I promised my sister that i would start working on my grad school applications today. Mostly just trying to hunt down different professors to request letters of recommendation from. I haven't given it as much thought as i know i should. I'm not really all that sold on any of the art programs i have looked up at this point.
They all have their pluses and minuses.
I need more time and more motivation to figure these things out. It seems kind of odd to me to start working on laying down a plan for the next part of my life before this part is even over. I need a pause button or something. Just a little bit more time to organize my thoughts...
anyway. I had my last critique in a photography class as an undergraduate student EVER. Probably my last critique with Elizabeth Dove, who's been my mentor for the past year and a half or more.
That makes me stop and think for a moment. Not feeling very sentimental about it or anything, it's just kind of an odd notion. I have had three photography teachers throughout my career as a photography student.My highschool teacher, Tom Morris, taught me to use a camera, judge light without a meter, print images (no matter how ghetto the setting) etc.
Elizabeth taught me that just because i knew how to use a camera and make a print, didn't necessarily make me a photographer. she coached me through my BFA and was with me every step of the way as my concept altered and started to fall into place. She's been a phenomenal asset to my education and development as an artist, printmaker, and photographer. The art department may not have the best facilities or supplies available, but the people they have working in it are what make it wonderful.
Last but not least, there's Marcy James. Marcy also helped me develop my concept. She was actually the first person to get me to start direction the jumble of thoughts and images i go about taking all the time and trying to funnel them into an actual idea. I don't know if i mentioned this in an earlier blog, buti used to do a lot of portraiture. I used to love taking pictures of people. They fascinate me, and there really wasn't any substance to what i was doing or how i was taking the pictures. I was just clicking away on the shutter because i could. I had one portrait of a friend in critique at one point. Marcy sat down with me, trying to help me sift through my thoughts in search of a strand of concept and theme that i could hold on to. she held that picture and said to me, "This is a very nice print. I really like the image, but i look at it and wonder, 'why do i care about this person?'" I had no way to respond to that. It was the first time i'd looked at my images and asked, 'why?' it seemed really stupid and irritating at the time, but since that point i've furthered myself a great deal. or at least i feel that i have and it's because of Marcy's nagging question.
Anyway. I am hoping to have some opportunity to pursue more gum bichromate work next semester, but it depends on whether or not the department can organize a place for a group to do them in. Otherwise it will just be printmaking. I could probably sneak into the darkroom occassionally to produce some prints, and i should definitely keep shooting new work.We'll see what happens though.
On another note, all of the random images in this blog are images from my final series for my photo III class. some of them were produced as gum prints, others didn't actually get presented in class, but here they are. they were taken at the same time as the images from the previous entry. I'm particularly pleased with the 'flying saucer' (which is actually a rather creepy merry-go-round that has/had a catepillar's head on it... the paint's all worn away and you can't actually see the head in the photo b/c it was shot with a Diana camera and my aim was off) and the park benches.
Anyway, best of luck to anyone reading this who's still taking care of finals stuff. It'll all be done with soon, whether you like it or no.
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