Hannah Anderson-Dana ’13 creates mosaics during her internship

Hannah Anderson-Dana ’13 Hannah Anderson-Dana ’13 (Portland, Ore.) is an art history major, which doesn’t always inspire confidence in parents or peers that one will ever find a job. 

But put your money on this sophomore—she’s determined to find out about careers that can evolve from studying art history, and she’s made a good start already. 

She spent fall semester volunteering at the Minnesota Children’s Museum, pointing out, “The Twin Cities is a good place to get internships.” 

Then for spring semester she sought a community-art related internship, ending up several blocks north of campus at the Snelling Avenue shop Mosaic on a Stick. Owner Lori Greene teaches mosaic classes and also leads many community art mosaic projects, including a making series of planters along Snelling Avenue and murals at community centers and schools. 

For the two-credit internship—advised by art history professor Joanna Inglot—Anderson-Dana will write a paper about her experience at Mosaic on a Stick, including an art historical look at mosaic.

While interning six hours week for Greene, Anderson-Dana has helped her brainstorm ideas for the next community art project, cut up tiles, organized the back room, and made a mosaic herself.  She has also become acquainted with many of the customers and students who frequent the shop. 

Why community art? “I wanted to interact with art and watch people in their process,” she says. “This seemed like a good way to explore the world of community art while I was still in college.” 

For the two-credit internship—advised by art history professor Joanna Inglot—Anderson-Dana will write a paper about her experience at Mosaic on a Stick, including an art historical look at mosaic. 

Also on her art history exploration wish list? A semester studying painting and art history in Italy spring and a museum internship, either in the Twin Cities or her hometown of Portland. Both of these, says Anderson-Dana, will help her determine whether she should study to become an art curator in graduate school.

August 8 2011

Back to top