Critique Day and the Big Push!
June 22, 2009
Today was the beginning of what will certainly be a very busy and productive week. Students are working feverishly on completing projects, planning the exhibition, and circulating posters advertising their show to the community.
This afternoon we had our first of three planned critiques for the week. I don’t know how many of you have participated in an art critique but it’s a pretty strange dynamic. Students go into it with a certain set of expectations but the outcome can sometimes be quite different than what they expected. Our critiques are very positive in nature; at least that’s our intent. When the stakes are high, however, emotion can play a big role in how it all turns out. I think the best that anyone can hope for is that a nugget of some kind will be offered and acknowledged, and that it will help the artist grow. I think that today’s “crit” was successful and will lead to even stronger work for the final exhibition.
I managed to take a few photographs during the critique to give you a better sense of what it looked and felt like. Not everyone is featured here because of difficult lighting etc., but everyone will get their fair share of blog “face time.”
Each student has their own work space and we moved from one to the next for the critique.
Vee Rogers is giving a brief statement about her illustrations based on Irish stories and legends.
Tim and Tess are listening to a student describing her visual concept.
Tess Cunard is explaining her concept for her installation.
Rosemary Liss responds to a question about her paintings.
Meredith has been working on a pastel series on the Burren landscape.
Marianne Honeycutt has been working very hard on her photography and is listening to suggestions on how she might display the work.
Maggie Cummons is looking for feedback on one of many stunning pastels she has created.
Lena Isenberg seeking advice on the content of her photographs.
Jackie Presutti has been making color images of the women of the Burren as well as the landscape.
Edie has discovered her creative self through sculpture. Our newest welder!
Dania is developing a concept based on technology and its effect on the rural landscape.
Brenna Crothers is developing both a panoramic landscape as well as pen and ink drawings tinged with watercolor.
Our students have been putting in 12 hour days in the studio. We are so proud of them and we are looking forward to an outstanding exhibition. They have represented Wheaton well.
The people at the Burren College of Art, from the President on down, have recognized the dedication and energy that our students bring to their work and to the school. Visiting artists have told us that they are inspired by the enthusiasm and the talent exhibited by our students.
Tim and I could not feel better about the character and the work ethic of our kids. They are good people and all of their parents should feel terrific about them. The work that they have produced is important but the way they have approached it is even more important.
I have a great job!
All for now….
Andy