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Peace and Quiet Is Cool When You Have A Plan

I'm looking for a job. It's hard. And it's emotionally exhausting. In the meantime, my resume is posted below.



Education

Hollins University Roanoke, Virginia
Bachelor of Arts in Visual Studies, Fall 2002–Spring 2009

L' Institut de Touraine Tours, France
French Immersion Program January 2003

Professional Experience

Atlanta Woman Magazine, Billian Publishing Atlanta, Georgia
Publishing Intern and Personal Assistant to Dabney Hollis, Publisher January 2008
+Handled magazine-related correspondence and research
+ Assisted in meetings with staff and advertisers
+Provided special support for events such as the Top 25 Women to Watch and Power Woman of the Year

The Baddish Group, New York, New York
Account Assistant Spring 2006
+ Managed media contacts via telephone and web-based data research
+ Formulated and created fiscal year retrospective using both Power Point and video
+ Wrote press releases and assisted with event planning for events such as the Hollywood fall 2006 fashion show
+ Coordinated national and international travel arrangements for Baddish Group associates, as well as, celebrities such as Josh Duhamel

The Montel Williams Show, New York, New York
Production Intern January 2006
+Participated with all production duties including program conception, development of shows, and guest recruitment and interaction
+ Developed show and story ideas
+Handled publicity, external communications, inquiries, guest emails, and ticket sales
+ Monitored breaking news for relay to news coordinator

Art Production Fund, New York, New York
Intern January 2005
+Initiated relationships with potential sponsors and patrons through company contacts and cold calls
+Research Coordinator, Works on Whatever WOW! project: an exhibition of uniquely commissioned everyday objects by artists such as Lisa Yuskavage, Barnaby Furnas and Richard Philips
+ Compiled artists' dossiers including biographies, resumes, precedents, additional information
+ Researched additional projects and exhibitions

Wilson Art Museum, Hollins University Roanoke, Virginia
Docent Fall and Winter 2004
+ Assistant to the Curator
+ Documented and catalogued Hollins University Art Collection
+ Supported guests visiting the Museum

Related Work Experience

Volunteer Organizations: Square Society, The Contemporaries – Art Museum of Western Virginia, Atlanta History Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Windows XP, Excel, Access, Mac OS X, Cison's Media Map Information database and relationship management program

The Job Search

Searching for a job is a curious endever. It is exciting, frustrating, sometimes hopeless, but always inspiring. In my case, I am looking for a job in The Arts. My dream job would be working directly with artists and buyers, not as a gallery docent, but as a liason, working with multiple galleries at once to fulfill the needs of a client. Starting out though, I would give anything to work for an established gallery; one that represents a few "heavy hitters," but also represents new, budding artists, as well. My challenge, though, is getting my foot in the door, especially in this market. There has been debate as to whether there is even a demand for art right now. Following the Yves Saint Laurent auction a few weeks ago, I am convinced that the demand is still there. People may not be willing to pay the same prices for artwork that they did two years ago, but there are still a million people out there who would give anything to have a Marc Quinn sculpture in their forier or a Pipilotti Rist hanging on their wall. I'm inspired, and I know the right job is out there. I'll keep looking until I find it.

Twitterific

I love twitter. It has completely surpassed facebook in my book, and in my life. I mean, who really has time to sit in front of a computer looking up everyone's profile when you can just go to one place instead?! Just hope I don't turn into Lisa Nova!

Twitter me at The_Besst

Women Who Are Going... to be sick

Hollins administration really needs to reconsider its position on health and nutrition.  As an all-female college, one would think that the school would be on board with the health needs of growing and developing, young women.  Well, they're not.  Why in the world are french fries and hot dogs available at every meal?!  Where is the low/fat-free salad dressing or the whole wheat pasta?  Why, when the cooks saute vegetables, do they use so much oil?!  You only need a teaspoon (enough to coat the bottom of the pan)!  Or the deli sandwiches for instance.. they're huge!  Anyone can see that that's more than a single serving size.  I find it so interesting that they refuse to use salt in any of the dishes, but instead decide to pump it full of artery-clogging grease.  

This is inexcusable.  I want fresh vegetables and grilled meat.  No more fried food.  No more cream sauces.  I want a delicious salad bar.  We're not inmates, so how about doing away with institutional food?!  We're supposed to be 'Women Who Are Going Place.'  I think my diet should contribute to my progress; not impede it.

This is what I think of someone who has poor nutritional habits:

Image courtesy of worldofstock.com

Don't Burden Me With Your Problems

I get really irritated when people I do not know feel the need to share their personal issues and problems with me as if their concerns should affect me. I have two examples that happened within an hour of each other. UNEXCUSABLE, PEOPLE, UNEXCUSABLE!

I received a text today from a number I did not recognize, from someone I do not even know. It read:

"Hi Bess :) im friends with ada and i know this is a bit odd since we havent net (Mystery obviously meant 'met'; Spell check; Hello!) but im trying to find a car to borrow for sunday. If youd be willing id be more"

And it abruptly ends there. This person didn't even have the common courtesy to tell me her name! Everyone needs to know: I am not in the business of giving free handouts! I don't even give money to the homeless (on principal, but that's a separate issue. I do, on the other hand, believe in organized philanthropy). Why does this person assume that I have sympathy for her for not having a car? If this person needs to go somewhere, she can call a cab like anyone else if she's too lazy to walk or if the destination is a great distance away. Don't ask me to take up your plight because, unless you've proven to me that you're not a needy leech, I have no patience for it.

I am also planning a talk with ada about giving my phone number out to strangers.

The other incident today happened while I was downtown this afternoon:

(A little background information first: I have a makeshift parking pass for a private parking lot downtown. I have permission from the owner of the lot to park there. He knows who I am and my car, and so do the towmen who patrol the lot.)

Well today I walked outside to make sure that my car was still there because Owner has hired some new towmen. While I said hello and introduced myself to Towman, I could not help but to notice that he was already pulling some woman’s car. She was standing there on her phone yabbering at some poor person, probably a city dispatcher. All of the sudden she decides to interrupt my conversation with Towman to tell me all about how she was in the gallery next door and she came out and her car was being towed and how this guy was such a jerk because he wouldn’t give her car back without her paying. Blah, Blah, Blah.

Well, I just turned to the woman and said, “I don’t really care.” I wasn't ugly about it, just indifferent. Oh, boy. Didn’t she just let me have it. This stupid woman proceeds to shower me with every expletive and insult in the book, including calling me a bitch, which, I imagine, would have been an insult if I didn’t agree with her.

I told Towman thank you and headed back inside with a noticeable spring in my step. A little uncalled for, but she was rude and it wasn’t my car being towed. As I was leaving a few minutes later, the cops had arrived and were taking care of the ongoing dispute. Poor fellas; I hate that they had to deal with that nasty woman.

I did have sympathy for the woman, at first. It sucks to have your car towed and then to have to pay some exorbitant amount to get it back. It’s a huge inconvenience. But when the woman decided to interrupt me, share her problem, and then insult me because her issue wasn’t my issue, I stopped caring. Why did she feel like giving me a “play-by-play?” I wasn’t going to be able to get her car back. Did she think I was going to gang up against Towman with her? I certainly didn’t want to give him any reasons to tow my car. Plus, I had no problems with him. What did she really expect after she wasted my time?

In conclusion, and Mo knows this, I have enough problems of my own to deal with, so don’t burden me with yours. If I really want to know, I'll be sure and ask first.

Definitely Feeling the Wind In My Hair

I had a really great day! This morning I threw the most beautiful bowl in my ceramics class. I am really proud of it especially because I finally got the technique down. I've been throwing decent pots and bowls over the last few weeks, but today, it all came together. I get it. I understand the concepts of opening up the clay, shaping the inside to mirror the outside, and pulling the clay up to form the vessel. It is such a feeling of accomplishment. Now all I need to master is how to shape the foot, or the base, of the vessel. Easier said, than done.

Following my ceramics class, I had my horseback riding lesson and what a beautiful day to be outside. Sunny and warm without being too hot. (SIDE NOTE: Before now, I had never taken riding lessons except for when I was at summer camp when I was little. But, don't be fooled: I don't count these experiences as lessons, the reason being that, every summer I would end up in the beginner class where I was only allowed to walk, or maybe to trot if I was lucky, very lucky. This lasted a good six or seven years.) I have only been taking lessons for about three weeks, but according to my trainers, I am a natural; I was built to be on a horse. I, of course, always secretly knew this and was just waiting for everyone else to find out!

I have greatly improved going from walking to trotting in just a few short weeks (we only have two one-hour lessons each week). But today was really exciting because I did something I have never done before. My trainer allowed me to canter! The preparation beforehand was daunting as my trainer instructed me to shorten my reins while at the same time not allowing the horse to trot. This is tough to do! Then after your reins are shortened and the horse is in a 'spirited' walk, the rider give a quick nip of the right rein and a small tap with her right heel AND YOU'RE OFF!!!!! It was scary, but pretty awesome all at the same time. I cannot wait to do it again!

I had tea with Detox Darling today at MM. I enjoyed catching up with her about life and work. I have a renewed sense of purpose about my program. Due to the failing economy and my lack of knowledge for how to go about finding a job, I was really discouraged, but I think I am back on the right track. I must be sure to put DD's advice into action. I am sure of myself and I know all of this will work out as long as I take care of my business.

I'm looking up again :)