As I’m nearing the end of my time and graduate assistantship with the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some of the highlights of my time here. I can tell you that I was super thrilled and excited after the first week! Sure, one might think, “How can you say that you were thrilled and excited after having only worked one week?!” Well, there is a simple explanation. I was blown away by the warmth and kindness displayed by all of the staff here.

I first began working here in August 2023. Alisha Kerlin, Executive Director, greeted me with professionalism and sincerity. She took me on a brief, but adequate, tour of the museum space. I had the opportunity to experience The Emotional Show for the first time. I was very impressed, from the start, with many of the pieces. Miguel Rodriguez’s A Weird Black Diamond truly established the mood of the exhibition. I was really floored by the sheer size of the piece. Yes, it’s a black heart; however, unless one is thinking about it, it’s not usual to refer to the shape of a heart as a “diamond.” Of course, moving forward, I will never be able to unsee the heart as a diamond again. And that’s fine with me.

I was then impressed with Ali Fathollahi’s Between Two Fans. Now, upon first seeing this artwork, I initially thought, “Ohhhh … OK. It’s another ‘contemporary’ piece … interesting.” Yet I kept looking at it, and finally decided to read the placard that accompanied it. This is where I found the magic of the piece. He was attempting to show how two people—or how groups of people—can have very different opinions about a matter, that will only lead to conflict if both parties are only “blowing air” and not listening to the other. After arriving at this conclusion, I recall telling Alisha, “Wow!! This is brilliant!” The piece was so relevant given the tumult we’d just endured from 2020 and beyond (and even before that).

If those earlier artworks weren’t enough to garner a reaction from the audience—the audience being me in this case—Jason Lazarus’s a portrait, a choir, a swell most certainly grabbed my attention! I walked over to that piece and could not immediately place the small noise devices that were present. I said to Alisha, “I think I know what these are, but I can’t quite place them …” So, what did I do? I read the placard! Then I figured out that they are devices used to suppress sounds and to add a sense of discretion for clients when they’re visiting therapists. Now, only people who have ever seen or visited a therapist would know what they are. I guess that would include me.

But, why Lazarus’s piece mattered to me so much, is because after understanding the purpose of the creation, I became emotional for the first time! And by emotional, I mean that the tears welled in my eyes. I couldn’t believe it. My thought was that the artwork represented the noise and trauma and confusion of life. Alisha then said, “Wow … LaVell. You’ll have to convey your reaction to Jason when he comes here next month. I’d forgotten how emotional some of these pieces can be for people.” Trust me, when he arrived I was sure to shake his hand, and congratulate him on such an original and sensitive piece.

The final piece that pulled the deepest emotion from me was Brian Zimmerman’s Weakness. I think that given the order of viewing the pieces, my emotions and my brain were already prepared to receive Weakness in the state it was supposed to be received. When I first eyed the sculpture, I could not take my eyes off it. I walked around the pedestal to garner the fullness of the artwork. As I stared at it, noticing that one leg was almost ruined, I had a moment of “weakness” re. the piece. I cried. In my interpretation of the piece, I understood that life can be very difficult and challenging for the strongest person. And that even with that strength and endurance, it can only take one more thing, one more trauma, one more ill-timed interaction, and the person will collapse. Yes. This one truly resonated with me.

Finally, I LOVE THE STAFF HERE! Everyone is so great!!! Deanne, Chloe, Ali, Guia, Kayla, Katie, Leilu, Alex, Adam, and my girl Romina … ALL OF THEM ARE SO GREAT! These are the people I worked with week after week. I told Alisha in August that I was so happy to be working with them all. That there was no toxicity or drama or negative energy when entering the museum. I also said, “Well … this is how I feel right now. That could easily change.” Guess what? It never changed in almost a year working here.

It was a wonderful experience working with everyone. I felt welcomed and appreciated. How many people can boast that their colleagues planned a surprise birthday party/celebration right before their eyes? Yup. That happened, too! I’d only been working here for approximately two months. My birthday was October 18.

And do you know that several of them plotted (yes … PLOTTED), schemed, and worked stealthily right under my nose to plan said birthday party?! Ali walked up to the front desk, made some small talk (trust me…it was gibberish), and took a snapshot of my face—DIRECTLY IN MY FACE WITH HIS PHONE—and I was none the wiser. Leilu purported that she was making a “pastry run,” asked what kinds of things I liked, and if I needed or wanted anything. Chloe made a comment about the t-shirt I was wearing that day, all the while picking up several sheets of construction paper, daubers, and markers. And why did they need the construction paper, markers, ink daubers, and a picture of me???! Simple: they created a specialized birthday card just for me! I could not believe it. When they all exited the office singing happy birthday to me, I was in utter shock.

I LAMINATED THAT CARD. I WILL CHERISH IT FOREVER. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER CARD LIKE IT … EVER AGAIN.

At no time in my life has another employer acknowledged my birthday so creatively and magically. Because in recognizing my birthday, they acknowledged and recognized me. THEY SAW ME. It was such a wonderful gift to experience the love and joy I give to people daily. It was warming to receive the affection I feel I give to others.

Yes. This job—albeit a position as a graduate assistant—ranks among the top positions I’ve held in my life. It was a fantastic opportunity and an even rarer find. Alisha and all made me feel like family. They made me feel at ease every time I walked through the door. Given the chance in the future, I’d quickly run to work here again—even considering the fact that I had a small blip that happened one afternoon with another employee (I will hold that day close to my heart … it happens all the time on all jobs). The important thing is that we resolved it. The staff at Marjorie Barrick are no longer just colleagues: they are now my friends.

Image: Brian Zimmerman, Weakness, 2012, Altered chair. Photo courtesy of Ali Fathollahi