Intern Spotlight: Bridget O'Carroll

I’m from Arlington Heights, Illinois, although I like to quote Kurt Vonnegut and say, “What people like about me is Indianapolis.” I went to college there and love it so much.

I’m super interested in museum video. As communication gets easier and interactive media becomes more accessible, it’s imperative not only that museums keep up with the times, but push the envelope further. I was looking for a museum that doesn’t just make commercials, but treats video as an important way of understanding artists and exhibitions. Before applying I watched the Kerry James Marshall video that accompanied the exhibition, Mastry. It’s such an amazing insight into his work and sets the tone for experiencing the exhibit to its fullest.

The MCA has a huge breadth of video work, from filming live performances held in the museum to creating documentaries about artists featured in the exhibitions. As we approach the museum’s 50th anniversary, the video team has been digging through the archives to present and celebrate stories about the MCA through the years. I research, record, and edit all kinds of videos to tell the MCA’s story. For example, I have been researching what is in the video archive, assisting with interviews with teens participating in the MCA SPACE program, and editing all kinds of footage, from artist interviews to accessibility tours.

Working on a story from beginning to end always fills me with such fulfillment. At the start of my internship, the team interviewed Takashi Murakami for his upcoming MCA exhibition; now we’re in the middle of working with the footage, researching other material, and producing the final video for the exhibition that opens the month after I finish my internship. It’s been such a joy to see the whole process unfold and be as hands-on as I have.

Eternal Youth has some excellent works on display right now. I particularly like Jennifer Bornstein’s photographs from her Family Pictures/Intervention series. For this series, Bornstein asked strangers to pose with her as if they were family members. The portraits complicate ideas about identity, family, and images as truth. I’m fascinated with identity. I’m always looking at how people claim or disavow identities in their work, because even if it’s completely fake, the experience can give you a tiny glimpse at their true selves.

The people and the lake. For me, Midwestern cities have this comforting effect and Chicagoans’ attitude toward life is definitely a part of that. The spirit of the city is infectious. I love the lake so much, too. I think it’s pretty amazing that we have this ongoing relationship with a body of water that has literally and figuratively shaped Chicago.