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Poetter Hall was purchased by the SCAD founders in March 1979. Classes began in September of that year.  
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SCAD Atlanta Features

SCAD Atlanta - Features
 
Photography students intern with ACA alumnus
Tim Thornton 
Photo by Ben Dashwood
Tim Thornton, director of promotions for the Defoor Centre and an Atlanta College of Art alumnus, said he hopes to develop a strong working relationship with SCAD-Atlanta.
By Monique Bos
Published: Friday, January 12, 2007
An internship opportunity for two Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta photography students has led to an exhibition for a whole department.

Photography graduate student Kyle Petersen and senior Cory Aguirre served as interns at the Defoor Centre, 1710 Defoor Ave. N.W., an arts complex that includes two galleries, a vintage bookstore, a café and a bar. The center also publishes The Story, a weekly newspaper.

“The internship thing came about because I was wanting us to have event photographers,” said Tim Thornton, director of promotions and an Atlanta College of Art alumnus (B.F.A., fine arts, 1985). “They would have their work published in The Story as well.”

Thornton contacted SCAD-Atlanta about the internship openings, and he quickly saw results.

“I didn’t have to wait long. Kyle and Cory showed up and informed me they were the interns,” he said. “It was fantastic that somebody took charge like that.”

The interns shot gallery openings, open-mike nights, artist portraits and spoken-word events, and also did commercial work for the newspaper.

Aguirre, who plans to move to New York City after graduation and whose goals include earning a master’s degree and opening her own studio, said the internship was a valuable experience.

“I strongly believe that having an internship during your college years is going to make your life easier after graduation, because an internship is always a good way to expose students to the real business world,” she said. “Mostly, [it] is a great source of networking and measuring your technical and practical strengths and weaknesses before applying for a real job.”

She said she recommends “The Internship Bible” by Mark Oldman and Samer Hamadeh or the Princeton Review for advice about internships. She found an article by George Plimpton in the Princeton Review particularly helpful; he advised students to consider themselves special guests of the company at which they will intern.

“In other words, he is politely saying, ‘Behave and do your best in order to impress’!” Aguirre said. “Remember, our good or bad manners not only affect our image, but the image of our college as well.”

The proof of this observation is in the results. Thornton said he was very impressed with both Petersen and Aguirre.

“They don’t need their hand held,” he said. “They’re students but they’re also professionals … They seem like somebody that’s been out in the field for a long time.”

In fact, he was so pleased with their work that he decided to issue a call for entries for a February exhibition featuring work by SCAD-Atlanta photography students.

“I’ve always known good work came out of that [college], and there are even more opportunities with all the new students here in town now,” he said. “I thought, ‘Why don’t we do something with people invested in this every day, and make some great art?’”

Petersen and Aguirre also are helping curate the show.

Thornton said he hopes the exhibition marks the beginning of a fruitful partnership.

“The Defoor Centre is five minutes away from SCAD-Atlanta,” he said. “There’s no reason why we can’t enjoy a great working relationship. I’d always enjoy nights out at art openings when I was in college, and I’d like to provide those kinds of moments.”

He said if the photography exhibition is successful, he is interested in holding shows of student work from painting, drawing and other disciplines at SCAD-Atlanta.

“I have very fond memories of my four years at ACA,” said Thornton. “Those years are a great time to think and grow and be around other artists. I love student work.”


Submissions to the exhibition are due Feb. 7, and selected work must be framed and delivered by 5 p.m. Feb. 12. An opening reception is scheduled Feb. 16, 7 p.m. For more information, call Thornton at (404) 591-3741.