As an art major, Bjorn Olsen, a senior from Monmouth, Oregon, seized the opportunity to intern as a studio assistant for sculptor Benjamin Butler in Quogue, New York made possible by APEX (Academic Planning and Experiential Learning) at The College of Wooster.
During his six-week apprenticeship, Bjorn was exposed to several different sculpting techniques, worked on a public art proposal project and sculpted for hotel commissions as well as a private commission for installation at a collector’s residence in Massachusetts. The opportunity to work under Ben Butler allowed him to practice with wood as a medium, honed his motor skills for tools and permitted practice with materials such as concrete casting.
With the help of APEX, Bjorn was able to work with an accomplished artist, live on his own in New York and develop his professional skills – both as a student and as an artist. He is eager to apply the wider vocabulary he cultivated in regard to discussion about the arts, and his experience boosted his confidence in dealing with artists and professionals in the art field, inspiring him to continue pursuing art as a career; “APEX provided the means to do all of this, and for this opportunity, I am grateful and fortunate,” he said.
By Kanika Issar ’15