Summer Intern Spotlight: D'Khari Smith

I am currently participating in the MOSAIC AIR internship program. As an intern, I actively contribute to the organization's day-to-day operations while collaborating with fellow residents to discuss our individual creative projects and support one another's work. My responsibilities include preparing gallery spaces for exhibitions, assisting with artwork installation, maintaining the gallery throughout each exhibition, and participating in the de-installation process when exhibitions conclude. The role also emphasizes professionalism, attention to detail, teamwork, and ensuring that all gallery operations are completed to a high standard.

This residency program has given me the opportunity to expand my experience working in a professional gallery while also providing dedicated time to develop my own art project. Having the ability to balance hands-on gallery work with my personal artistic practice has been one of the most valuable aspects of the internship.

I believe my two years of experience working at STCC's Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery prepared me well for the gallery management responsibilities at MOSAIC. Because of that experience, I was able to adapt quickly to tasks such as exhibition preparation, artwork installation, and maintaining the gallery space. At the same time, working alongside other artists in residence has introduced me to new perspectives and creative approaches. Through conversations about our projects and shared experiences, I have continued to grow both professionally and as an artist. Overall, this internship has strengthened my confidence in a gallery setting while allowing me to further develop my own artistic practice.

For more information about MOSAIC please visit https://mcla.edu/mcla-in-the-community/bcrc/