Volunteer Spotlight is a series where we shine a light on one of our awesome volunteers each month. Spotlights highlight the personalities of our volunteers and share more about their connections to the Frye.
This month, we are spotlighting Maddy Lim, one of our Events & Programs volunteers and former Gallery Guide. We interviewed Maddy to learn more about her and her time at the Frye.
Hi Maddy! How long have you been a volunteer at the Frye?
Since fall of 2019. I started out through the Gallery Guide program but eventually fell in love with volunteering [in other roles] at the museum as well!
Aside from being a Gallery Guide, how have you volunteered your time at the Frye?
Some of my favorite volunteer opportunities have been doing the ticketing for gallery openings and educational programs. It's so lovely to get to talk with the other volunteers and get to know them! It gave me the opportunity to spend time with people I wouldn't otherwise have interacted with as a Gallery Guide.
What pieces, artists, programs, or exhibitions do you remember most fondly from your experiences at the Frye?
I always enjoyed Unsettling Femininity: Selections from the Frye Art Museum Collection because it took pieces from the original collection and recontextualized them in a new way. I've also been fortunate enough to take courses with the curator Professor Naomi Hume, which has been very insightful as well!
What is something others may be surprised to know about you?
I did traditional Cambodian dance for six years throughout middle and high school. It was an irreplaceable experience that allowed me to learn more about my heritage while supporting the cultural arts community (and I even got to meet family I didn't know I had!).
Who are your favorite artists and why?
One of my favorite artists has always been Mark Rothko because of his huge paintings that utilize color to create spiritual experiences that intend to be accessible to individuals regardless of religious, cultural, or ethnic background. An artist I've recently really enjoyed is Jenny Saville; she makes huge paintings that focus on human form and marginalized identities. Her style is also incredibly enjoyable to look at due to her use of color and unconventional techniques (like scraping into the paint on the canvas).
Besides volunteering at the Frye, what do you like to do?
I have gotten into reading books and literature from POC authors lately! I also really enjoy playing video games by myself and with friends.
Can you share with us what you have been recently reading and what games you have been playing?
I'm currently halfway through the book Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. It discusses the nuances of identity in society and is very intriguing. One of my favorite games recently has been Ghost of Tsushima, which allows you to immerse yourself in Japan at the time of the Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island. It's an incredibly beautiful game that I'd highly recommend!
How have you been spending your time in the wake of COVID-19?
Elliott Bay Books and Twice Sold Tales have become two of my go-to spots for COVID— they allow me to get outside a little while also supporting local businesses (and my new reading hobby).
What are some of your favorite things to do in Seattle?
I'm a huge foodie, so I love to explore the food that Seattle has to offer and to take my friends out to eat too! Some of my favorite spots in Cap Hill include Salt and Straw, Honeyhole, Kizuki, U:Don, and Mr. Saigon.
Anatol San Jose Steck
Development Coordinator