Week 1 - Introduction

My name is Maureen Riley. Very few people call me by first name, as I prefer to go by Mo. I'm an art history major currently trying to pick up a minor in communications. I would have loved to double major, but unfortunately I didn't have my entire life planned out at the age of 18. I’m a junior, and I’m on the basketball team as well as a member of the honors program at SXU. I love running, coffee, books, FOOD, reggae music, traveling, antiques, libraries, museums, and old things (and people) in general.

I plan on attending graduate school for art history with a concentration in museum studies (or possibly conservation) with hopes of being a curator. I know. Pipe dreams, right? I've heard from countless individuals that I would have a better chance moving to Hollywood and pursuing a career in acting. Or simply working museum security and patiently waiting for one of the curators to fall over and die.

Eventually, I want to move into the business side of art involving auction house operations and ultimately art dealing so I can shmooze with super rich people and work on commission.

I am currently interning with Open Concept Gallery, a non-profit contemporary art institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is my home state. I interned there this summer and am continuing to contribute from Chicago as much as I can.

I wish I was an artist. I think that’s probably the main reason I’ve chosen this career path. I’m very creative; I have plenty of ideas. However, it’s one thing to see something in your head. It’s another thing to try to translate it and execute your idea or design on paper or various other media. Unfortunately, I wasn’t blessed with any true artistic talent or skill. I can draw still-lives, but that’s about it. Painting? HA! Yeah, right. My parents are both professors of music at the college in my hometown, so early on I was raised with an appreciation for fine art, music, literature, etc.

I love art, and I love history. Put them together and thankfully it’s a major. It may not bring me a whole lot of money, and it’s going to be hard work to get to where I want to be, but it’s something I’m genuinely passionate about, and it’s going to make me happy. In the end, that’s all that really matters :)