51ĀŅĀ×

Zelda Thayer-Hansen (they/them) logged over 170 hours this summer working with FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art.

FRONT is a free, public contemporary art exhibition comprised of artist commissions, performances, films, and public programs that takes place across Cleveland, Akron, and Oberlin, Ohio every three years. FRONTā€™s mission is to develop a strong, vibrant creative community and stimulate positive change in Ohio cities through the arts. 

Thayer-Hansen, an Honors Tutorial College Studio Art Major and a Cutler Scholar, worked with FRONT as a part of their degree service internship requirement. They learned about the triennial through Jennie Klein, associate director and graduate director in the School of Art + Design and professor of art history.

ā€œIā€™m from Cleveland, I grew up in the arts scene and itā€™s super important to me,ā€ Thayer-Hansen said.

They said their first project with FRONT allowed them to work with , whose installations were supported by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

 
ā€œWe got to help them cut out these huge, life-size portraits of Cleveland-based artists that were photographed in their style,ā€ they said. ā€œWe learned how to literally paste them up on walls. We were working on that, sometimes, six [or] eight hours a day.ā€
 

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On another project, Thayer-Hansen was able to work with , an award-winning artist known for her sculptures and installations that focus on marginalized voices. 

ā€œShe really brought me in as a second studio hand,ā€ Thayer-Hansen said about the role where early-career artists can collaborate on works and help run day-to-day operations. ā€œShe listened to what I was suggesting, and I was really helping set up stuff. It was really amazing, and it felt like I was an extra artist getting to help her ā€¦ That was probably my favorite part.ā€

Through FRONT, Thayer-Hansen also had the opportunity to help organize events and attend networking opportunities. 

ā€œJust getting to do simple tasks for artists was really amazing and it makes me want to work in another artist's studio,ā€ they said. ā€œThis just inspires me more to become a paid studio hand for a professional artists or work on an apprenticeship.ā€

As for the future and after working for FRONT, Thayer-Hansen is inspired to learn about grant writing, fellowships and apprenticeships, as well as exploring possible artist residencies and other ways to support their art.

ā€œI definitely didnā€™t expect how different each week would be,ā€ they said. ā€œLearning how to communicate with my boss and asking for different projects was really great. [I was] advocating for what I wanted to get out of this internship.ā€

Thayer-Hansen encouraged students to ask for help in finding learning experiences outside of 51ĀŅĀ× and stressed how these opportunities can build independence and confidence in art and in life.

ā€œWeā€™re at a university that wants to support you and help you learn outside of school,ā€ they said.