Research Assistant Internship Opportunity
Guerra, Lizette
Please circulate. This sounds like a great opportunity. Suerte, Lizette
Research Assistant Internship
Description:
Work with Chicano arts scholars and curators on the research and planning phase of the upcoming exhibition for Pacific Standard Time LA/LA - "Magulandia and Aztlan: The Work of Gilbert (Magu) Lujan" to take place at Claire Trevor Arts Gallery, University of California, Irvine (UCI). Help build the Gilbert “Magu” Lujan historical archive with an eye toward future academic research on Los Angeles and Chicano art.
Synopsis: One of the founding members and the major force behind the Chicano artists collective Los Four, UCI alumnus Gilbert (Magu) Luján (1940–2011) is known for his colorful large-scale paintings and drawings, outrageous lowrider art, and Día de los Muertos altars. Irvine's retrospective will focus on two concepts central to Magu's work: Aztlán, the mythic northern ancestral home of the indigenous Mexican Aztecs that became a charged symbol of Chicano activism; and Magulandia, the term Luján used for the space in which he lived and produced his work, and for his work as a whole. While Aztlán and Magulandia represented physical spaces, together they also symbolized the complex cultural, geographic, and conceptual relationships that exist between Los Angeles and Mexico. Mining several local archives, curators will examine Magu's background, professional activities, writings, and travels to paint a full picture of the artist's practice.
Compensation and schedule:
$15/hr; may be eligible for academic credit. Begins as early as May 1st, 2015 and ends as late as September 1st, 2015 or when hourly time cap is reached. 200-400 work hours in total. Minimum commitment of 4 hrs/week but can work up to 16 hrs/week, based on availability.
Key responsibilities:
· Coordinate with curator, researchers, and Lujan Archive to identify gaps in research. As needed, perform additional research.
· Assist lead curator in locating and compiling information on key works to be included in the exhibition.
· Digitize and catalog key historical documents identified by researchers.
· Add relevant metadata to database records for future academic research.
Minimum qualifications:
· Applicant should have an academic interest in fine art, art history and the work of Gilbert "Magu" Lujan.
· Applicant should understand how to work professionally with primary materials in an archive.
· Basic computer literacy and ability to work in applications currently utilized by the project:
o Mac OS X
o Filemaker Pro (data entry)
o Google Drive (accessing or creating documents)
o Basecamp (collaborate with research team)
· Mobile computer/tablet or other means of gathering data and requirements on site at a variety of locations.
· Ability to travel within Los Angeles metropolitan area and adjacent counties to fulfill responsibilities.
How to apply:
Please send a letter of interest and CV to nai...@magulandia.com ASAP but no later than April 27th.
Lizette Guerra, MLIS
Archivist & Librarian
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center
193 Haines Hall
Box 951544
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1544