The Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts (ACNMWA) has selected UCA student Emily Granderson as the recipient of their 2024 internship award. This award is given annually to an Arkansas woman attending an Arkansas college and provides the opportunity to collaborate with a mentor in an Arkansas arts institution.
Granderson, a third-year student at UCA, is pursuing a degree in art history and Spanish and will partner with the Jamie C. Brandon Center for Archaeological Research to document, analyze and curate an exhibition of the Riddick Pre-Columbian collection during the fall semester of 2024.
Emily Granderson
Donated by UCA alumni Dr. Earl Riddick and Kathy Riddick in 2002, the collection includes numerous works of art and artifacts, such as vessels, bowls, masks and effigy dogs and figures representing Mesoamerican works from 500 BC to the mid-20th century.
“My work will benefit the institution by providing much-needed inventory reports and research on this important collection,” Granderson said. “The UCA Art Collection web page will be updated with current information so that community members can learn about the collection. This is especially important since there is a lack of resources on the topic of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican art and history.”
The institution will have the necessary records and information to conduct future exhibits of the works, educating art history, anthropology, history, and other students in related fields. Professors of related courses will also be able to plan class activities with the pieces. “My personal research and experience with the collection will extend my knowledge in my chosen field and prepare me for post-grad studies and my career path,” Granderson added.
For more information on the Riddick Pre-Colombian Collection and on the ACNMWA, visit the links below:
Riddick Pre-Colombian Collection:
uca.edu/artcollection/riddick/
ACNMWA:
