The following blog was written by Dehusa Pacheco (Creative Writing ’28), who was one of the Escalette Collection’s 2026 Summer Fellows. Throughout the summer, Dehusa assisted with projects related to collections stewardship, curation, and research.
As I began my second year of college, life had gotten busy, and I felt sad that I hadn’t been able to engage with the Escalette as much due to work and school. So when I heard about the summer fellowship, I knew it was my opportunity to make the most of my summer with the Escalette! I was excited about the open approach of the fellowship, which allowed me to explore various aspects of museum management, including research, object label writing, data entry, internal museum systems, curation, artwork maintenance, and so much more.
Some of my favorite memories from the experience include:
First, working on projects in storage was truly a behind-the-scenes experience that I had been eager to learn more about. We were able to unpack and process some recent acquisitions for the first time, conduct condition reports, and label each artwork using special techniques. I learned a lot about how art is preserved and the science behind it, gaining insight into the important role museum management plays in preservation. I also got lucky on our first day in storage, as I discovered that my two favorite pieces from the entire collection were placed right next to each other!!!
Another standout moment was visiting the Getty Conservation Institute at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, which was a life-changing experience for me. I had wanted to go for so long, and it exceeded all my expectations. I got to see a lot of the outstanding work that the Conservation Institute does, and it highlighted the field’s transdisciplinary nature. This was especially interesting as I’ve focused my educational path on getting transdisciplinary skills to one day work in leadership in the arts and entertainment field. I was fascinated to see how they used 3D resin printing to restore a specific plastic and resin artwork. They had to balance understanding the material’s composition, finding a close match for the chipped area, and preserving the artist’s intention, as the piece was crafted from a type of resin that blended seamlessly with any background. This experience opened my eyes to aspects of museum management and art that are often overlooked yet align with my passions.
Finally, a highlight of the summer was curating an exhibition with my fellow summer intern, Hailie. Coming up with an idea that was both inspiring and well-suited to the location in Moulton Hall was thrilling. We revised labels countless times until they perfectly conveyed our message, blending research with creative expression and intentionally selecting each artwork in line with our theme. It was incredibly rewarding, and I feel proud to have a piece of my work showcased on campus. To all my friends, I can’t wait to take you to the second floor of Moulton to share the work I’m so proud of!
All in all, I loved the summer fellowship. A big shoutout to my supervisor Jessica, whose extensive knowledge of both museum management and the Escalette made a significant impact on my experience. I learned that preparedness truly makes a difference in team dynamics, and I aim to bring that to any other work environments I develop in. It was a wonderful summer, and I’m excited to continue my involvement with the Escalette on campus!
We invite you to explore all the works in the Escalette Collection by visiting our eMuseum.
Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the proud home of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. The Escalette Collection exists to inspire critical thinking, foster interdisciplinary discovery, and strengthen bonds with the community. Beyond its role in curating art in public spaces, the Escalette is a learning laboratory that offers diverse opportunities for student and engagement and research, and involvement with the wider community. The collection is free and open to the public to view.
