It won't be long until we are back at Goddard

I know that it won't be long until we are back at Goddard. I am thinking about making my plane reservations. I do wish the college would allow long distance people to come in on Wednesday. Looking at the flight problems this week I'm a bit concerned about flying and making it on time for Thursday and then Friday registration.

I'm excited about next semesters study. I spoke to Jackie, the director and she agrees that my direction is a good one. I'll be illustrating my children's books and working on revising the young adult novel. I hope I can get Rick as my adivsor. I need someone who can help me work with the words. This semester's title— "Show don't tell" In light of my direction I have been ordering books for the semester and put my hand to practice with illustration. It has been over 20 years since I illustrated anything.

I woke up on Christmas Eve and felt like a little child jumping around saying, "it is Christmas Eve, It's Christmas Eve,"and in light of that and my new direction I created one of my first illustrations in a while.

I'm doing a workshop at residency or at least applying for one.

Marketing in the Arts

No matter what form of art you work in we all hope to make a living at what we do. If you are interested in taking your “Praxis” to a new level or you are interested in setting up some marketing goals for yourself concerning your creativity for the New Year, come and join us. We will be discussing setting goals, using social marketing to obtain work, and developing a creative platform and target marketing. Yes, it is true. I once received a $25,000 commission off of Facebook. Attendees will also receive information and tools for continuing this motivation after leaving residency. If further break out sessions are requested for more direct discussions, such as creating an Internet presence, blogs and creating websites these can be arranged.

In the workshop form it asks

" Additional Details
Please describe in detail how your workshop contributes to your practice as you share information, discovery and exchange. This will not be published"

I have made a conscious decision to focus on doing more speaking engagements. This past semester I spoke at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and have been asked to speak at the C.S. Lewis Writers Retreat for 2011. Refining my presentations and adapting them to my target market is essential for me to build up my own creative platform. I’m happy to share the information that I have with my peers.

I have enjoyed helping other creative people through workshops. Talent, and motivation are a part of the process of making a living with your art, but knowing what to do and the nuts and bolts of the marketing is something that most creative people have a difficult time with. This was my background before I went into writing and sculpting. It has grown over the years and changed with technology. I love assisting others and inspiring them to achieve their creative goals.

Things are coming in the e mail

So if you are a returning student to the MFAIA at Goddard then you are receiving information in the e mail. If you are a new student in the MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Goddard and are just finding this blog then you have a ton of things to read here.

Here is what is being sent out-

* SPRING RESIDENCY WORKSHOP FORMS ARE AVAILABLE

The deadline is January 3rd. Anyone can do a workshop.

* NO PAPER CUPS
The Vermont campus is doing away with paper cups. Instead you will be able to take ceramic mugs out of the kitchen. However, mental note you might want to bring a travel mug to residency.

* RESIDENCY THEME
The email states.
"Spring 2011 Residency Theme Art Practice as Praxis "…men’s/[people's] activity consists of action and reflection: it is praxis; it is transformation of the world. And as praxis, it requires theory to illuminate it. Men’s/[People's] activity is theory and practice; it is reflection and action....Lenin’s famous statement: ‘Without a revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement’ means that a revolution is achieved with neither verbalism nor activism, but rather with praxis, that is with reflection and action directed at the structures to be transformed.” (Paulo Freire: Pedagogy of the Oppressed, p. 119-120)

This residency we will consider what it means to regard our art practices as praxis - as theory in action/reflection.

How would/do we describe our praxis? What is it we hope to transform? How does what we create and move into the world measure against that desire? If we locate our work on a gallery wall or on a stage with an audience, do those forums fully embody our theory/action? Are we in the practice of our theory as we engage in collaborations? How do we think about our choice, use, and conservation of materials as an expression of theory?

If we imagine ourselves as artists in praxis, how might we align our desire to change the world with the choices we make within our practices?

We will host guest artists, conduct group discussions/panels, and plan workshops that bring us into conversation about this theme. A resource list and listserv discussion for learning more about praxis will be on our MFA-IA-VT GNet site shortly.

Please consider hosting a workshop or a co-facilitating a discussion or event with your peers. A link to the workshop form will be emailed to you within a few days. The next program newsletter will be sent out next week with more information on our upcoming residency. "