How do you see it? Thomasine reflects on "mommy time" in a marketing photo featuring two of her children.
In part two of our Five Questions series, we spoke to Thomasine Clark. Clark works in our education department on public programs, such as the Educators Academy. This year marks Clark’s 25th year working for the Cleveland Museum of Art!
Q: You’ve been with the museum for a long time! Have you been with the education department for your entire tenure?
A: I started with the museum in June of 1985 and actually started in security! I worked with them for five years, doing night duty with the flashlight and all. Then I moved to distribution services, community outreach, corporate relations, and now I am with education.
Q: What is one of your favorite museum memories?
A: A while ago, we shot a promotional video for the museum about the relationship between art and jazz, and a few of us got to be in it. That was a great day, because famed musician Wynton Marsalis was filming with us.
Besides that, I love any opportunity to speak one-on-one with visitors, such as going to festivals with our art crew.
Q: Is there any program or project that you’ve worked on for the museum of which you are especially proud?
A: When I worked for the community relations and audience development department, I created the Museum Ambassadors program in 2001 and 2002.
With this program, I wanted students to get a behind-the-scenes look at the museum, see our range of public programs, and learn about all of the potential careers within the museum that support the arts.
I’m thrilled that it’s gone on and expanded now to include even more students. They refuse to end their connection because they’re so engaged!
Q: Do you have a favorite work of art in the museum’s collection?
A: My favorite is Rest by William Bouguereau. When I was a guard and spent a lot of time in the galleries, I was always drawn to that painting of the mother and children.
Q: How do you like to spend your time outside of the museum?
A: I have two biological children and three foster children, so my time spent outside of work is mommy time!