs, such as a "map" of campus artwork by professor emeritus Leonard DeLonga, which will be distributed at Reunion.

After declaring art history as one half of a double major during her sophomore year, Gillaspie sought employment at the museum because she thought she might be interested in museum work as a career. Part of what has kept her there is that "every day is an adventure at the museum." She added, "We often get some quirky visitors. A lot of people don't know where they are on campus, or don't realize that we have an incredible art museum here."

In addition to pursuing her interest in art, Gillaspie has spent four years doing indoor and outdoor track and field. She's a high jumper and triple jumper. "I certainly was drawn to Mount Holyoke's excellent academics and its beautiful campus, but the wonderful track team is mainly why I came here," she said.

Over the summer and into the fall, Gillaspie will be working with an independent art dealer in New York City, and at Cedar Grove, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. "Cole is considered the `father' of the Hudson River School of art, and I've been doing an independent study on him this year," she said. "After that, I'll be deciding whether I want to purse art history or art conservation and will apply to graduate school."

Related Links:

At the Museum: An Outstanding Senior Class

By the Numbers: Class of 2008 at the Art Museum

Meet the 11 Art Museum Seniors

Mount Holyoke College Art Museum

This notice expired on August 27, 2008.

Permanent link to this story: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/story/5570760

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