Critical Thinking Request from my OD family

i checked out and read alot of the info. i would personally love to do the bfa in graphic design and photography. i think it would make your skirt fly up imho. it looks fascinating and falls in line with your love of art/upsa and cartooning….

P. S. I’m looking at the MFA program called Art and the Book.

yes i did. and it too looked like a wonderful thing. i was just drawn (no pun lol) to the graphics. you draw; thought that one would be appealing to you as well

Go for it! Be well, my friend.

Sounds like a deliciously creative and academic (right and left brain) environment?! I too felt very intimidated when after leaving the orchestra and corporate life I went to university later in life to study interdisciplinary fine arts. All that brain and soul expansion! And Art and the Book…sounds like you’d have a terrific time 🙂 “fascinating trip” says it all!!!

Interesting program. Although it is a masters program it strikes me as a potentially heavy load for two years, considering you must do your internship and develop/present/defend your thesis at the same time as course work. Don’t know if you also have employment at the same time. Those are my thoughts. Along with I think you are perfectly capable of doing it all! Sounds up you alley.

ryn – I hear you. It wasn’t the academic aspect that concerned me either…it was indeed the creative aspect. The first semester, me, a confident (former) corporate exec, felt speechless in the studios sure that I wasn’t creative enough. I arrived one day to find all my paintings and book arts gone! When I asked where they were, the prof told me they thought they were finished and had hung

them in the gallery for the opening. I still laugh and shake my head! I went timidly to the opening, so afraid my work wasn’t good enough (and I thought, unfinished). I hadn’t even signed anything. More than one person asked if I knew “who did that” (my work) because loved it so much. I answered “I don’t know, hmm.” lol One of the profs even took one of my pieces to an annual arts conference

which to this day feels surreal. And, to this day, every time I sit to create, or attend a workshop or class, I feel just as intimidated as the first time. Some prof artists who don’t need to be worshipped (lol you know the kind who do!) smile and say they feel the same way too. I think it’s because creating can feel vulnerable…sharing part of ourselves with the world.

A friend shared this quote by Martha Graham with me: http://alifesworkmovie.com/blog/2010/04/divine-dissatisfaction-blessed-unrest/ I reread it often 🙂

Oh, exciting! I can’t give advice; this is way out of my field. But if it appeals and it is practical in terms of time commitment, finances etc., why not go for it? You have so much talent and experience; how lovely it would be to stretch it in a new field.

ryn – it was good for me to reread that quote 🙂 I hope you have a “fantastic trip” in the program!

say isn’t today kind of a special day in the upsa household? congrats all around..a pic of you would be nice in your fancy garb :)xx

(I think I have a clue as to what Pelican is speaking of, and if I’m right I too want to see a photo of a tassel!)

It looks interesting, but I’m not sure I’m clear on the concept of “book culture”.

It looks like an interesting program. On a broader note though – can I ask about your motives for studying for a masters? I’ve thought long and hard about it too. About my mid-40s I started to think that my work in theatre/events management, or specifically the long hours and time away from home weren’t working for me. I started teaching English, and studying for a qualification at masters level. It’s been great in many ways, but there have been other things which I hadn’t anticipated which were difficult to deal with. Also – ryn – are you thinking of leaving the USA?

I hadn’t had time to follow-up on this until now. The program looks like it has amazing resources available in your local area and I enjoyed the student work very much. It would be fun to be working in a community with other artists. I also think it might help you with confidence and opportunities to share. I don’t know what it is like in the visual arts these days (other than photography) but I imagine something like this would give you access in a way you couldn’t get on your own. Plus you’d be engaged and have a focus for a few years and won’t need to be so self-directed. But it is expensive! You would have so loved the book arts show in the gallery where I took my memoir class.