Cultural Landscape Research Intern

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation • Scottsdale, AZ

just now • Onsite

About The Position

The Cultural Landscape Research Internship is a unique opportunity for graduate students in the field of architecture, landscape architecture, art, and/or museum studies to spend two months living and working at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory, National Historic Landmark, and UNESCO World Heritage site. Taliesin West is comprised of over 80,000 square feet of historic structures situated within 495 acres of pristine Sonoran desert in Scottsdale, AZ.

The Cultural Landscape Research Intern will continue the work from the previous year, working with a multidisciplinary team across the Preservation and Collections departments to help build a better understanding of the evolution of the landscape at Taliesin West. The intern will gain hands-on experience working with invaluable and historically significant collections. The projects completed by the intern will help lay the groundwork for a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR), support further research on historic landscapes, environmentalism, climate change, and help inform preservation and conservation interventions in the future.

NOTE: this position is approximately 8 weeks in duration (estimated to be mid-June through mid-August) and includes both onsite housing on the Taliesin West campus and an hourly stipend of $15.15 for up to 26 hours of work weekly. This year’s program may accommodate up to 1 internship participant for the season.

Requirements

• Enrollment in a graduate-level landscape architecture, architecture, preservation, art, museum studies, or related field; eligibility for university credit may exist depending on the academic internship requirements of the intern’s degree program (inquire for more details).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD working with existing base plans, layer systems, and sheet layouts in both model and paper space within a Windows environment.
• Proficiency in basic computer operation, navigation of online web services and applications, and utilization of software programs within a Windows environment.
• Demonstrated high levels of motivation, capable of working in a high energy environment, a creative and flexible thinker, able to work independently and within a supportive team, demonstrate attention to detail, and have strong research and organizational skills.
• Good written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated flexibility and curiosity.
• Interest in the architecture and ideas of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of arid climate landscaping and plants specific to the Sonoran Desert is a plus.

Responsibilities

• AutoCAD Landscaping Plan: Under the guidance of the Preservation Manager, survey the existing landscaping plantings in the historic core and update the 2013 landscaping plan with current conditions, noting changes from the previous plan.
• Photographic and primary document processing: Under the guidance of the Archivist, the intern will digitize and provide access to approximately 1,500 35mm slides from the Taliesin Associated Architects records held by the Collections department. The intern will ingest the images into the Foundation’s digital asset management system (Portfolio) and apply appropriate descriptive metadata using Dublin Core standards.
• Hands-on Landscaping: Guided by the Preservation Manager, work alongside Facilities Technicians periodically to care for the existing landscape, understand current preservation practices, and contextualize research findings through hands-on engagement.
• Additional projects may include reviewing and documenting the landscaping in Wright-era films, a saguaro survey, or other duties as assigned.
• Present findings: Create a presentation of visual and written materials to FLWF staff.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern