Printmaking Studio Assistant 

The printmaking Studio Assistant plays an essential role in the safe and efficient operation of the printmaking facility and in the successful production of student artwork. 

With the support of the Printmaking faculty, this position’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the main Printmaking Studio and the Fine Arts Prep Room are controlled, tidy and reported to be well stocked and in good working order. 

Candidates must be prepared to carry out physical tasks, exhibit good organizational and technical problem solving skills and a high level of responsibility. 

Departmental Student Employment Philosophy: The Department of Fine and Performing Arts considers all employees who provide essential technical services as important members of our team. Whilst it is our central goal to provide critical services to students, and a means of financial support to student employees, we believe it equally essential that our student employees gain valuable knowledge, skills and experience applicable in any situation. We anticipate our student employees will develop a good level of competence in: 

• Self-management 
• Empirical knowledge 
• Technical problem solving 
• Community 

 

Ralph Arnold Gallery Assistant 

Position Title and general responsibilities, who they report to 

Gallery assistant, reporting to the Gallery Director(s) 

General Description 

The Gallery Assistant works with the Gallery Directors and independently to facilitate operations of the gallery including online presence, installation and de-installation of exhibitions, maintenance of gallery and supplies, and serving as a docent during open gallery hours (depending on COVID restrictions). Candidates must be technologically savvy, be prepared to carry out physical tasks, exhibit good organizational and technical problem-solving skills, interact with the public as the face of the gallery, and maintain a high level of responsibility. 

Primary Duties 

Related to online programming, the gallery assistant will: 

• Familiarize themselves with the work of the presenter to facilitate conversation 
• Proofread email and social media publicity 
• Oversee general functionality of events 
• Attend events and engage with visiting artists 

During installation and de-installation of exhibits, the gallery assistant will: 

• Spackle, sand, tape, and paint walls and display structures 
• Transport pedestals and other exhibition supplies 
• Remove window vinyl 
• Clean painting equipment 
• Sweep and tidy gallery 
• Assist in packing and unpacking of work 
• Assist in hanging works 
• Organize packaging materials 
• Assist artists as needed 
• Organize the prep room 
• Organize the lighting 
• Inventory supplies 

Throughout the exhibition, the gallery assistant will: 

• Develop a strong understanding of the current exhibit so that it can be explained to visitors 
• Serve as a docent to the exhibition during open hours 
• Record the number of guests visiting during open hours 
• Create content for the gallery’s social media and web presence 
• Check that the gallery is in good order—lights working, room clean, etc 
• Self-management 
• Empirical knowledge 
• Technical problem solving 
• Community 

 

Studio Assistant 

Location: Ralph Arnold Annex 

Employee will work 100% indoors; 5% behind a desk; 95% in the studios, labs, and kiln room, walking, lifting, measuring, mixing, labeling, cleaning and organizing. 

This position has the following responsibilities: 

Ceramics 

• The receiving and movement of dry clay minerals to dry storage in Room 110, the Clay Mixing Room 
• Checks the condition of all reclaim buckets, ensuring that an empty one for both earthenware and stoneware are available in classrooms 106,107 and 108. Checks that other containers are kept clean and organized and appropriately filled 
• Monitors the amount of prepared wet clay available for class use and stockpiles and occasionally replenishes a supply of both stoneware and earthenware if requested by Studio Manager 
• Ensures that all tools equipment and dry bagged materials in the clay mixing room (room 110) are organized and reported to be in good working condition 
• Keeps the main studio tidy, cleaning equipment and common areas such as wedging tables, removing garbage to the garbage bins, replacing ware boards and tools to their correct locations etc. 

 Glaze Room 

• Receiving and transporting to storage all chemicals associated with the glaze lab, and ensuring that all chemicals are in good supply 
• Preparing all pre-mixed class glazes, slips, colors and chemicals and ensuring that all are in good condition and in good supply 
• Regularly inspecting work surfaces, sinks, chemical storage containers, tools, equipment, and floors to ensure that they are organized correctly and kept clean and free of debris 

Kiln Room 

• The inspection of ware carts to see that the work is correctly organized and condensed onto the carts 
• The organization of the kiln schedule and the assessment of number of kilns and type of kiln required for departmental firings each week 
• The unloading and loading of departmental firings 
• The programming of computer controlled gas and electric kilns 
• The safe storage of finished bisque and finished glazed work onto storage shelves 
• The regular inspection of the Kiln Room (Room 109) to check the basic orderliness of materials and tools, (meaning the stacking of bricks, the organization of kiln shelves, and kiln tools and kiln furniture, the reportage of any faulty kilns or equipment and the cleaning of floors of debris and obstructions). 

Previous laboratory work or knowledge of ceramics is beneficial but not required, successful candidates are encouraged to learn on the job. Employee must show a willingness to routinely get wet and or dirty and to lift up to 50 lbs. on occasion. Employee will be required at times to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), i.e. mask, safety goggles and or gloves.