Class of 2005
BFA in Art and Design (sculpture) and Mathematics
Profession: Gallery Administrator
Location: NYC
E-mail: sarah@dillongallery.com

"I received my BFA from Alma in 2005, double majoring in Fine Art (sculpture) and Mathematics. Between my junior and senior year, I sought out an internship in the realm of Fine Arts Administration, working in Grand Rapids with the creators of an internet art gallery to get their business up and running (visualpump.com). Through my time working with them, I decided to apply for a graduate program in Visual Arts Administration, what I imagined as my ideal combination of art and mathematics.

"I chose two schools in the best cities for art: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and New York University. After visiting NYU for my interview and seeing New York City for the first time (and receiving my letter of acceptance soon thereafter), I knew it was where I needed and wanted to be, so I took off in August of 2005 to the Big Apple.

"After one fantastic and ambitious semester at NYU, I decided that the program/degree was not what I wanted, and made my decision to withdraw. However, my classes and internships that semester introduced me to the world of art in New York City, and I made some amazing connections. I knew I still wanted to try to pursue a career in the arts and what better place to do that than New York.  Upon returning to the city after Christmas (and not without a couple months of virtually jobless struggle), through the network I built during my first several months in the city, an amazing opportunity materialized in a gallery in Chelsea. Since February of this year (2006), I have been working at Dillon Gallery, beginning in a primarily administrative position, managing general operations of the gallery, and have moved quickly into a position of consulting and selling work by the amazing artists we represent.

 "I consider myself lucky in that I can truly say I love what I do. Daily I am surrounded by amazing people (co-workers, artists, and clients) who are passionate and excited about art - New York lives and breathes it. And for the time being, I am doing exactly what I want to be doing - connecting people with art, and making a living in one of the most exciting cities on the planet. And all from the little town of Alma.

"My best words of advice: 'Leap, and the net will appear.'"