Internship blog at the Museo de Historia Antropologia y Arte de la Universidad de Puerto Rico - Danielis Morales Villegas, Week 4

Danielis Morales Villegas 

Week 4

Una ultima semana

Monday, July 31, 2023

This week we are back at the museum! The day began like always answering a couple of calls. Eventually, I was given a task by Lisa. I had to draft corrections for the museum’s promotional pamphlets because they were produced in 2009 and the information on them is outdated. As I have said before, this museum is a resourceful place. So, we are not about to throw away a bunch of old fliers, we just find a way to fix them using stickers. I created the templates with the correct information, printed them and then I had to cut them to shape. This last part of my task was a big issue for me because I can’t cut, draw, paint, or throw a straight line for the life of me… And I will admit the stickers were both cut and pasted a little crooked. Nevertheless, I liked the peacefulness of doing that job with some good music on.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

On Tuesday I finished up my work with the flyers and I think I ended up doing more than 100 of them. After that, I worked with archives for a while, but these didn’t tell a story quite as interesting as the ones I worked with previously. Nevertheless, at this point, you might have noticed that my blog is more about what I learn than what I do, and this day was no exception. When I was done with the archives Jessica asked me if there was anything that I still wanted to learn about the museum or any questions that remained unanswered. I asked her about the birth of an exhibition and how the idea comes about. Jessica began explaining all the inside workings of the museum. She talked about the last exhibition and how the museum sought out the curator, but that other times it can happen the other way around. I was surprised to learn that often exhibitions are based on topics of research, and they find a way to expand on the topic through art. This conversation was interrupted by a call where a man was procuring Jessica. He wanted her to appraise (she is an art appraiser on the side) a work of art. It just so happened that this work of art was a lithography by Salvador Dali. That in itself was pretty interesting to hear. But what’s even more interesting is that Jessica explained that appraising works from Dali, Picasso, and Miro is problematic and complicated because after their deaths a lot of people began creating counterfeit pieces and passing them as authentic.

After that, the registrar invited us to take a look at the exhibition room which is being prepared for the upcoming exhibition. The walls were painted new colors and it seemed like an entirely new space. In fact, “El Velorio” which is a massive painting somehow looked smaller because they painted its wall green. It was exciting to see the behind-the-scenes for both the preparation and disassembly of an exhibition.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Today was my last day working at the museum and the day’s activities were very fitting. Today was the University’s freshmen orientation day and the museum was part of a club fair. We headed out over to the student center and on our way there I got to see the beauty of the University. I have to say that for a long time, I saw The University of Puerto Rico as one of the many places that is sadly withering away because of fiscal defunding because that’s really what permeates the news. Although the University of Puerto Rico is a place that is actively fighting for its existence, it does not, for one second, lose its beauty and liveliness. As we walked over to the center we saw historic buildings, lots of nature, and many Flamboyans. Once we started receiving students, I got to talk to them about the museum. I saw so many students excited to start their academic journey at the University. Even though I am not going to attend the University of Puerto Rico, today made me realize I have a lot of love and appreciation for it. It is a place where my generation can create the future of our island. Its very existence and essence are a symbol of our island's identity and endurance.

Once I got back to the museum and it was time to leave, I followed the museum tradition and took a picture in front of “El Velorio” with an ugly sweater as all the other interns did before me. After I said all my goodbyes, I got a little emotional and got into my car and the most beautiful thing of the day happened. I called my mom to tell her I was on my way home and mid sentenced I screamed “ANDA PAL ESO SON COTORRAS PUERTORRIQUENAS” (Oh my god! Those are Puerto Rican parrots) I had just seen three Cotorras puertorriquenas ( Puerto Rican parrots) fly away right in front of my car onto a tree that was filled with the cotorras. These birds are the island’s national symbol, but they were endangered at one point, and I had never actually seen one of them. La Cotorra Puertorriquena is a tiny little bird that almost looks cartoonish, but they are absolutely beautiful with its vibrant green with hints of blue. This moment was one of those small surprises that life sends you at just the right time.  

I think it was a small goodbye from the University to me, or maybe I am just romanticizing it. Either way it felt like the right thing to see just before I left. The parrot, the museum and the university are all signs of my island's beauty. 

I am forever indebted  to YAP for giving me this opportunity which has made my love for Puerto Rico grow even more.