From: Darryl Baird (dbaird@umflint.edu)
Date: 08/29/02-07:13:46 AM Z
Chris,
I'd suggest the book (thanks to Jack Fulton) we give our graduating BFA
students -- _Art & Fear_, by Orland and Bayles. It really addresses the
concerns you've raised. In fact, graduating is one of the major causes of
"annihilation" -- the end of art making. HIGHLY recommended. I'm in one of
those "free thinking" environments and my soul still gets sucked "big time." I
look forward to rereading this book every fall... there is a new edition too.
keep on keeping on
-Darryl
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christopher Lovenguth wrote:
> I just want to take a moment here and thank everyone who has contributed to
> these great discussions about art, postmodernism, feminism, nudes in
> photography, etc. They have been most inspiring! In fact, I have been in
> such a rut (since about 1997 I would guess), the conversations these past
> couple of weeks have inspired ideas for a new body of work. These types of
> discussions are one reason I really miss being in academia. I miss being
> around people whose job allows them to freely think (not that I'm saying
> people who are not in academia don't think...you know what I mean... I
> hope). I have such a hard time coming up with thoughts and ideas alone
> without discussion and debate. Especially when employed in what I would call
> an anti-art (working with computer hardware all day) totally demanding 9 to
> 6 (and then some) job that sucks the very soul out of me. It is almost like
> I feed off other people's energy and need it to stay motivated in thought,
> which then translates in to my imagery. This very reason also at the same
> makes me feel like a phony because it seems I can't come up with ideas on my
> own. But right now I'll take any sort of inspiration I can get, it's been
> years since I really made a body of work that I felt was mine. Instead I
> have been tinkering with processes, trying to fit ideas and work to my needs
> (getting in to a MFA program) and generally making up excuses as to why I
> haven't been successful. Hopefully I can get my act together and actually
> get in to a MFA program in the near future so that I can once again be in an
> environment that supports thought and not just that you show up to work on
> time and make your deadlines. I have been trying the last couple of years to
> get in to a school, but haven't really felt confident with my portfolio and
> I think it shows to the review committees. I keep hearing the same response
> over and over; I have the technique, history and thoughts, just not a
> cohesiveness with the imagery in my work. In fact at one of the schools
> (will not mention the name, but it's in the bay area and Janis Joplin used
> to work there), the academic advisor thought I'd have a better chance at
> getting in to the MFA program if I entered the school's BFA program, which
> the advisor said I would have no problem getting in to. Boy that made me
> feel better and not degraded! I told him I had a BFA from Ohio State and
> that I even received the Excellence in the Arts award for my graduating
> class and this advisor just shrugged his shoulders and told me it was an
> option I could consider. Hmmm let me think...re-enter a BFA program (can I
> bring Daguerreotypes and platinum prints in to Intro to Photography 101?)
> spend $20,000 a year for 2-3 years to turn around and apply to their MFA
> program and pay another $20,000 a year for another 2-3 years. Starts to
> sound like a telemarketing scam. Funny thing is I will probably reapply
> there again this year because I don't want to leave the bay area and really
> respect the reputation of this institution. Anyway, I guess it doesn't help
> that I only apply to the top schools and reinvent my portfolio every year to
> try to fit what I think "they" want. I'm starting to realize this approach
> is a tragic never-ending cycle of disappointment. Starts around this time
> every year, continues with me rushing to get those twenty images done before
> January 15th and ends with disappointment around May. Maybe it's time to do
> work for myself.
>
> Well enough self-pity, this was really just supposed to be a thank you note
> for all the great conversations, which have lead to inspiration. This is the
> last time I stay up late and post to this group, who knows what I might say
> next time. -Chris
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