Meet a VC Intern: Jennifer Payan

Learn more about one of our 2020 VC Interns, Jennifer Payan, the LACAC Archives Program Intern.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Jennifer Payan and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I’m from East Los Angeles and currently a student at the University of California, Los Angeles majoring in Art History and minoring in Food Studies. I’m a third year transfer student from Pasadena City College where I tried to take advantage and expose myself to as many art classes and hands-on experiences as possible. I am pursuing Art History because I’ve always loved art and learning about art from various cultures, regions, and periods. I’m also an artist and my favorite mediums to work with are photography, screen printing, drawing, and painting. In my spare time, I love to garden, go hiking with my dog, compost my food and yard waste, and volunteer at a local urban farm.

How did you hear about Visual Communications and what drew you to apply?

I heard about VC through the Los Angeles County Arts Internship Program. Because of the time I spent interning at Self Help Graphics & Art in Boyle Heights, I was introduced to community archives and how it created a positive narrative of my culture. I was drawn to the possibility of furthering this experience by working with VC. I want to be a part of spaces that elevate BIPOC voices, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for people of color, and, working with VC is the perfect opportunity to not only get experience in archives but be a part of a community of BIPOC artists, art administrators, and archivists.

What are your intern duties at VC? Which part do you find interesting?

I’ve been working on the digitization of the Japanese American collection and curating a virtual exhibition from the collection. What I find most interesting are the stories the photographs tell of the Japanese American experience in the 20th century. I’ve always loved looking at old photographs so this has been extremely fulfilling - I get to see the experiences and culture of Japanese Americans through the collection. Also, finding themes within the collection has been interesting because I get to decide what stories I’d like to highlight from the collection.

What is your favorite thing about working here? Any memorable moments?

My favorite thing about VC is working with the other interns and creating connections with them, which has been one of the many highlights of my internship. Having a safe space to talk during our staff meetings and intern check-ins has made me feel less alone in this pandemic. I love getting to know the staff and interns since we’re unable to meet in person. I really enjoy hearing from other folks about their experiences because it has made me feel a part of this community.

Where would you like to travel to after the pandemic?

I would love to travel to other states to go camping at different National Parks. I’ve been missing my camping trips to the Angeles National Forest so I hope to go back and explore nearby National Parks. I would also love to travel to Mexico (where my parents are from) and explore new cities with them. Some cities I hope to visit are Mexico City, Merida, San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, and Puebla.

Being a Student and Intern in a Pandemic

by Jennifer Payan

Being a student and an intern working remotely has been more challenging than I imagined. Transitioning to a new school during a pandemic has made it even more of a challenge, but I’ve been working on my time management and procrastination in order to help me stay on track. Working remotely has been a struggle because I love working with others in a shared space so it has made me feel slightly more isolated, but I have managed my way through it by listening to music and I have my dog to keep me company.

Jennifer taking photographs using a large format camera in Angeles National forest

Right before the initial lockdown, I took a large format photography class and got the opportunity to rent out a large format camera for the semester. Learning how to use the camera allowed me to slow down the photo making process. I’ve gotten so used to taking quick snapshots with my phone and digital camera that it's fascinating to explore other methods of taking photographs. Having to slow down pushed me to think more extensively about the photograph’s composition, lighting, and subject matter.

I also learned to garden for the first time, because I wanted to learn how to compost in order to create healthy soil and reduce the amount of waste my family and I produce. Making my own compost taught me the value of soil health, reducing my food waste, and building a relationship with the earth through soil. I love growing my own food, and making compost has been extremely rewarding because it has made me more self-reliant.

The only way I’ve stayed sane during the pandemic has been to go to my garden, which has been a safe space of tranquility and growth. Since I’m working in my room for most of the day, I love to go to my garden to breathe, stretch, and feel the sunlight. It’s a great way to take care of myself whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed.

I was eager to grow something unique and useful, so I decided to grow luffa so I can use it in my shower. I love the way it exfoliates the skin and it’s such a nice reward after growing it for the past six months. I plan to give some away to friends and make soaps with it once I harvest it.