Welcome New PLP Interns and Staff!
We’re excited to introduce the newest members of the PLP team! We kicked it all off with virtual introductions and then—in PLP fashion—asked each newcomer to share a bit about the artists, works, or publications that inspire them. They each took photos of and wrote a few words about their chosen works.
Makenzie O’Connor - Marketing Coordinator
Mak holds a BS in Global Health from Allegheny College and an MS in Design Science from the University of Michigan. In her personal art practice, she utilizes clay, wood, paint, and plant life to explore embodied trauma, reciprocity, and home. Mak often finds herself asking the question, how can design contribute to the collective efforts of addressing shortcomings in mental health care? New to the Point Line Projects team, Mak is excited to pair her marketing experience with her background in the arts and architecture.
You can see Mak’s work at makenzieoconnor.com and find her on Instagram.
Bio Art Altered Realities is a book that I picked up at my first visit to the New Museum in NYC. It paired two of my prevailing curiosities and helped me to begin questioning the concept of “nature” itself as well as the potential dangers posed by biotechnological advancement.
I could look at Kandinsky’s playful abstractions any day. I’m particularly interested in the painter’s cross-modal use of perception and experiences with synaesthesia.
Live Through This: On Creativity and Self-Destruction is a book that I continually return to. It is a collection of original stories, essays, artwork, and photography illustrating the bizarre entanglement of destructive and creative forces.
Chenoa Baker - Fall Intern
Chenoa is pursuing a BA in Cultural Studies at Chatham University. Her research explores racial trauma in African American art. In addition to her internship at PLP, she is a freelance writer for Black Art in America and Sugarcane Magazine, a Digital Content Creator for Chatham University Marketing Dept., and a curatorial consultant for the Cheryl Olkes African Art Collection at Chatham University.
One of my favorite prints that I own is by Jaleel Campbell, an illustrator and multidisciplinary artist from my hometown of Syracuse, New York.
I saw Kerry James Marshall’s work at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Surrounded by western contemporary work, it stood out in the gallery space. I resonate with it being misunderstood and find it unabashedly in your face.
After researching and writing about Melvin Edwards, I had the pleasure of seeing his work in person at the Carnegie Museum of Art. This particular piece was dedicated to Ana Mendieta, the Cuban-American artist who mysteriously died in 1985.
Antonio Tharp - Fall Intern
Antonio is an open-minded artist from East Palo Alto. In 2019, Antonio completed his Bachelor’s degree from Whitman College in Washington state. He utilizes photography, text, and design to speak about the issues he cares about. These topics include mental health, the uplifting of Black people, and enjoying the little things. Being able to give back to his community and amplify the voices of those that look like him has always been a passion for Antonio.
You can see Antonio’s work at depressedgoods.com
First is “William Eggleston’s Guide,” a book from the MOMA that shares Eggleston’s inaugural work in color photography capturing the everyday in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.
This book of photographs by Brassaï is a book that influences my photography. Before going out to take night shots, I will look at Brassaï’s photos for inspiration.
Lastly is the Art21 film “An Artist’s Life" about artist Jack Whitten. When I saw this film I was inspired by Whitten’s motivations as an artist. Already captivated by Whitten’s work on civil rights, this film deepened my understanding of Whitten and helped me to reflect on my own motivations for creating.