.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Did you plan on this career path?

Not at all. My plans immediately following high school were to become a veterinarian. It was only after taking an introductory survey art history class at the University of Arizona that I decided that art history was something I wanted to pursue. It’s funny how life throws a little kink into your plans.

What pulled you into art history?

I really responded to the visual, the dynamics of early American portraiture. Something about the way those canvases, still hundreds of years later, speak to us, and the enlightened and post-modern thought that goes along with that. Studying art history gives you a chance to study not only visual arts and culture, but also philosophy and the other humanities.

Talk about your experiences with the Chicago galleries.

I actually finished my internship for my master’s degree at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. There I studied directly under their visual arts curating department; a couple of very, very smart people taught me everything they know. After that, I went to work for the Gallery 400 at the University of Illinois, which is similar to the Anderson Gallery. It’s a non-commercial, more museum-type gallery in that shows are curated by either the director or independent contractors, and the work is generally not put up for sale.

What was one of your favorite exhibitions that you worked on in Chicago?

I did the curating, installation and planning for a traveling exhibition called “The African Presence in Mexico,” which chronicles how African Mexican-Americans have been portrayed in Mexican visual culture. That exhibition after leaving Chicago went on to Philadelphia and then a number of states after that. I was very proud of that exhibition. I came in when they were roughly halfway through its execution, but I still had a chance to develop some ideas.

What are some of the challenges involved in curating art shows?

There are always spatial and traveling arrangements that need to be made before you can put on a show. You always have to consider how the work is going to be presented, if it’s going to be affected by the type of light bulbs you’re using. If you have a light bulb that’s going to damage a work of art, especially if it’s on paper, you need to know that going in.

Is this your first role as a gallery director?

Yes; I’ve worked for a number of years as a gallery assistant. This is my first chance to actually operate and oversee my own gallery. It’s sort of been a whirlwind experience, but I’m very confident. I think I’ve been very well prepared; it’s something I’ve been preparing for pretty much all of my adult life.

What attracted you to Drake and the Anderson Gallery?

It was actually just meeting the chair of the department and the rest of the faculty members. It was really just the dynamics of the people that attracted me here to Drake. It’s a nice space, but the interpersonal relationships really made it easier to say yes.

In what direction do you want to take the gallery?

I would like to see it become more interdisciplinary. For instance, I’m putting together a symposium to go along with the Scott Robert Hudson show, and I made every attempt to involve as many departments as possible. I’m looking forward to that. To date, the gallery has shown mainly 2-D work and sculpture. I would like to see a little bit more performance art and mixed-media art.

What do you think of the Des Moines cultural scene?

I thought (after) leaving Chicago I would be bored, but I have found Des Moines to be a very vibrant community. I’m just absolutely thrilled to be here.