My name is Isabella Batten, and
in the summer of 2017, I interned at IS Projects, a public access printmaking
and book arts studio located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Starting out
anything new produces adrenaline or some sort of a fight or flight mode. It
takes us out of our comfort zone and brings us into a place of being we don’t
always visit. Beginning my internship was something that pulled me away from my
normal routine. It brought me in contact with new people, new things, and new
skills. I noticed the way I retracted into a fearful place, unsure of doing
things right. But there is no right or wrong when it comes to learning, and
that was something my ‘boss’ or rather my guide throughout my internship taught
me. Ingrid Schindall’s attitude toward anything any intern did was so
refreshing. She knew we would all get the hang of things, and while she did
everything swiftly, she was so understanding to everyone’s unique way of
approaching things, so long as everything got done correctly.
As the days at
the studio moved on, I gained more confidence with my surroundings and with the
people working there. Everyone was so kind and jovial, they made me feel like a
kid playing with new friends and I found this so comforting, especially while
moving into the development of stronger bookbinding skills. I learned
letterpress, well maybe not learned, but was definitely exposed to the process.
Jessica Condon was also so incredible in everything she did. Patient and
understanding, she taught me the process of linocutting and even came to my
rescue when, despite her constant warnings, I jabbed my pinky with one of the
gouges. She as well as Ingrid guided me through my personal fallback creations.
Ingrid poured out her knowledge, which really helped me. On her days off, I was
invited to join her where she showed me how to do a specific type of hand-sewn
end bands which was really intriguing and a process I’d been craving to see.
Not only was I
exposed to a broader knowledge of bookmaking, but I also got to work hands-on
at the Art Walk event IS projects hosts on the last Saturday of every month. I
attended and worked at two of these. The first one being my first exposure was
slightly easier as I had Ingrid’s mom taking the lead. For the second one, I
was in charge of one section, this really exposed me to being able to talk to
complete strangers and educate them on letterpress, bookmaking, and
screen-printing. Not only that, but seeing all the work that goes into putting on
this event gave me a huge shift in perspective. It left me in awe at how much
work Jessica and Ingrid have to do every day, week, and month to keep things
running.
Overall, my
experience at IS Projects helped me grow on a soul level as well as an artistic
level. I was able to express myself freely to women that I hardly knew and was
able to feel their sense of empowerment in this day and age. It showed me what
is possible in the field that I am interested in and allowed me to develop and
refine some of my skills. This was an amazing experience on so many levels and I
will forever cherish my time spent working there. I will most definitely be
back.
