The organization is the Arts & Spirituality Center . Its mission is to demonstrate arts through many different cultures. As such, that’s where the word spirituality comes into play.

I work along with the coordinator to plan activities, and events. I would review plans, and proposals, and add stuff that would make it more appealing to teenagers. I also work on a larger scale on documenting the way that teenagers respond to new ideas, and the methods of presentation that works best.

You would need to be reliable; out spoken, confident – since there are many adults in the meetings, a great understanding of your peers, self aware, organized, and very open minded about new ideas.

Depending on what type of program you are involved in, you will learn different things. However it’s a great organization if you would like to gain poetry, drama, or any artistic, and cultural exposure.

Be very open minded, and impulsive enough to be comfortable with coming up with exciting ideas on the point. Not all events go exactly to schedule, so when something goes wrong, don’t panic, just come up with a better plan. It is not the busiest of places with thousand of things to do, so your mind may wander away from work very often. Be focused, and basically you will be fine.

1812 Productions is Philadelphia’s All Comedy Theater Company. 1812 is dedicated to: entertaining, educating and exploring a variety of issues through comedy, supporting and hiring local artists, and making the end product accessible to a diverse general public with a particular focus on the greater Philadelphia region (lifted from their website).

On Wednesdays, I am the resident intern, meaning that I do whatever they tell me to. They’re very nice, though, and care for my welfare. Often, you will find me putting return and address labels on envelopes, stuffing those envelopes with fliers, or entering information into their database. I also researched possible donors for their silent auction and raffle. And yes, sometimes I do have fun things to do. I have read scripts that were mailed in by aspiring playwrights, and most of those were fairly entertaining and thoroughly horrible. When they were rehearsing for their holiday show, I sat in on rehearsals and even got to participate a bit!

I didn’t really need any skills coming in, except for making sure they don’t hate me and send me back. They haven’t so far, so I guess it’s all good.

I can’t say I’ve learned a list of things. Mainly, I’ve just gained a lot of experience in a real-life setting/workplace. I’ve learned about office dynamics and such. I guess you could say I’ve improved in labeling skills…

My advice for choosing your ILP: make sure you pick something you like. I’ve heard my classmates complaining about how they hate their ILP and that they wish they had been able to pick something else. Well, they were able to pick something else. 1812 didn’t come to the ILP Expo, we found them. If you don’t like the options well enough (remember, you’re stuck for a whole year!), then find something for yourself.

1812-specific advice: If you’re interested in interning at 1812, just be open. Take advantage of the opportunities. The people who order me around at 1812 are really nice and helpful, and I have been to many of their events and stuff. I went to their major fundraiser, all of their shows this season, and other events. Those have all been outside of standard ILP hours, and I am so grateful towards the people there for letting me go to them. Overall, just be nice and personable.

There are people that destroy works of art to just clear land to build something. I think that that is horrible. There are ways that you can clear land without getting rid of the art. You can also build around it at least. Art is related to our life in many ways. The art of a poem will explain.

Life & Art

Gus Gerstle

In songs, the chords need to refer to the melody.

In paintings, the colors need to refer to the mood.

In designs, the images need to refer to the meaning.

Life is but a song.

The chords changing.

The melody repeating.

Life is but a painting.

The colors changing.

The mood repeating.

Life is but a design.

The images changing.

The meaning repeating.

In us, our thoughts need to refer to our mind.

In the world there are works of art that people don’t take as art. They debase it and disrespect it in many ways. They need to learn to accept art and the important role it takes in the world. Art is what I like to call “Life’s Essence”. Art makes many people happy and joyful. Art can change almost anything. You can sit in a park and there is a mural on a wall that art creates a different vibe for the park. It makes it more peaceful. Music changes things as well as art. Music is what I like to call “The Sound of Life”. Music is used to set moods in movies or places. It brings peace to ones mind. There are many forms of art and they need to be accepted more in the world today.

Art and Life walk hand in hand. There can’t be one without the other. Art should be a very important thing in all of our lives. Sometimes the world can be dark and scary. Art can brighten all that up. Art can change our world, and it already has for many years.

We can understand a lot about people through art. If we can understand people more we can be friendlier towards them. Art can change many people and things. And only we can make that change. So respect art, because it means more than what you think.

Gus Gerstle