Several St. Mary’s College of Maryland students got an exclusive tour of Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center in Calvert county as part of a Learning through Experiential and Applied Discovery (LEAD) course.
On October 3, students in Eric Jackson’s LEAD 211 class, “Craft, Culture and Commerce,” participated in the tour which consisted of the museum’s grounds and facilities.
“This tour was a unique opportunity for LEAD students to network and build on their professional development by learning first-hand the career paths and creative opportunities awaiting them after college,” said Darah Schillinger, professional pathways externship coordinator. Students had the opportunity to explore and learn first-hand about the ins-and-outs of Annmarie’s operations, from maintaining the community gardens to the behind-the-scenes efforts of creating and displaying an upcoming exhibition.
Jackson, who is an artist, entrepreneur and St. Mary’s College alumnus from the class of 2004, sees opportunities such as the sculpture garden and museum as a way to showcase the various career paths artists can pursue. “I knew the museum would be a great place for introducing this cohort to different paths in the creative and handmade economy, [and] I really believe that the hands-on experiences we’re giving the students in this LEAD class could be on any undergraduate resume–I think they can rely on that in the future,” Jackson said. He added that creatives and hand-made entrepreneurs have a wide range of opportunities. “I actually think we’re fortunate in a lot of ways because there are so many paths you can take.”
Helen Lindsey and Reiker Dean, the exhibits and education specialists at Annmarie, walked students through an exclusive tour of the indoor gallery, including a special preview of an upcoming exhibition titled, “Timber.” Jamie Jefferies, curator of programs and SMCM alumnus, provided insight into the inner workings of the programs and events hosted by Annmarie, offering students a guided tour around the grounds, an introduction to the clay studio and artist house, and a brief overview of the planning involved in their annual holiday light show, Garden In Lights.
Students were also invited to a roundtable discussion in the sculpture garden to learn about programming and other creative opportunities. During the discussion, students had a chance to ask specialists about creator markets and festivals, how to plan and execute gallery shows, and how to deepen bonds with communities through teaching, community arts and residencies.
