Its going to be an interesting quarter...
September 2009; The beginning of the school year.
Studio IV (which is the last required studio class before Senior Project, which is always followed promptly by Pro Practices)
We -the new seniors in the Jewelry Department- are all a bubble about being seniors and having no idea what to do for senior project in ten weeks and excited to have our own exhibition, Senior Show, as a sort of going away present form SCAD to our resumes. Our prof, Nell, is our friend and guide through the whole process, all three classes.
Early in the quarter, the Department Chair throws the first punch: All seniors are required to exhibit together. there are 17 of us and the Jewelry lab is a small building. On the bright side, the required show is being pushed back to Professional Practices in the Spring quarter, so we have a few extra weeks of work time during Senior Project. Can we find an outside gallery?
Maybe.
We find an outside gallery. Split between 17 people and with months of fair warning, the cost per person is around $30 and no big deal.
Mid-quarter: The Department Chair shrugs, smiles, and tells Nell to tell us (poor Nell) that she's changed her mind and we all have to exhibit in the lab. Oh, by-the-way, the other half of the building which the lab is attached to? SCAD bought it and is renovating it into a gallery space. It should be done by next quarter.
We are pensive and upset, but decided that just maybe there will be enough room with the other gallery space for us to survive eachother.
January 2010; along with the new year, we begin Winter Quarter, and Senior Project, having spend the entire winter break planning and contemplating our final glorious bodies of work. We are excited to show off what we are made of.
The new gallery next door is already open, and has an attached door so we can wander in and out via the lab's lobby. It is concrete and austere, and already stocked with someone-or-other's odd comment on the lasting impression Google has left on our lives. Not a jewelry display, but interesting.
The Department Chair swings again, Nell braces herself (poor Nell). No, the gallery space won't be used for senior show. It never was intended to be, it's always been owned directly by SCAD and has been intended as an MA showcase only. She "never said" we could use it.
We are rowdy and combative. I'm in my corner sighing. I can deal with you junkies in close confines for one exhibition. Lets get past the bitching and get on with the making.
Last day of the quarter, we are discussing the exhibition with some enthusiasm. Many already have parents making big plans, reservations with planes and hotels and restaurants. We are contemplating how best to display ourselves in minimal space. We head to break with spirits high.
March 22, first day of Spring Quarter and Professional Practices.
Nell looks disconcerted. Oh Shit.
Poor Nell.
The Department Chair changed her mind in the middle of break. Because the proposed Senior Show corresponds with the nationally recognized SCAD Style Week, she doesn't want it to be 'limited' to just senior work. She wants to display work from freshmen on up. She decided to simply require seniors to participate in the Jepson School of Design Show.
Which occurs around graduation time, well after everyone's airline and hotel reservations are long gone.
Which includes everyone in the School of Design, like fashion and Industrial Design, and is not a Jewelry-only show.
Which requires unified display, which means my museum-replica-like work will be displayed like jewelry instead of like artifacts, making them seem broken, unfinished, and miserable.
We are incensed!
We are abuzz with resentment and frustration!
There is enough volatile energy that we might just be able to turn it towards an independent show, where we as seniors find an independent gallery and put together our own group show. Thing is, organizing 17 frustrated and busy art kids may well be like herding ferrets. Add to that the time frame; if we don't find a gallery within, say, a week, we'll never get anything done in time for the parents and guests anyway. We need to find displays for everyone too, since we can't borrow lab display cases for an off-campus show. (I am now the only person with my own display cases, a miracle of foresight?) We need to agree upon a single logo so that everyone can make their ads and postcards. We need to establish themes and colors and installation.
It is possible, but i am very concerned.
Its going to be an interesting quarter.
Studio IV (which is the last required studio class before Senior Project, which is always followed promptly by Pro Practices)
We -the new seniors in the Jewelry Department- are all a bubble about being seniors and having no idea what to do for senior project in ten weeks and excited to have our own exhibition, Senior Show, as a sort of going away present form SCAD to our resumes. Our prof, Nell, is our friend and guide through the whole process, all three classes.
Early in the quarter, the Department Chair throws the first punch: All seniors are required to exhibit together. there are 17 of us and the Jewelry lab is a small building. On the bright side, the required show is being pushed back to Professional Practices in the Spring quarter, so we have a few extra weeks of work time during Senior Project. Can we find an outside gallery?
Maybe.
We find an outside gallery. Split between 17 people and with months of fair warning, the cost per person is around $30 and no big deal.
Mid-quarter: The Department Chair shrugs, smiles, and tells Nell to tell us (poor Nell) that she's changed her mind and we all have to exhibit in the lab. Oh, by-the-way, the other half of the building which the lab is attached to? SCAD bought it and is renovating it into a gallery space. It should be done by next quarter.
We are pensive and upset, but decided that just maybe there will be enough room with the other gallery space for us to survive eachother.
January 2010; along with the new year, we begin Winter Quarter, and Senior Project, having spend the entire winter break planning and contemplating our final glorious bodies of work. We are excited to show off what we are made of.
The new gallery next door is already open, and has an attached door so we can wander in and out via the lab's lobby. It is concrete and austere, and already stocked with someone-or-other's odd comment on the lasting impression Google has left on our lives. Not a jewelry display, but interesting.
The Department Chair swings again, Nell braces herself (poor Nell). No, the gallery space won't be used for senior show. It never was intended to be, it's always been owned directly by SCAD and has been intended as an MA showcase only. She "never said" we could use it.
We are rowdy and combative. I'm in my corner sighing. I can deal with you junkies in close confines for one exhibition. Lets get past the bitching and get on with the making.
Last day of the quarter, we are discussing the exhibition with some enthusiasm. Many already have parents making big plans, reservations with planes and hotels and restaurants. We are contemplating how best to display ourselves in minimal space. We head to break with spirits high.
March 22, first day of Spring Quarter and Professional Practices.
Nell looks disconcerted. Oh Shit.
Poor Nell.
The Department Chair changed her mind in the middle of break. Because the proposed Senior Show corresponds with the nationally recognized SCAD Style Week, she doesn't want it to be 'limited' to just senior work. She wants to display work from freshmen on up. She decided to simply require seniors to participate in the Jepson School of Design Show.
Which occurs around graduation time, well after everyone's airline and hotel reservations are long gone.
Which includes everyone in the School of Design, like fashion and Industrial Design, and is not a Jewelry-only show.
Which requires unified display, which means my museum-replica-like work will be displayed like jewelry instead of like artifacts, making them seem broken, unfinished, and miserable.
We are incensed!
We are abuzz with resentment and frustration!
There is enough volatile energy that we might just be able to turn it towards an independent show, where we as seniors find an independent gallery and put together our own group show. Thing is, organizing 17 frustrated and busy art kids may well be like herding ferrets. Add to that the time frame; if we don't find a gallery within, say, a week, we'll never get anything done in time for the parents and guests anyway. We need to find displays for everyone too, since we can't borrow lab display cases for an off-campus show. (I am now the only person with my own display cases, a miracle of foresight?) We need to agree upon a single logo so that everyone can make their ads and postcards. We need to establish themes and colors and installation.
It is possible, but i am very concerned.
Its going to be an interesting quarter.