In the autumn of 2024, Lily Crider, senior at Columbus Alternative High School, joined the Kawsay Ukhunchay Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Art and Cultural Artifacts Research Collection as a high school intern with a passion for museum and curatorial studies. She embraced the collection’s interconnected culture right away, working with undergraduate and graduate students to develop a better understanding of Andean and Amazonian cultures. As the first high school intern, Lily quickly became an important member of the team, bringing new perspectives and enthusiasm to the collection’s work.
Lily’s contributions to the Kawsay Ukhunchay collaborative include her work on a new initiative involving remote exhibits around campus. Recognizing the opportunity for increased participation, she assisted in bringing Andean and Amazonian art into new spaces, making the collection’s rich histories more accessible to a wider audience. For the remote exhibition at the Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise, she researched Tigua art from Ecuador’s Cotopaxi region, a lively artistic heritage known for its colorful landscapes and depictions of indigenous life.
Lily, driven by interest and initiative, expanded her research by contacting renowned Tigua artist Julio Toaquiza Tigasi. She spoke with the gallery director of his art in Spanish through WhatsApp and had meaningful conversations about his artistic vision, aesthetic concepts, and experiences as an indigenous artist navigating the global art market. By forging this direct connection, Lily gained a better understanding of Tigua art while also improving the collection’s ties to contemporary Indigenous artists.
We are incredibly lucky to have Lily on our team! She has infused the group with new energy and brought a wealth of new insights and ideas to the group.