Time flies when you are having an existential crisis

In the last 5 months I've changed departments - photo (B.Des) to fibre (BFA). I'm now class of 2012 - hopefully not as much of a disaster as that horrible movie. Coming to that decision was gruelling, and the fallout was less than pleasant.

First world problems, I know.

On the plus side, I'm the coordinator for the student run Marion Nicoll Gallery at ACAD for the next year, I got a sweet gig working at the College with Student Services, and Contextural, the artist collective I'm part of moved into our summer residency space.

I am starting to feel optimistic about things again.

holy cats! i'm coming home in 3 weeks!

Today is the first day of Thanksgiving break. Tomorrow is the actual day of turkey here, and Friday is "Black Friday" because everyone is off work & it's retail mayhem. The stores open at 5 a.m., some of them are advertising ticket line-ups starting at 2 a.m. - America is weird.

I have been invited to dinner tomorrow & am heading down to Mississippi on Friday for a photo shoot (and hopefully leftovers). Before Monday I have a project list to complete that seems longer than my arm. I am also bird sitting a lovely parrot named Olive.

Sleep is for the weak.

The semester has be extremely busy - I have had more assigned reading this one semester than I have had in my three years at ACAD.

I'm not complaining - this semester has been amazing in ways I wasn't expecting. I have met great people and learned things I wouldn't have at home. There has been an inter-connectedness between the theory and practical things I have been learning that has impacted the course of my work and will continue to when I get home. The luxury of spending four months focusing on nothing but myself and my work has been a tremendous experience that I am grateful for.

None of this would have been possible without the support of my family and friends - thank you.

fall break

In October, MCA experiences 'Fall Break'. It is two days off (Monday & Tuesday) making a super-long & theoretically restful weekend following midterms (which as an aside, A on my Art History midterm - go me!). Many of my classmates went home to places like Arkansas and Louisiana, but I stayed here. Among trips to Crafts for Christ (aka Hobby Lobby) and Target, was a visit to the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Originally the home of Margaret and Hugh Dixon, they purchased the property with the intention of having it become a museum to benefit the people of Memphis. Opened in 1976, it was initially a showcase for the Dixon's personal collection of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, it has grown to include over 2000 paintings, works on paper, sculptures, and decorative arts objects. On view the weekend I was there was Lichtenstein in Process, "drawings, collages, and sketchbooks, offering an intimate look at Lichtenstein's working methods and creative process." Carry Me! Lucite Handbags from the Caryn Sheidt Collection, as well as selections from the permanent collection - there was an exquisite Cassat. The formal gardens were also lovely.

Hallowe'en

Even though I did not participate - because & am old & lame, the Student Alliance at MCA threw a party at a great local art space called VINI (five in one - give it a minute, you'll get it). There were several great costumes at my house, but my favourite was Funlola as Angela Davis, and not only because I suggested it.

Awesome costumes at school were the Sumo wrestler (you go, Big Nick) and Hunter S. Thompson. Or rather Jonny Depp as Hunter S. in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - down to the crazed look in his eye and dead on vocals.

and we're back

At the beginning of October, I went to a conference in Toronto (o.k., the conference was in Markham, but it's Toronto adjacent). One of the highlights (aside from the fantastic food), was Nuit Blanc - the annual all night art festival in Toronto. It was exciting to see that many people out looking at art. On of the stand outs was Jeff Koons' piece hanging from the ceiling of the Eaton Centre shopping mall - it was the perfect setting for a piece of his.

WHOO! CRIT!

hmm... 

the good:

an installation of balloons and psychedelic collages of image and sound.

a reliquary made of a small glass box with a translucent photo cover, containing personal artifacts suspended on hooks

three law books hollowed out with exploded images of vintage cameras tied into the pages, that you could still flip

the bad:

the "put a pony in it" approach to critique

the ugly:

work was presented that was ill conceived and horribly executed, and the maker was completely shocked that we called them on it, and left the class (pronouns have been confused to protect the guilty)

Overall an interesting (if long) day of discussion of three dimensional or installation work of varying levels of success.

**the image is work in progress on my piece - untitled (fish/fowl) - why yes, that is a bottle of Mod Podge

not drowning, but waving

This week has whooshed past - I am in the thick of it now - first crits are next week. I'm exploring ideas around belonging and place in my studio work, and history of photography and womens' studies have me hip deep in the "Other".  

I love school.