Art and Gallery Curation as a Driver for Social Change

Olivia spent her summer as an intern at C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut. C. Parker Gallery seeks to connect art lovers with art and artists, enriching the greater Greenwich community. C. Parker is committed to being a transparent and equal partner to clients and artists, seeing art’s beauty as extending beyond its financial value. Olivia’s responsibilities were varied, ranging from measuring frames, researching new artists for potential collaborations, organizing exhibits with various Greenwich community partners, and planning events. 

During her internship, C. Parker Gallery hosted Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier’s Sea Legacy exhibit, which simultaneously showcased the mesmerizing beauty behind marine life, as well as the underlying fragility of marine ecosystems. Proceeds from the exhibit went to the Sea Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the environment. Here, Olivia witnessed art and gallery curation as a driver for social change, transforming her view on ordinary logistical tasks as meaningfully contributing to an advocacy agenda. Olivia’s internship taught her the nuances of professionalism in the art industry, necessitating strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and finding depth and significance in everyday tasks.