Massachusetts College of Art
** organization links and other resources **
Wednesdays, 9:10
a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Room North 181
Instructor:
Nita Sturiale |
Teaching
Assistant:Jessica Gath |
This course is targeted towards soon-to-graduate art students who are thinking about the practicalities of continuing life as an independent artist after art school. Throughout the semester students will meet graduates of the Studio for Interrelated Media as well as others pursuing unconventional artistic paths. Through discussion, presentations, and field trips, issues surrounding the realistic struggles of maintaining life as an independent artist alongside the celebration of such a choice will be explored. The course will attempt to demystify tax responsibilities, non-profit organization opportunities, and grant-writing. Students will interview artists as well as research methods for balancing art, life and money after school. Students will also practice writing their artists statement and resume and create a personal illustrated 5 year plan.
The goals of this course are: to provide tools and inspiration for newly graduated artists to help them continue their art-making after leaving the safety and resources of art school; to provide students practice in articulating their intentions, questions and artistic goals; and to suggest resources for researching solutions and answers after leaving school.
| Assignments | Due
Date
|
|
|
1. |
Prepare
a list of specific Art, Life and $ Questions to ask the artists
we will meet throughout the semester about how they manage to balance
art, life and money in a novel or interesting way. |
Jan 25 |
|
2. |
Create an illustrated Personal 5 Year Plan using any media this could be an illustrated time-line on paper, an interactive DVD, a narrative video- this is more an artwork than a research paper. It should be a finished work that is presentable without explanation. Be prepared to present your plan during one of the last two class sessions.
|
Sketches
- Final
- March 29 (Group 2) |
|
3. |
Write an Artist's Statement. |
Feb 15 |
|
4. |
Research a local (or wherever you intend to be for the next few years after you graduate) Arts Organization or Exhibition Venue. Pick a person to talk to at this organization, ask them how best to get involved and/or submit work. Be prepared to share this info with the class. Write-up your research and include a description, contact person’s name and info, and steps for getting involved. These write-ups will be collected and available online. |
Each week. We'll set a schedule during the first class mtg. |
|
5. |
Mid-Term
Self-Evaluation |
Mar 15 |
| 6. | Participate in Portfolio Workshop |
Mar 1 |
|
7. |
Prepare a Resume and short Bio. Submit this to an online artists database that meets your needs best. We will collect a list of possibilities in class. |
May 3 |
|
8. |
Make a List of Supportive Colleagues that you talk to about your artistic ideas and feel challenged and nurtured by. Be sure you know what their contact information will be after you graduate. |
Apr 12 |
|
9. |
Final
Self-Evaluation |
May 10 |
Our goal is to learn things we don't already know towards the long-term goal of being effective and articulate artists. The instructors' responsibilities are to present information and provocations in a structured environment that will help your learning process. Your responsibility is to participate in this environment fully by voicing your interests, thoughts, and questions as well as listening to your classmates. Class participation, discussion and attention is fundamental and required. Learning takes patience, tolerance, a sense of humor and a willingness to try new things without fear.
Many of the course materials, important schedule changes, and appropriate links are online via the following URL http://www.nitasturiale.com/massart. Please check the online syllabus linked from this page often throughout the semester.
| Jan 18 | Intros,
Logistics, Expectations |
| Jan 25 | DUE
- Art, Life and $ Questions for Discussion |
| Feb 1 | DUE
- 5 Year Plan Sketches/Mockup/Idea Art21 PBS documentary Artist Interviews viewing Readings: |
| Feb 8 | GUEST - Maura Jasper, SIM grad and founder of Punk Aerobics Readings: |
| Feb 15 | DUE
- Artists Statements for critique Readings: |
| Feb 22 | GUEST - Bob Wirtz, SIM grad and video artist. |
| Mar 1 | Artists Statements for critique |
| Mar 8 | SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS |
| Mar 15 | DUE - 5 Year Plan Final (group 1) DUE
- Mid Term Self Evaluation |
| Mar 22 | MAJORS REGISTRATION DAY - NO CLASS |
| Mar 29 | DUE - 5 Year Plan Final (group 2) GUEST - Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts Representative to discuss copyright issues and non-profit organizations. http://www.vlama.org |
| Apr 5 | FIELD TRIP - Joel Rubin, Teacher Services Supervisor, New England Aquarium, http://www. neaq.org |
| Apr 12 | Portfolio DVD workshop. Readings: |
| Apr 19 | DUE
- List of Supportive Colleagues (this is private, you don’t have
to hand this in or share with anyone in the class, I’m strongly suggesting
that you should be able to identify these people or work to find
them at this point in the semester) Resumes and Bios critiques Readings: |
| Apr 26 | Resumes and Bios critiques continued. |
| May 3 | Networking session -
bring snacks and your address books. |
January 2006
N. Sturiale
http://www.nitasturiale.com/massart