Barton Profile: Becky Fryberger
(Story and Photo by Joe Vinduska)
Becky Fryberger - Assistant Director of the Shafer Gallery
Hometown:
Ellinwood, KS
How long have you worked at Barton Community College?
Since May 2011; I started out part-time and recently started my new position as the Assistant Director of the gallery.
Where were you employed before working for Barton?
Sunflower Bank.
Why did you choose to work at Barton and in the gallery?
My major was Performing Arts Management, and I felt like this was a step in the right direction.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I like setting up exhibits. The process of deciding what is going to go where and how we are going to display things.
What is the most challenging part?
Just getting up to Dave’s speed during events. He’s so talkative and in his element. So I want to try to get to that point.
What’s it like working with Dave Barnes?
I don’t even know how to describe it. He’s got that artist mentality and he sees things differently than most people do, but that makes it interesting because he’ll come up with an idea that I never would have come up with. It’s definitely a new personality style for me to work with, but it’s fun.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve seen through the mirrored windows of the Shafer Gallery?
When guys go by and fix their hair. Occasionally, they’ll even go up to the mirror. Girls do it all the time, but you kind of expect that. People forget that we can see out of the windows!
What projects are you most excited about in the coming year?
I like the quilt show that we do every year. I can’t imagine how many hours they spend working on those. They are amazing. The holiday exhibit is also great because all the kids get so excited about decorating the Christmas trees.
How do you feel about working at the same place your dad does (Vern Fryberger)?
I’ve been around him so much because I went to school here, had him as a teacher, and was involved in several musical groups that he works with. I’m just used to being around him all the time by now.
How do you spend time outside of work?
A big thing for me is music. I’m listening to music all the time. I also play tennis, and I take the Zumba class at Barton.
What is something people might not know about you?
I have mountain biked down Pike’s Peak. It was pretty scary.
Any words of wisdom for the incoming freshmen?
Try to get involved in as many things as you can. I was glad that I did when I was here. Make an effort to do something that gets you to meet people outside of your normal social group.
Are you big into the Olympics?
I like to watch as much of them as I can, but I’m not as obsessed with them as much as some people are!
It’s hot. It’s been hot for an eternity it seems. So much so, that I personally feel defeated and on the verge of tears every time I step outside. If you could sit down with the summer heat and have a discussion with it, what would you say?
I would politely ask it to go away because we’ve had enough and it has overstayed its welcome!
If you could compare the heat this summer to something, what would it be?
A frying pan.
So just a cold frying pan in a drawer?
No! A sizzling one. A sizzling hot frying pan.
What are you going to do on the first cool day? Even though it may seem impossible or at the very least unforeseeable, please try and use your imagination.
I will definitely get outside. I feel like I’ve been cooped up inside all summer.
