Perpetual Learner- The adventure of going back to school

A check list? This is sent to graduates a few months before graduation.

2012-01-29T14:21:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be good to go over my checklist before I leave for final residency.
This is a check list that came from School.

Graduating MFA-IA Vermont Students,

The following are important graduation deadlines and requirements.
Please use this checklist to be sure you’ve addressed them all, so
that we can issue you your diploma at commencement:

All right, " so that we can issue your diploma," that is good enough reason to check of things from this list.
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
√ Done
Final Product: Be certain to format and organize your final product in
the manner specified in your program addendum or student handbook. A
title page bearing the original signatures of your advisor and second
reader is required.
To do
Thesis binders must be purchased from the Registrar's
Office and can be purchased at the time you hand in your final
product. The last opportunity to hand in your final product is
Saturday, February 4, 10:00 a.m. - noon.

I do know that the binder must be signed by both the advisor and second reader. So, I'll be sure to track them down early. I was not sure about where the binder needed to be handed into, but now I got it. So my plan is to get things signed, and then go up to the registrars office, In the library, and hand the portfolio/thesis in while also paying for and requesting my transcripts. My goal... to have this done before Friday afternoon.
SIS: All narrative student evaluations must be submitted in SIS prior
to the commencement residency. Course equivalents (which are
optional) for all semesters must be submitted and approved prior to
the commencement residency. Please make certain your course
equivalents are correct and complete before graduation.
To do: Although I have had course equivalents created and approved by all of my advisors throughout my time at Goddard, I have just printed them out and asked my husband to look them over. I want to be sure these are correct no misspellings, or in some cases I might be able to exchange a word to make the reading more dynamic. With approval of my advisor, of course.
Diplomas: Be certain to respond to the “How do you want your name on your
diploma?” email.
√ ? I have never seen this e mail. Hmmm. Guess it will be a surprise.

Presentation: If you have permission to miss your commencement
residency, documentation of your off-campus thesis presentation must
be received prior to commencement.
√ Done
Be sure to indicate your intent to graduate when prompted to do so by SIS.
√ Done

Office contact: Lara De Lucca (lara.delucca@goddard.edu)

STUDENT ACCOUNTS
Be certain to read all email from Robin Mascitti and
studentaccounts@goddard.edu. Pay your graduation
fee by the specified deadline. If your student account is not “clear,”
you will not receive your diploma at commencement.
√ Done Paid all of those fees necessary to graduate. Booked room and board for the 4 days.
Office contact: Robin Mascitti (studentaccounts@goddard.edu)

LIBRARY
Be certain to return all library materials or reimburse the library
for lost items. The deadline to do so is noon on Saturday before
graduation. If you have outstanding library materials or library fees,
you will not receive your diploma at commencement.

Office contact: Paula Tamburello (paula.tamburello@goddard.edu)
√ Done Actually, I have not taken out books this semester. I find it much easier to go to my own library.

FINANCIAL AID
Students who borrowed Federal Loans should have received a student
federal loan exit interview packet via email. Students were
instructed to complete the exit interview online.
√ Done Yes, I did an exit interview that asks you a bunch of different ways, "Do you realize you have a huge debt to pay now that you are graduated? Do you understand it is your responsibility to pay this debt? " My personal goal- to work my (#*$%& off and get all student loans paid off in 1-2 years.

If you received Stafford Loans (subsidized and/or unsubsidized), you
can complete the loan exit interview process online at:
http://mappingyourfuture.org/oslc/counseling/index.cfm?act=Intro&OslcTypeID=2

If you received both Stafford and/or Graduate PLUS Loans, you can
complete the loan exit interview process online at:
http://mappingyourfuture.org/oslc/counseling/index.cfm?act=Intro&OslcTypeID=29

Please contact Manuel O'Neill (manuel.oneill@goddard.edu) if you did not
receive your loan exit interview packet or have questions regarding
your loan paperwork.

ACADEMIC SERVICES
Graduating Student Presentation and Residency Workshop Scheduling
Request links are in email notification(s) sent to your Goddard
email account.

Office Contact: Academic Services Mailbox (academicservices@goddard.edu)
√ Done and booked, even if my presentation is during dinner. Oh well, it is just the last thing on this check list.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the above!

best,
Lara

Is that really it? No more hoops? Certainly I must be forgetting something?

Things I'll miss after leaving Goddard.

2012-01-29T10:07:00.000-08:00

The fire starter with a music maker.

Here is a list of things that I am going to miss after I leave Goddard. By far, one of the things I love best is the fire pit at night, and the music.

A podcast about going back to school.... and graduating.

2012-01-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

This is my daughter setting my cap for graduation from

Vermont College where I received my undergraduate

degree. Now she will be with me on Sunday as

I receive my masters from Goddard.

Some who read this blog might or might not know that I have been doing podcasts for three years now. They have become a big part of my graduate study. This week my daughter interviewed me for the podcast. She asked me all sorts of questions about going for my undergraduate work at Vermont College and my Graduate study at Goddard College. I thought you might like to listen to the podcast and so I am including a link here. Just click on this link and a new browser will come with the podcast.

If you are interested in my other podcasts you can find them at:

Art and Technology

and Inspiration Generations and Creative Christian podcasts.

Transcripts?

2012-01-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

We are all going to need transcripts. But what about after graduation? How long do I have to wait?

I spoke with the registrars office and they said that you can order transcripts from them. They are $25.00 for the first set. With this they give you both a sealed copy and a student copy. I asked, "Can I order them now?" The reply was to wait until residency to be sure that the transcripts were processed with my graduation. So there you have it.

FYI registrar is in the library building.

Wondering... is that where we pick up the black binder for the portfolio? More on that at a later date.

A copy of the schedule?

2012-01-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

I was not sure if I could get this up on the blog, but if anyone wants to see how very, very busy the schedule at Goddard residency can be check out this link.

Revealing the directions to my special place.

2012-01-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

In the summer, spring fall, This is a great place to go if you need a break from campus. It is about a 10-15 minute walk. Bring a lunch and your camera, as well as a friend. It is guaranteed to refresh you. If you don't want to bring a lunch bring money- the pizza place is on the way. Also, please note: I have noticed with the flooding in Vermont over the last couple of years that the look of the stream changes drastically from season to season.

For those who prefer a map. Double click to make it bigger.

DIRECTIONS
Walk off of campus behind The Manor through the clearing to the intersection of route 2 and 214.

I loved this rock behind the dug out. A bit tricky to get to,
but great for relaxing.

214 has sidewalks on the left hand side as you are going down, but only part of the way. Watch the traffic.Make a right at the light to main street. Then another right on mill street, another right on recreational field. You will feel like you are in the middle of a residential area, but at the end of this street is a park on the right. You can drive down there. There is parking, if you prefer. Park and then walk in the field heading toward the playground at the far end. You will see a dug out on your right. When we first arrived we climbed down here and sat on rocks. Here is a picture of me sitting on my favorite rock in that spot. If you prefer to walk in to the stream then follow the trail that is to the right of the playground. It is smooth walking and has a rock beach as seen in the pictures below. Last residency my entire group went here for our time off of campus. I brought a blanket.

When you are walking through the field you will see a dug out.
this is the stream behind the dug out. You do have to
step down into this, but there were some wonderful flat rocks
When I was there last. If you prefer to walk into the stream
continue to walk in the field to the playground equipment and
Then make a right. take that trail to the beach area.

Going past town on Main street headed to Mill st.

As you pass the main buildings and cross over the stream ,
look to your right, eventually we will see this falls
from down stream.

Laugh at the funny signs you see on the way.

Make a right down Recreational Field. This is across from
Positive Pie. FYI if you wanted to check it out,
don't turn and go straight the food co- op is on your left.

I challenge a friend to wade across and try to climb a
giant rock. I'm so thankful for friends who are adventurous.

This is the spot, or one of them.

Here is the group having our time away from campus at the beach
area. Most enjoyed skipping rocks. I was off trying to balance them.

Getting ready

2012-01-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

So much to do before leaving.

Look at my packing list, make sure I have those things that make me feel more comfortable while at Goddard. I have already started to set out my items in the spare room. Hey, who took my power strip?
Complete all of the to do lists for the welcoming committee. This is my last time serving on this committee and I'm glad there are people that see the need for it and can keep it going. Yesterday I made a sign up for those interested in signing up to help in the future. Shhh I have surprises for my team, that will be presented thursday.
Graduation Presentation- All graduates present and for those newcomers, you will find that the first part of your schedule- until Sunday at graduation is filled with orientation and graduating presentations. You are not required to go to all the presentation. When I first came I found it very difficult to know who is who. I wish they would put the graduates pictures next to their descriptions. New people don't know everyone by name.

They sent us the schedule and it looks like my presentation is during dinner. I was going to ask that it be changed, but instead I'm going request that they add "bring your dinner and snacks will be provided."

On my list is not to forget GB- GB is Graduation Bear, I will be creating a photo journal of his travels through graduation. I have already made him a scarf and coat for the trip. Oh, and GB has informed me that he is very much into planking, so my traveling companion and I will be encouraging GB to plank along the way. Well...as well as a bear with a fat tummy can plank.

Finish the website for the Goddard Network. I have been working hard on this and hope to have it complete before residency. I have mentioned it quite a bit on this blog. It was created by and for students and alumni of the Goddard MFA-IA. Here is a link to the new Goddard Network.
I'm working diligently with about 12 students and alumni to create a video presentation about the Goddard network. I hope this can be presented to the student body at opening sessions.
Print out my portfolio- I don't want to carry this portfolio in my suitcase. I'm tempted to mail it up prior to residency. If so, two copies will need to be in the mail tomorrow.
Then of course, I still have my own work to complete.

A new student e mailed me today...

2012-01-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that a new student e mailed me today. It is good to know that this blog, the welcoming committee and all that I have tried to do at Goddard has made a difference, even if it is just for one person.

The new student mentioned that they had not received anything from Goddard except notification that they had gotten in. My first experiences with Goddard were the same. I did not receive anything but a bill! It left me feeling a bit irritated and with a sense of floundering about in the abyss that is G1s first pre residency.

If there were one thing I would change about all that I have tried to do is that I wish I could contact each of the new students personally. I used to do this at Vermont College, but Goddard does not allow this. E mail notification is not enough, many don't use e mail or prefer something to hold in their hands. I apologize for this part of our program, it can, without explanation, make you wonder, did I really do the right thing by applying to this college? Did they just want my money and now I'm left in the cold? Hang in there. It will all be worth it.

The blog helps with all of these things, It is communication between a student and new student. It is however, very blunt, very real It is not in association with the College, so you can see the good and the bad. I hope that it does not discourage, but instead gives you some tools.

WHAT IS NEW?
In light of the new G1's coming to campus I thought I might post some of the news that they are not getting, and additional thoughts.

These things came through e mail- I'll post more when they arrive!

FOOD
"We have a new bakery on campus turning out all our bread, pastries etc. you can make your own waffles at every breakfast. Meatless Monday is no more - but we hold fast to the ideas - we have vegetarian and vegan entree options at every meal. Lots of Gluten Free options as well. We're making just about everything from scratch, using as much locally sourced food as possible. "

"Paul and I have the dining room open 24 hours during residencies - meaning you can always get coffee, tea, snacks. No more waiting for coffee if you're an early riser. " THIS WAS HUGE IN THE PAST- many students complained that they could not get coffee first thing in the morning.

"Lastly - I'll have the kitchen serving hot food till 10pm on Thursday the 2nd - So if you're arriving late - don't worry. We got you covered. "

I'm intimidates or... this is graduate work?

2012-01-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

If you are new and come to Goddard, don't be intimidated by the caliber of artists at Goddard. There are indeed some professionals in our midst. Also, don't go to a Goddard graduate presentation and think, "This is graduate work?" said with distaste.

I have met more than one person at Goddard who has come to Goddard as a highly accomplished artist in one area and then decides to push themselves in another area. Some even use the term "reinventing themselves". Many won't even talk about what they used to do.

In fact, in my case I had to do something different, they would not let me do what I was already doing. What you see in these graduation presentation, may be the difficult areas where a lot of individuals had to push past their comfort level. It might have been a personal healing journey, unexpected, but still a part of their study. And by the time that person has gone through 5 semesters and 6 residencies with you, or longer, you have watched the personal growth, you celebrate with their trials, difficulties and reinventing!

You give a standing ovation, not for a perfect performance, or the best artwork. You celebrate the individual you have come to love who has gone the extra distance, who has challenged themselves and completed this journey with all of the difficulties and surprises that come as you are on it.

And in light of the fact that our graduation ceremony takes place on Super Bowl Sunday, I'll say that no matter how ungraceful the play might have been, you stand up and scream. Their were no fumbles in this play and this is definitely a touch down!

Draft of schedule came today!

2012-01-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

Two weeks before arriving at Goddard and they send the tentative schedule for students and presenters to check. Love seeing my graduate presentation highlighted in orange, not crazy about having to compete with eating dinner.

Taking it in as Whole: An Introspection of a Sculptor and Writer, with graduating student Bridgette Mongeon. Sculpting and developing a relationship with the deceased, printing body organs, digital technology, haiku, a novel, God, atheism, memoir, podcasts, creating connections- only at Goddard MFAIA program can a person have a wide array of engagements and connect them through their own process. “Taking it in as a whole” is a visual journey of the introspection of a sculptor and writer who looks at the symbiotic relationship- life is reflected in art, and art in life. The journey of discovery is phantasmagoric.

Looks like I'm presenting Saturday evening during/after dinner
Wish it were not so. I know everyone has to eat. Checking to see if this can be changed.

What to do at graduation?

2012-01-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

OK up and coming graduates. It is hard, if not impossible to find out who is actually graduating in your group. Unless, you had e mails of all of the people expecting to graduate and then contacted them directly. I'm still not sure that everyone who is graduating is being contacted by the school.

I'm sure there are groups who are more organized and more cohesive than ours is. I'm surprised at how little I care about what is actually happening at the graduation, is there a ceremony after or before, who is speaking, is there music playing who is playing, is the speaker booked, are we going to have a slide show of work and photos playing as we come in, is there an art show? These are the questions that apparently need to be answered before we come. I think if you asked me last residency, I would have said I care about all of them. The only thing I care about is... that I can walk up and get my official paper, and that it looks different from the ones they gave out last year.

I was contacted by Sarah Hooker at the school, she asked what we were doing. I emailed Jackie and said can we have a list of students? I'd be happy to get us all together, then the next thing I know Peter- advisor is emailing us all. So, for those who are coming after us, if all of this stuff matters, try to keep in touch with everyone and figure these things out before hand.

But note: Not everyone you expect to graduate will graduate, some will have to take extensions, some won't even be at residency. Things happen—my final semester is an example. It is difficult to broach this subject with everyone as it may be sensitive for some who won't be graduating. Be sensitive.

Goddard takes online payment but... beware!

2012-01-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

It send you to Pay Pal, not that Pay Pal is bad, it is just that it often takes several days for something to clear through pay pal, so unless you just happen to have a balance in your Pay Pal account, then you may have to put money in there. That is, if you are waiting like me, until the very last day to pay for your student account.

What are G's?

2012-01-13T16:31:00.000-08:00

These are how the school divides up each semester- G1-G2-G3-G4-G5 etc. If you are in a certain G or about to enter that G, then do a search on this blog for that G. I'm sure you will get lots of information. You can also find the updated information in the addendum. There are two books for Goddard the handbook and the addendum. Get these, highlight them and study them. You can find them on the Goddard website.

Someone asked me
"Also, is it written, noted anywhere, what happens in each semester. I find myself completely mystified, with only an inkling that there is a practicum to develop and a thesis to write, in semesters 3 and 5r respectively? Or do I have even that slight inkling wrong? And should i just peruse your blog from beginning to end for all the juicy details?"

So here is my response.

Yes, go through this blog. There is so much information. I have said," crap I wish I would have had a blog like this when I was going through the program." A few others in the program have said the same thing. I'm sure it will help, and if anyone is confused, feel free to e-mail me and I'll clarify in a post.

A quick overview

G1- get to Goddard, go through residency, say wow, I can design my own study... cool. then get home and wonder what the heck you have gotten yourself into. Create your first packet and say, "Hey, maybe I can do this."

G2- come to residency and say, "Wow, without having to do all of that orientation crap, I can actually find time to take a hike in the woods." ( when this happens do a search for "my special place" and I will send you to a really cool spot, don't bother checking I have not written the post yet.) You are thinking... I can do whatever I want this semester and hey, I know the program, so this will be a breeze. WATCH OUT! yes, you have a report in this semester. No. it is not in place of your packet, but in addition to your packet. I guarantee when you start this report you will say, "how do I know if I am doing what I said I was going to do. Didn't I just start this program?"

( Oh and I would be thinking in advance of the practicum. I would even be kicking it around to the "powers that be" when you are at G2 residency. Go to the meetings on practicum.

Hint.. I know I have said this before on this blog. You are in graduate school to learn how to ... well, I call it defend your practice, but I am sure there is a more academic term. If you find that the advisors are pushing you in a direction that you absolutely don't want to go, push back, learn how to defend what you want. I relate it somewhere else on the blog about a writer. I asked her if she had a hard time getting away with some of her sentence structure. She said if she could justify it to her editors, then there was no problem. Don't take it personal, learn to justify what you want and your direction. Learn to speak in academic terms and defend the direction you are going.

( Now there is a fine line here, Some of the most interesting things that I discovered were when I was pushed beyond the limits that I found comfortable. So there you have it- more confusion to your MFA-IA. )

Yes, you can do what you want, but remember, you really only have this semester to do that, well they tell you otherwise, but read on.

G3
Practicum- though I hear it does not always have to be done in G3. It can span two semesters or be done at a different time. The choosing of a practicum and having it accepted has caused many tears and grief throughout the student body. There are others where it worked fine. Take my advice from the above paragraph about justifying and not taking it personal and you will be fine. The idea of the practicum is to go outside your box, do something you have not done before. If you have never taught, than it might be teaching. Mine, was, of all things, to create just to create. This was strange to me as I create alone, but Goddard pointed out that because I am a commissioned artist I am always working in collaboration. Doing work just to create was a stretch for me. I heard one guy did nothing for his practicum. I guess that was a stretch for him. But everyone is different and there is much about practicum on this blog, so I will go on.

Oh yea, there is a practicum report due at this time. Though my advisor did not ask me to do one, I would check on this. I ended up doing one in my G5 so that it would be in my paper work.

G4
This is a semester to do what ever you have not had the opportunity of getting accomplished before graduation. Are you missing a point in the degree criteria? You have to get this done here. If you have done all of the degree criteria, and it feels like you are pretty full in each of the areas, then it is another semester to experiment. However..... I would highly suggest that you do a few things.

G5 work your butt off getting your portfolio done.

Now in hindsight I would have tried to divide my study up into course equivalents (CE) for clarity. That really helped me. I have a lot on CE's on this blog. Not everyone needs them, but I did and while doing them I did find I could understand my study better.

If I would have done my study differently I could have had 18 hours of credit in 3 different areas. I would have made one of those areas art history, and tried to get enough credits for art history. This is the most available job at the college level. Instead, I had a dual plan—writing and digital art in the traditional studio.

Dividing my time into 3 hour course equivalents let me know the real direction I was heading, even if that changed. now, everyone works differently.

So that is the run down of each of the G's. At least all that I can think of right now.

Are you a new student coming to Goddard College?

2012-01-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

Are you a new student coming to the Goddard College Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts program?

If so, this blog has so much information on it. I thought it might be a good idea to highlight a few of the pages.

Here is a list of new student questions
What about the dorms and a map of the campus?
More about the campus and map
Is there a trail map for hiking?
What about Packing? I have several blog posts on packing
My detailed and growing packing list
Packing List for a one week residency
What another post on a packing list?
How do I get from the airport to the campus?

OK you are at school and they are telling you that you need to come up with two things in one weeks time.
1. An overall Study Plan
2. A semester study plan

Don't freak. If you are like me then if you can see what others have done, it helps to be able to do it yourself. Each person handles their study plan differently, but here is a peek up my skirt to see what I was up to in G1. This blog also has different study plans on it. NOTE: the criteria for Goddard College may change, be sure you are aware of any changes.

Be sure to know the people in the Unofficial Welcoming Committee . They can answer all of your questions.

WELCOMING COMMITTEE FOR FEBRUARY MFAIA VERMONT -still updating

2012-01-08T14:56:00.000-08:00

There is still time to get on this committee. Please send me your photo and short bio as below.

It is, once again, time to post for the Unofficial Welcoming Committee. This will be my last post on this topic as I am graduating and others will be taking over. There is still time to become a part of this great team. I have asked each of those individuals who are a part of the Unofficial Welcoming Committee to send me a photograph and information about them to put in a flyer and on this post. This will be handed out at residency to the new students that come in. That way, they can put a face with a name. Some committee members will give me permission to include their photographs here. So I'll be adding to this post as they come in.

(Also a suggestion- If you are new to Goddard, friend these people on Facebook. That way we can chat before residency. Start with me if you like, I'll suggest friends for you- Bridgette Mongeon)

Let me start the introductions.

Bridgette Mongeon

Bridgette Mongeon- Unofficial Welcoming Committee Chair- Vermont- Graduating this residency.

My area of study is sculpting, digital technology and

bridging the gap between the traditional and digital studio. I also have a dual track of creative writing.

I'm from Texas and work from my studio behind my home. I have a blog I have kept for my entire time at Goddard and it can be found at http://www.perpetuallearner.blogspot.com/

If you need me at residency I'm in Kilpatrick 117, first floor make a left. If you have a question or need something or perhaps just want to chat come on by. If I'm not there leave a post it on my door. I also love to spend evenings at the music room and fire.

If you need a map of the campus I posted about dorms and maps here.

This will help if you are filling out your application and trying to figure out which dorm to ask for. Ask some of our committee members if they like their dorm. All are different.

Oh, yes, I have a graduating presentation this residency titled Introspection of a Sculptor and Writer- Not sure when the graduating presentation is schedule, but I hope you can make it.

I'll add more committee members as they come in and I have permission to post them.

John Ollom- The New Chair for
the Unofficial Welcoming committee

We are happy to announce that John Ollom will be taking Bridgette Mongeon's place as the new chair for the Unofficial Welcoming Committee. Thank you John for stepping up to the plate.

John Ollom-cochair of the Unofficial Welcoming committee soon to move up to chair! G2- Vermont
John lives in Inwood at the top of Manhattan, NY, NY. John Ollom is the Artistic Director of Ollom Movement Art/Prismatic Productions, Inc. He has been teaching, choreographing and directing in New York City and around the country since 2000. He was just recently the Artist in Residence for Eastern Michigan University for the 2010-2011 academic year. The full list of his past performances, choreographic works and films are listed at www.prismaticproductions.com.
Feel free to email John at his company at ollomdance@aol.com with any concerns or thoughts....

IF YOU ARE A RETURNING STUDENT and want to be a part of the committee. Here is a post on what it entails and how to get involved.

Jeff Rudnick

Jeff Rudnick Vermont- G4

Jeff is a G4 studying Art as Vessels for Stories. This includes, pottery,

puppets, sculpture, and the art of illuminated text. Jeff likes to explore stories visually and has great interest in tradition and the traditions of artisans. You might find him taking hikes in the woods if he is not in his room in Doolin (I think it was #6).

Jeff is from Kentucky. He is the Dean of

Students for Residence Life at Brescia University.

Ladianne Mandel

Ladianne Mandel Vermont - G4

Is a Charlotte, North Carolina based artist. Mother of two. Engaged to be married to an amazing woman. her creative work spans visual, sound, word, and movement disciplines - and is supported by a line of inquiry into ideas around identity and communication. Her dorm " Fisher, she things, but is not sure. First dorm on left as you leave the haybarn and walk up dorm row."

Sequana Skye

Sequana Skye ,Vermont G5, loves films. When she isn't writing them, she's thinking about them, discussing them (with anyone within earshot), watching them, analyzing them. And lest you think she takes any time off from this passion, she also dreams about them. A lot. She expects to write and direct her own films and create a film making company for, by and about women.

Maryann Donagher

Maryann Donagher,

Vermont-Graduating is a high school ceramic art teacher in Connecticut. Her current MFA studies as a G4 include large-scale, figurative, wood fired sculptures, her personal memoirs integrated with contemporary feminist theory and the archaeological discoveries of Marija Gimbutas and her writings of the religion of the goddess civilizations of pre-historic “Old Europe.”

What does the chair of the Unofficial Welcoming Committee do?

2012-01-08T12:48:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO GODDARD COLLEGE
WINTER RESIDENCY!

Qualifications for this position are just that you feel there is a need for individuals to get to know each other, and especially for the new people coming in.

You realize that although we "trust the process," it is a bit overwhelming at first, and therefore having contact students that you can go to, that can help you figure things out and make you feel "at home" is very important.

Now for the details of what I have done- Please note: this position is highly customizable. Most of the activities will take place the first day of residency.

WELCOMING SESSION FOR NEW G1s Thursday 3-5
This is the most important mandatory thing, or if you can't do it each time, make sure there is someone from your committee who can. That means booking a flight early enough to get to campus on time- this is not always easy with flights and weather complications.

A welcoming session is open to the entire student body, encourage everyone to come after they have checked in, but be sure that the new students know. This is hard as the school will not give you the e-mails of any new students prior to residency. (SEE PRE CONTACT OF NEW STUDENTS for more details)

Food
The session is simply a meet and greet. Food is provided- This is one of the details you need to take care of. Hopefully there is someone on the committee that drives to school, or lives in the area. Sequana has taken care of this for me for quite a few residencies. Maybe she can help find someone to take this over when she leaves. ( I never assume someone is doing the same job from residency to residency, or that they are on the committee, I always ask each semester if they are on the committee each residency) Jackie requests the following concerning the snacks- no alcohol, keep it under $50.00 and save receipts to give to her for reimbursement.

Set up the lounge in a friendly manner and introduce new and returning students. (Sequanna can usually get the items but may need someone to put them out. You will also need to pick them up before going to diner. Or tuck them away and pick them up later.)

Ask new students things like
* Did you find your room?
* Do you need any help getting to your room?
* Let them know when dinner is.
* Introduce them around and tell them that, if they like we will group all of the new people and some of the committee members together at dinner, so that they can get to know each other.
* Other questions- new students are always interested in finding out are —about the process, the program, what individuals are studying etc. They might not know where the computer lab is, how to get coffee in the morning, is there a place to xerox, how about a laundry facility? They might be looking at their schedule and want to know what things look really good, or what would be good for them to see with their study? Also remind them that if things change on the schedule that these changes are either 1. Sent to them through e mail so check regularly, and 2. posted on the main bulletin board.

I always assure them that this first semester is difficult and time consuming, but after G1 semester they do feel less stressed, they should take time for themselves, and if they feel overwhelmed they can come to a committee member or Claudia, everyone should know Claudia- she is great.

New students do not all come in at this time, so as you are eating and that first day, keep your eyes open for anyone who looks confused, or has that deer in the headlights look in their eyes.

Signage

I usually print out a couple of signs and bring them with me and hang them up as soon as I get to campus. They simply say:

Welcoming session for new and returning students

in the lounge next to the help desk

3-5 Thursday. Snacks provided

I put these signs in 4 spots:

1. At the help desk, be sure to let the help desk know, ask them to remind new students.

2. Taped to the wooden sign outside of the door to the help desk

3. Taped to the door coming in near the cafeteria.

DINNER FIRST NIGHT
I usually usher the new people into the dinning room and ask a couple of committee members if they might sit with the new people at a couple of big tables. The two tables directly behind the dessert bar are great for this. Sometimes, when I think of it, I'll put a small sign on the table, I still encourage returning students to join us, I just don't want any new student to feel left out. Once again, I usually sit facing the front of the cafeteria so I can spot any new students that might not have been in our meet and greet.

By the way, the new student head count is usually anywhere from 10-30.

NEW STUDENT WELCOME 7-8
This is in the Cottage. Many new students will not realize that they have to fall into a schedule so soon. I watch for Jackie to leave and the time, and then remind everyone about the new student meeting. Usually I walk with a group of students to the meeting. See if a committee member can join you in this meeting. Once again, this helps new students to put a face with a name. You will not want to stay for the entire meeting, and you don't have to, after all, you have been in this meeting before. But you will want to stay and introduce yourself to the new students ( There will most likely be students who did not make it to the meet and greet, in fact, there will be new students that will not make this meeting as well. (I didn't my first residency. It would be helpful if you knew if there were any missing new students. Ask Jackie if she can point them out to you during residency.)

Hand out- Prior to residency I have put together a hand out that has pictures of all of our committee members. The hand out also contains the following about each committee member:
1. What "G" they are.
2. Where their dorm is
3. What their study is about.
4. Most important a name and photograph. That way, new students know where to go if they need help. Pass them out in this meeting.

Post one of these handouts on the bulletin board

I like staying and listening to the new students and what their plan of study is. That way I can do the following-
1. Find other students who are studying the same thing. Then I can introduce them and perhaps they can give them some good things to look into.
2. Think of students who left who had a similar study and who might have their portfolios in the library. These make good resources for a bibliography. So I take notes at the new meeting.

After everyone has introduced themselves I, and my committee members excuse ourselves.

Take a breath- the vast amount of your job as Welcoming Committee chair is over.

Other things to do at residency

Make yourself available to the new people and keep an eye out for anyone who is having trouble, appears to be lost, or has no idea how long it takes to get to the library!

What I have done in the past
1. Hooked up with those who seem out of place, included them in outings or invited them places, music room etc. walk to a functions together.
2. Shared my study plan. This is an overwhelming time for new students. Sometimes if they can see a study plan it helps. If you don't want to share yours, send them to this blog. I have my G1 Overall study plan,Semester Study plan, my G2 and my practicum study plan all posted. Check out this blog post.

Encourage other committee members to "be available."

WHEN YOU GET HOME

I try to contact the G1's after they have sent their first packet in. The email usually says, glad you made it through your first packet welcome to the real Goddard work, let me know if you have any questions as you go along. I also refer them to this blog, as there are so many things in it.
To get the email list of all of the students go to Goddard.edu- MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Vermont group-Under Information and Notices you will find the student and faculty address list. Just look through the list and send an email to all G1's. You might want to save this list and contact the G1's again at the end of the semester to see if they are interested in becoming a part of the committee.

CONTACT STUDENT BODY IN BETWEEN BREAK- search for volunteers.
1. In the break between the end of the last residency and the beginning of the first residency, I send an email to the student body asking if anyone wants to join our Unofficial Welcoming Committee and telling what it entails. To get the entire list go to your Goddard account, (Gnet) , click on m email. log into that Google account. and then send a general e mail to the MFA-IA body. Be careful. I once sent something by accident to the entire student body. MFAIA-VT Students I believe is the correct thing to put in the to line: Here is a copy of my last email.

This is the last time the Goddard College student body will receive my plea for volunteers to be on the student unofficial welcoming committee, as I am graduating.
I do believe another chair of the unofficial welcoming committee will be taking my place.

The unofficial welcoming committee is looking for a handful of students from the student body that can sit on the committee.
Tasks are very simple- make yourself available to the new students. This is something that everyone usually does at residency, however,
we make a special effort to put a name to a face, prepare a flyer that is handed out to new students and post it. We also create the first meet and greet on Thursday.
( If you can't be at the gathering on Thursday but want to be on the committee you are welcome.)

If you are interested in being involved in the committee, please send me your name and information for the blog and flyer, along with a photograph.
You can see a blog post at this link, if you need an example, or this post. My personal e-mail isbridgette@creativesculpture.com

We want to welcome all students to our meet and greet of the new students at 3:00-5:00 in the lobby next to the front desk on Thursday.
We also will need someone that lives in the area and on the welcoming committee to volunteer to get our snacks for the meet and greet. You will be reimbursed.

I look forward to hearing from both the new and the old members of the welcoming committee.

Thank you for letting me serve in this capacity. I have enjoyed helping others.
Bridgette Mongeon

Please note: As new students contact me I will be friending them on Facebook and suggesting them to other fellow students.
It is a good way for new and potential students to get to know one another.

For those G1's who are now G2's. Please forgive me. I usually make contact with each of you during the semester, but this semester was particularly difficult.
Though the weather appears to be nice right now, I have always found it a challenge to fly during this winter residency. My advice, if you are coming from any distance. Leave early and plan on layovers. My best to all of you in your travels.

PRE CONTACT OF NEW STUDENTS
This is my biggest beef with this position. I wish I could personally contact all of the new students. But with the new laws, the school will not give out their information. For me, when I was a new student, it would have helped if I got some other contact before arriving, besides a bill. Since I have arrived, I believe an effort has been made by Jackie, the program director to send a letter to each new student. The last couple of semesters Sarah Hooker has done this. I still think hearing from a student is also needed. The best they can do is put your contact information in there so that students can contact you if they want to talk. So, I send Jackie and Sarah a letter reminding them to include me in this.

As Chair of the committee I send something like this to both Sarah and Jackie about 4 weeks before residency. If you are the new Chair CONTACT ME and I will give you Sarah and Jackie's emails.

Welcome new students
I am the unofficial chair of the MFAIA-Vermont welcoming committee. If you have any questions about residency such as what to pack, what it is like, or how to get there, please feel free to contact me.
You can do so through my phone INSERT PHONE NUMBER , through email INSERT E MAIL or Facebook INSERT FACEBOOK. For those who are interested, I have kept a blog about the entire time at Goddard and that can be found at http://www.perpetuallearner.blogspot.com

We will also be having a gathering to welcome new students on thursday from 3-5 in the lobby next to the help desk. If you arrive early enough please feel free to come by. You can also look for us at dinner at the table behind the salad bar.

See you at residency!
Bridgette Mongeon

STUDENTS CALL
Very few students call, many say they never knew they could. Some never get an e mail letter from the school. When they call, I try to tell them about things like cab share to the campus, what to expect, about how they might write a bib before they come. Certainly they might find things they like to read or have never gotten around to reading. I have my study plans online and encourage them to think through theirs before they come, using mine as a guideline. It might help them to feel less stressed when they come.
The rest is about--what to pack, remember to bring flip flops for the showers, towels and bedding are provided, a travel coffee cup is helpful, unless you want to use the paper from the cafeteria, etc, etc. I also remind them about this blog. There is so much in this blog, even maps of the campus, what to pack etc.

FACEBOOK
Some new students do find me, and then, before they come I suggest my committee members friend them on facebook. We are all excited about the up and coming residency, and talking about advisors, and such, and this is a great way for new students to feel welcome before they even arrive. I also make sure I friend every new student while I am at residency. Please have them friend me. I'd love to keep up and be a part.

These are all of the duties that the chair of the committee does. Really not that much work.

If you need any flyer templates contact me, I'll send them. Thanks for keeping this up. I appreciate your efforts.

Other resources on this blog that might help you.
WElcoming committee post for Fall 2011
Winter 2011 welcoming committee

Calling all new students

Why is it called the "unofficial" welcoming committee? What does it entail? Can I help?

Sent this information out to G1's- Mid semester.

Let me officially welcome you.... (in an unofficial way!)

Packing list 1 week residency

Goddard College Campus and Dorms- For new students

More about the campus and the map

COSTS OF graduation and fees etc.

2012-01-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

How much do you actually pay for graduation?

OK, this is what the office has told me today. I don't know how this will change to the next semester, but this is what I know.

So, looking at "Plainfield" in the list below-I have a $242.-- fee plus a double room fee of $195.00
NOTE: you have to pay for an extra night. The extra night charge is$ 65.00 for a single and $40.00 for a double. ( You only get three nights and if you live far and must arrive on Thursday then that would mean you would leave after graduation. It would be impossible to get a flight out on Sunday night. I wouldn't want to pack up and leave after graduation either, so I am going to pay for an extra night.)

I can have a guest in the room ( it would go down to a single price) but I must add the cost for the guest which is $126 for board for 3 nights for your guest and $120 for the room. The extra night is $40. for your guest + breakfast.

Here is what was sent to me-

Mandatory Graduation Fees—Plainfield programs:

· Diploma Fee $ 116.00

· Board Fee $ 126.00

$ 242.00

Mandatory Graduation Fees—Port Townsend programs:

· Diploma Fee $ 116.00

· Board Fee $ 141.00

$ 257.00

Grad Student Room Charges (3 nights):

· Double Room $ 120.00

· Single Room $120 + $75 = $ 195.00

· 4^th Night Charge - Double $ 40.00

· 4^th Night Charge - Single $ 65.00

· & breakfast for extra day $ 10.00 (Plainfield only; PT purchased separately)

Grad Student’s Guest Charges: (3 nights) Plainfield

· Shared w/ Grad $ 120.00

· Meal Charges for Guest $ 126.00

$ 246.00

Grad Student’s Guest Charges: (3 nights) Port Townsend

· Shared w/ Grad $ 120.00

· Meal Charges for Guest $ 141.00

$ 261.00

· 4^th Night Charge $ 40.00

· & breakfast for extra day $ 11.00 (Plainfield only; PT purchased separately)

Guests who are not staying on campus may purchase individual meal passes at the Help Desk.

Please indicate your on your housing plans in SIS when you do your intent.

· Staying Off Campus

· Staying On Campus

o Housing choice for Grad

o Housing choice for Guest

o Arrival Date

o Leave Date

Payment due date:

Your program pre-registration deadline (2 weeks prior to registration)

What about extensions?

2012-01-05T19:08:00.000-08:00

I first heard about extensions for that final semester when I went to my G4 meeting about graduation. Here is the scoop-

If you do not finish your portfolio you are allowed an extension and your advisor will tell you which one you need. THESE COST MONEY!

You have to finish by the last day of the semester.

Four week extension

Eight week extension

These extensions start on the first day of the next semester. So if you take an extension- you won't graduate with your class.

A student has two options if the final product is judged not to be substantively complete by the end of eight weeks. The student can either register for the balance of the semester in order to complete the final product or withdraw from the semester and return in a subsequent semester for an additional full semester to complete the final product, if academically eligible." However... A student on a Final Product Extension is not expected to attend the residency that begins the semester in which the extension takes place.

So, you won't see your friends graduate, but it will save you money.

I'll get these fees and post them, but note- no financial aid is available for extensions.

There is one extension that you can take that you don't pay for. I could not find it in the handbook but I would have qualified for that this semester with the death of my dad, however, I'm glad I could get it together so that I can finish my semester and time at Goddard.

I'm always surprised when I find fellow classmates, who do not complete their semester.

2012-01-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

It kind of freaks me out to hear that some people have to repeat a semester. I mean, school is so very, very expensive, I would hate to have to do that. I am not one of those people who can hear in packet 5, sorry, you are not going to cut it.

I actually had this conversation with my advisor this semester around packet 3 or 4. I was feeling so far behind with the portfolio, I had to ask my second reader if she would mind getting my packet late. I was in the middle of figuring out my father's death and working with a very difficult project.

My advisor assured me that anyone who "fails" a semester, though they never use the word "fail," knows in advance. Their advisor has done everything they can to get them to do the work that is needed.

I say that because I can't believe I did it, that I recuperated from that very difficult portfolio semester with all that it entailed in my personal life.

NOTE!
If you do not finish your portfolio in the semester, you cannot just work on it at break. Goddard makes you take an extension. These are expensive. I'll be calling Goddard to get some other costs for this blog, and will add the costs for an extension later.

Waiting for graduation

2012-01-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to be finished. Just a few things left to do
1. have someone proof portfolio/thesis one last time
2. Create a presentation.

I'm not really worried about either.

I just don't know if I should print out the portfolio here or at school. Some suggest waiting to get to school. Why not use their paper and facilities, don't we pay for them?

However, I am a little hesitant. I have tried to print out multiple pages there before, and the machine can be quite temperamental. I think I will print it out in my office, spend money on the ink cartridges, is much cheaper than going to Kinkos, Office Max or the like.

Presentation?
I have filled in my request for time and place, hope I get what I ask for and that I am not put at the same time as my cohorts. I would hate to miss anyones presentation. I'm not one that gets nervous presenting. It is only 45 minutes, the question is how to get all of the amazing stuff I want to share into that short amount of time.

Preparing myself emotionally for my last residency.

Waiting for a green yes.

2011-12-07T08:31:00.000-08:00

I have hit submit for the last time at Goddard College. I have completed my student evaluation for my G5, which is quite extensive and VERY important. This will be seen by your future employers so it is a good idea to take some time with it. Of course it was done when I was at a place of feeling brain dead. Now I await for my green YES. Here you see what is in my Student Information System for SIS. We all wait patiently after creating our student evaluation for that Green YES which means we can go on. Somehow this one is anticlimactic.

I'm so sorry for some of my classmates who were G5's and did not make it through this semester. They are not moving on for various reasons; they did not plan their time properly, they did not complete the portfolio to the satisfaction of their advisor. Extensions must be made, it happens. Some just take an extension of a few weeks to polish the portfolio. You must pay for this and... take it after the next semester begins, which means you do not graduate with your class. I thought I would have to take a personal extension-I'll talk more about this in my next post. I don't believe you have to pay for a personal extension but the same criteria applies.

I can't say it enough... PREPARE IN G4 for your G5 semester.

How?

1. Read this blog and follow some of the things I suggest. ( you can search portfolio on this blog for all of the posts on portfolio or thesis)

2. Talk to others

3. Begin to outline your portfolio

4. Ask many questions

5. Do as much as you can.

DON'T THINK YOU WILL HAVE ALL OF THE TIME YOU NEED! I didn't- see my previous post.

What I learned about doing the portfolio/thesis

2011-11-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

Ask other graduates if you can see their portfolios. I wish these were online, and they soon will be, but it really helped to see how others articulated their practice.
More reflection less collection.

Don't just regurgitate what you did, say what you got from it, and reflect on the place this process had in line with your contemporaries.
For me, a huge leap came when my advisor reminded me that my podcasts where a big part of my study. ( I have three podcasts the Creative Christian Podcast and the inspiration Generation podcast, found at blog.godsword.net and the Art and Technology podcast found at Digitalsculpting.net )
Focusing on what I gained from these interviews and how it pushed my study was pivotal for me. I suppose the same thing could be done by looking at a bibliography.

Walking away from it for a while did me good
I preferred to work long, long stretches on the portfolio when I did work.
There were things that my advisor and second reader, and proofreader said did not go together, however, they really did in the end. It was that I could see the "design" of the portfolio in my head. Something that did not come out until the last couple of packets.
Hiring and editor like Genie Rayner was really helpful. It cost me about $300.

Another suggestion I received by my advisor was to take your entire portfolio and highlight the areas where you have met the degree criteria. I'll take this a step further, in a podcast I did on revising a novel. Darci Patterson suggests to reduce your novel down to really small type say 7 point, and then lay it out on the floor and highlight different areas. Now she is asking to highlight other things, but this could be done with a thesis and the degree criteria. So if the first degree criteria is given a yellow color, highlight each area of the thesis that talks about this. If you find you are lacking a certain color then you can beef up your thesis in those areas. NOTE: this will also help you when your advisor says, Sorry this is not meeting the needs of a graduate portfolio. Then you can list the areas that you have covered and where.
Graduate school is about learning to articulate what you are doing or "defending" what you have done, than anything else. Don't take it personal, just learn this is how you play the game.
The thesis did not feel like mine, when I was given all of the direction of what was needed or where I was supposed to go. Frankly it is not yours. I mean, it is about your practice and study, but it is to fulfill what you need for graduation. Do that, and you can revise it into something you want later.
Keeping something in- it is kind of like what a writer said at a recent writers conference, when she was talking about using run on sentences. I asked her if an editor ever gave her flack about it. Her response was that if she had a good reason for using it and she could articulate that, then it stayed.
Taking things out- If they are asking you to cut back in some areas, seriously consider it. I think my advisor said something about how much does the reader need to know, in comparison to what I am attached to? This was hard to determine, but act like an editor and cut, cut, cut. When you get down to the basics it is really good stuff.
SAVE EVERYTHING YOU CUT! I was then asked to put more of it back in.
If advisor or second reader was leading you in a different direction, something that you did not study then that means that you have not stated this in your portfolio. Don't freak, they are not trying to get you to go in another direction that you don't want to go. You are just not being clear enough. It may be as simple as saying, I was introduced to this topic within my study, I gained this from it, but I did not pursue it further because.... Or I see the need for further investigation after graduate school. [More on this: I got one of my revised copies back and said, "she doesn't get it." SHE missed the entire point. It is not that SHE missed it, I just did not clarify it for her to get. Many times it was as simple as adding one sentence. Sometimes it was pivotal to a portion of the document. For example, Part1 I got irritated that I was asked to reflect on a topic as compared to what others said about it. Then I simply realized. I can't... it was an introspection. It was examining it from inside of me. This was not wrong, it was just not clarified. It actually ended up in my title "Introspection of a sculptor and writer... Taking it all in."
It is o.k. to clarify that you did not study a certain thing within your time at Goddard.
Use your SIS evaluations that you created- they are so valuable. FYI when you are creating them through your time at Goddard really focus on the above information and it will go a long way to help you with your portfolio/thesis in the end.
If you are stuck with a degree criteria, brainstorm with someone about it. You probably have met it, but can't figure out how to articulate it. Again this is where my podcasts came in. When my advisor said to look at those it really came together.
Connections. As I wrote the thesis/portfolio I was able to find connections that I did not know where there. Some were astounding. This is the coolest part of this process.
Don't wait until packet 4 or 5 to be sure you are on track. Get confirmation early! No one wants to have to take another semester.
The title came about 2/3 of the way through. Don't fret about it.
In the end, it is a better document than it was when I started. I do own it and I am very thankful for the suggestions of my advisor and second reader.

Anyone else have things that they learned? I'm sure I will add more later.

I'm on the last round of the portfolio

2011-11-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe, I'm almost through with the graduate program at Goddard.

This semester was very hard for me. not so much for academic reasons but for personal reasons. I had a project with a huge time constraint, an 11 foot panther for Prairie View A & M. A bronze that was due by the 11th of November. I worked many 14 hour days on this thing.

Add to that my father passed away in the middle of the semester. Everything stopped as I tried to take care of his affairs.

And we had found ourselves fostering 17 kittens.

Finding time to write the thesis was difficult. Plus I was going in the wrong direction when I started. More on that in the next post. The panther will be installed this friday, the last portfolio/thesis packet is due the following monday and the end of school is just in a few weeks. So there you go. I have never, ever been so glad to hear the words from my advisor, "you are good to graduate."

I'm almost through with my portfolio and thought about the binder.

2011-10-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

The MFAIA addendum says you can get one from the school.

This is what came back when I asked the school.

"Hi Bridgette,

You can get a binder shipped to you. There is a charge of $10.00 each to ship them. The binders come in three sizes: 1"-up to 150 pages=$20.00 each, 1.5"-up to 250 pages=$23.00each and 2"-up to 350 pages=$25.00 each. Most students wait until they get here on campus to purchase the binders to save on the shipping.

Please let me know if you have further questions."

Organizing the Thesis/portfolio

2011-08-27T19:25:00.001-07:00

I went and bought a large table, put it in the spare room. This is my thesis writing place. Of course I could not organize the 100 +pages that are in the 2nd half of the thesis. I'm visual, and having them in the computer was beginning to freak me out. So, I put them on the wall. I am now cutting them up and re arranging them or changing them entirely. Just part 2, I have not revised part 1 yet.

Wow, I have heard so much about portfolios.

2011-08-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Some of it has been through my facebook page. I suppose because it is public there it is o.k. to share it here. IF anyone does object I will take their comment down. But how inspiring this has been.

I posted this on my blog and these were some of the responses.

Fellow student

No, no, no. Cutting each page in half, throwing it up in the air and reassembling would be so much more fun: construction, deconstruction, reconstruction. :)

Another fellow student

Don't worry it's not all for naught! I promise. Save it and watch how you'll use it later. It's frustrating as all hell before that though! Hugs! Miss you! :)

My response

linka was telling me there was a portfolio that was created so that each page was individual, that if you did throw it up in the air it would not matter the order it came back down in. Who was that? I wish I could see it. hmmm going to not look at original and think about reorganizing and new thoughts. Step away from what was done, do something else and see how to put the two together. thanks guys

Another fellow student

I started this way too - I went from 300 pages to 175 not including my title and contents pages. You will get it just how you want it.

Another student

Bridgette--the portfolio that you're referring to was Lisa Strier's. And it is a thing of beauty!

Lisa replies

you are a lovely woman! ( to the student above) thanks! Bridgette Mongeon-- The clearest MFA-IA advice I ever received was from Pete Hocking--the Goddard program is NOT your practice, packets and portfolios are not your practice, they are merely guides for developing & exploring your work/practice. Your portfolio is the work YOU do/how YOU do it-- YOUR practice in the format of a thesis. If you think about the portfolio as holding a space for someone to enter/interact with your work in the way that your work/practice does, it can help your own portfolio process. You can access my portfolio download online here:http://mfacamp.blogspot.com/2010/11/culminating-semester-portfolio.html. (& if you scrambled my portfolio pages, it could be a coherent document, but would offer a different experience/flow than how I crafted it.)

Peter states-

Pete Hocking Tara Rebele, who graduated some time ago, built a portfolio that was all one-page performance scripts. She subsequently had much of it published in the book, And I'm Not Jenny (http://tinyurl.com/3zach7w).

Thanks for the nice shout out, Lisa Strier! The portfolio is always the most interesting when it's the embodiment and enactment of one's practice (as a creative act).
And I'm Not Jenny
www.amazon.com
Who is "Jenny"? Well, who isn't she? Tara Rebele, in her debut, crafts a series of alternately defiant, sublime, racy and hilarious monologues in the latest hybrid text in the Slope Editions catalog. Prosaic, poetic and rooted in the performance arts, this book promises to help redefine "feminism...

Another student
Hey, I'm reading that book as we speak. Thanks Karen Bunch!!!!!

Bridgette Mongeon wow Lisa this is an incredible portfolio. love the design. I feel so inadequate but inspired at the same time. Incredible.

SO THIS IS WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT
Lisa's portfolio is excellent and inspiring. I have seen so many people use the portfolio as another piece of expression, another piece of art.

How can i look at what Lisa has done, what Rick and Erica have told me. How can I make more reflection showing work, but less about "what I did" more about "what I learned?"

I wish I had this blog before I started my portfolio!

2011-08-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

So, I have my first draft back and am working diligently on it. Looking at my track changes and my advisors letter.

HINT!

MORE REFLECTION

LESS COLLECTION!

It is easy to write what you did, but be sure you look at what you learned and focus on that. In my opinion, and from what I am learning from this portfolio writing process, that is what they are after. Part of me wants to scrub what I have done, take all of the work, throw it in a gallery in the back of the portfolio and redo it.

Instead this is what I am doing.

Going through each of my self evals from each semester. What makes me excited? What were the true questions and lessons in that semester?

I'm about to put those as sticky notes on my wall, by semester. The lessons.

I have highlighted the things in my bib. IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE A GOOD ANNOTATED BIB! Crap, I couldn't remember what half of these things are, if I did not have a good bib. G1 seems so long ago.

And instead of what I did, I'm going to reorganize into the lessons.

MFA-IA portfolio - artist statement? new addendum or old?

2011-08-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

After having lunch with someone who graduated two residencies ago there seemed to be some discrepancy in what is expected in an artist statement. She said it is not a typical artist statement and she had to reflect on her work in comparison to her peers. Seems like a strange thing to put in an artist statement. Then I went back to the addendum
Do I read this correctly?

The new addendum states

Artist Statement

This is a concise introduction of yourself as an artist to your communities. Here you communicate your passions, highlighting the aspects of your practice that are most important to you. You may choose to mention specific projects, significant themes or issues in your work, the expressive forms you practice, as well as the critical and/or artistic contexts in which you place yourself.

The old addendum states.

This is about you as an artist. Introduce yourself to a general public - this statement may also serve in your professional career, so you want to present yourself and your work with accuracy, yet positively; you want to do justice to your strengths as a practicing artist. This statement is also the place where you locate yourself within the larger context of contemporary art, defining the major trends to which your work is related giving credit to the artists who have influenced you, attaching yourself to a lineage of other artists.

Now, frankly I like the new addendum -artist statement, it seems like we do enough of locating ourselves in within the larger context of contemporary art within the portfolio. Who wants to have a bunch of other artists reflected in their artist statement? If this has been deleted, which I hope it has, I am glad. I do need further clarification.

I need more words!

2011-08-22T08:26:00.001-07:00

I told my advisor that I go down to look at the black books and write down words. She looked at me funny- like I was somehow cheating, though she never said that. It would otherwise be called building your vocabulary! Besides, as a writer I find words fascinating. Though I get bored with some that I use over and over again.

As I write my portfolio I get tired of saying I explored or studied.

Here are some synonyms

explored

analyze, burrow, delve into, dig examine,go a look, hunt, iinto, inspect,

leave no unturned, look probe,prospect, question, reconnoitre, research,

scout,scrutinize, search, seek, sift, test, tour, travel,traverse, try, turn inside out

Study-

comparison, concentration, consideration,contemplation,

debate,deliberation, examination, exercise, inquiry,inspection, investigation, lesson,

meditation, muse, musing,,questioning, reading, reasoning,

reflection,research, reverie, review, scrutiny, subject, survey,

thought,trance, weighing

MFA-IA portfolio - on to the introduction

2011-08-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

So, I mentioned many other resources that talk to you about introductions to a thesis.

Here is another I found that I like

USA term papers

I like that it talks about:

Give reasons of your particular topic selection

List your sources of research

Give argument which you will discuss further in your art thesis paper

I have been saying that being in graduate school is all about defending your art. O.k. this site says "persuading others" or "academic argument." That is the problem with graduate study. I don't want to argue anything I want to create art and explore. Guess "persuasion" sounds more civil than defend.

this page from The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill talks about writing a thesis statement "After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you'll make in the rest of your paper."

Going back to the paper on How to Write Your Thesis from Columbia University to pull together my introduction

As my advisor says 1 could be changed to why interdisciplinary art?

2 could be about what brought you to this practice.

ok. I know all of this probably doesn't make any sense, but keep reading it and writing until something becomes cohesive.

MFA-IA portfolio - artist statement

2011-08-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

As I told my advisor this is hard for me for two reasons-

1. I feel I have already said it in my introduction. ( I guess that means it is time to cut and rearrange things.)

2. I am both a writer and an artist. Do I write about both?

So here are some links to pages about artist statements.

Molly Gordon has a good page to get you thinking.

That will get you going

How about How to write an artist statement that doesn't suck. By Hanna Piper Burns.

If you google artist statements you may come up with this rather funny video-

See more on artist statements and addendum

not mfa-ia portfolio related but cool stuff.

2011-08-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

I appears that some students have their packet work online. I suppose this is meant for anyone so here is Rod's G2

MFA-IA portfolio - ANY OF THESE ONLINE?

2011-08-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

I wish there were more portfolio's online. Or I wish I could sit with a few in the basment of the the library. Alas the school library is much to far away. It will be great when the portfolios are available online.

Until then...anyone have theirs out there that they want to share?

I have found one by Monta Gae May feb 2007 as a pdf. It is titled "Life Weaves its Way- A Cloth is Made From Many Threads

and another I found Mapping the Trembling Paradox of Essence by Meg McHutchison MFA-IA July 2006

No more-unless someone out there has information I don't know about.

MFA-IA portfolio- conclusion- "BLA, BLA, BLA, BLA"

2011-08-21T11:38:00.000-07:00

So when I sent my first packet in to my instructor I ran out of words, literally ran out of things to say by the time I got to the conclusion of my first draft of my portfolio/thesis.

In her reply, her track changes state.

"You’ll need a fuller conclusion, but that can come between packets 2 and 3. "

She did not note that I had skipped several lines and wrote

"BLA, BLA, BLA, BLA"

She writes in her notes:

Oh, well there it is…the fuller conclusion J

It made me laugh!

Which is a good thing at this stage of the game!

MFAI-IA portfolio thesis- abstract?

2011-08-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure I liked the description and thought process of the last article I recommended- especially as it came to writing an abstract.

Maybe this one will help

How to Write an Abstract

Philip Koopman, Carnegie Mellon University
October, 1997

MFA-IA portfolio tips- structure?

2011-08-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Most of this can be found in our MFA-IA addendum under Portfolio writing.

But my instructor sent some great resources. Columbia University had this website on How To Write a Thesis that talks about the parts of a thesis. Our portfolio/thesis is different, but my advisor pointed out these sections.

Introduction

She also stated, time to differentiate between What am I attached to, and focus instead on what does my reader need to know?

UGGG onward.

MFA-IA portfolio tips- Track changes

2011-08-21T09:27:00.000-07:00

I created my document in Scrivener. I thought it was great to have this program and if you are going to use it, it is very inexpensive, learn it before your G5. However doing track changes is helpful, scrivener does this but trying to go back and forth between scrivener and word now that the document is written is going to be a bit much, so I am going to keep it in word from here forward. My advisor suggested I print out the changes. Needed to learn to do that and found this.

10 Proven Tips for Working around the Shortcomings of Word’s Track Changes

however this document seems to be for the pc.

David Bilinsky

Beware of Track Changes in Word…

with further investigation I guess I can't print out just the track changes from my advisor.

MFAIA- Portfolio hints and helps- analyze and Interpret

2011-08-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

These next blog posts are for the use of myself and those writing a portfolio. I sent my first draft in, Packet 1- thought it was pretty good, had the jist of what I wanted it to say and got my revisions back. As my advisor said this can feel like a daunting task for some. I am used to writing and revision and editors so we will see.

There are bound to be lots of hints that I wish I had before I started and that I am learning now. That is what these next posts will be. They will be fast and furious posts because I am trying to do three weeks of school work in 5 days. I'm doing this because I have a huge project that came into my art studio and will take up 3 full weeks of time and I don't want to be late on packet 2, especially in this portfolio semester. So, my focus is on portfolio for long hours. Wish me luck.

Some things I am learning.

Most people plop there stuff into their portfolio from their packet work. I suppose it is a good way to start, but it will mean lots of revisions.

The words that come to me are "unpack it, unapck it, unpack it" I am sure you ahve heard this mantra before. It is coming back and screaming at me now.

As I proceed with my first set of revision my adivosor said, gdo them step by step baragraph by paragraph or as Anne lammotte said, Bird by bird!

Though I have read through all of the ideas and comments in bed this morning. Some made me want to stand up on the edge of my bed and say, "what is she talking about, I did just that, and this is how I did it!" I'll think about that statement and see if that is really what I did before screaming it in a repsonce letter. She has said these are suggestions and not directives. That is good to know, and that is what I expected. We are in graduate school to learn how to defend and back up our practice, not the berst words to use but I am certain

My Mantra, which I'm about to define and put up above my new working desk specifically created for this protfolio is Interpret and Analyze. Here is a jpg so you can print this out and hang it on your desk, like I have mine.

to help me to think here is an online defition

Interpret

Definition interpret (verb)
-to decide what the intended meaning of something is
-to express your own ideas about the intended meaning of a play or a piece of music when performing it
-to change what someone is saying into another language
Synonyms for interpret (verb)
take * , gather , mimic , perform , clarify , understand , fathom , read , define , delineate , adapt , teach , do , enact , solve , render , illuminate , annotate , construe , decipher , describe , elucidate , explicate , expound , illustrate , paraphrase , spell out , translate , recite , state , play , portray , represent , illume , exemplify , treat , improvise , elaborate , depict , image , limn , picture , gloss , view , diagnose , comment , commentate , decode , throw light on , make of , reenact , simplify , transcribe , clear the air , decrypt
analyze
Definition analyze (verb)
break down to components
Synonyms for analyze (verb)
go over , decompose , dissolve , edit , digest , review , check , classify , prove , break up , separate , divide, cut up , dissect , canvass , clarify , think , conclude , determine , resolve , inquire , compare , scrutinize , disintegrate , construe , decipher , detail , identify , test , winnow , distinguish , consider , go into , brainstorm , ratiocinate , deduce , weigh , lay bare , sift , explore , research , peruse , diagnose , individualize , proofread , simplify , analogize , anatomize , decompound , electrolyze , hydrolyze , parse , x-ray , enquire , experiment

Working on my final semester

2011-08-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

I'm in my final semester at Goddard. The work load of graduate school has never really freaked me out, but this semester I have so many commissions that I am a bit stressed about being able to meet the deadlines of the portfolio/thesis writing.

DOES SIZE MATTER?

While searching through some of the portfolios in the basement of the library at Goddard I have noticed that they do come in different sizes. David McCurry's who graduated as I came in, is a wonderful painter and I admire his work. His is one of the larger portfolios. Though a couple like Pam Callender and Coni Porter (hers is a must see) are under 100 pages. She is a book designer so her book is pretty cool looking. I believe this might be her professional website.

As I understand it this is the designated schedule for portfolio

G5 residency - come with an outline.

( frankly I think this should be done way earlier than G5 residency. My advisor had me write about some things about the portfolio in my G4. I don't know if all advisors do that, but I think coming to the G5 residency without having a really good idea of what you are doing is setting yourself up for failure. HINT HINT! Do this earlier. Spend time in G4 in conversation with yourself and your adviosor as you do you G4 work.

PACKET 1 - First draft of portfolio is due.

Wow this surprised me. I mean really 3 weeks and the first draft is due. I know that will be hard for some people. ( I have had a couple friends who have written their portfolio in during the break between semesters. I had hoped i could do this, but got really busy. If you do this, I'm not sure I would mention it to the advisor, or play that one by ear. Seems like some find that a no, no. Not sure why though, you did what you did, weather you write about it during break or the church of the first three weeks of G5 should make no difference.

PACKET 2 Make changes and revise.

PACKET 3 it is sent to both advisor and second reader. Should be a final draft that "could be signed off on if necessary"

PACKET 4 and 5 are about tweaking it and making it look pretty.

So packet's 1-3 are construction

packets 4-5 sprucing it up.

So, I sent my first draft into my advisor- Erica. It was well over 200 pages, something like 214. I think there are some things I can cut if necessary, or combine. While she has it I'll be working on the bibliography and the citations within the copy.

Hurrah! About diplomas, our voices have been heard!

2011-08-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

I received this from a graduate of Goddard. Someone who was just as passionate about the diploma's as the rest of us.

Dear Friends, Staff, Colleagues and Faculty, As a community that supports higher education, innovation, collaboration, reflection and grows if you will resolvers of conflict, I am very happy to say that our voice/voices have been openly heard by our administration. We have all been voicing our concerns, opinions, creative ideas, collaborative solutions and yes frustrations over the change in the diploma design at Goddard College. Julie Martin has asked me to communicate to the MFAIA community that the registrar's office is in the process of confirming how they will be making the changes to our diplomas. The registrar's office is currently working on a solution for applying the embossed raised seal just as previous diplomas, presenting them in a standard folder with a printed seal on it, and changing the font as suggested for the names and dates. I hope that our program director will be signing our diplomas as well. As of right now, I don't have the answer to that question. I believe that this issue has truly been a collaborative effort on everyone's part. This is refreshing and exciting to me personally and communally. Why? Because it gives me and I hope you all hope for so much more, on so many levels, and renews the possibilities we have to resolve so many different situations. Thank you to everyone on both sides of the coin who wrote emails, offered suggestions, listened and expressed their passions, support and frustrations in this important rights of passage into the world a new. Sincerely, Nancy

More about the diplomas- OUTRAGE from graduates?

2011-07-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

As our graduating group has discussions on the outrage of the design change of the diplomas those that graduated are weighing in on it. Nancy has given me permission to print her letter and photographs that she sent me. Any other graduates or students want to express their opinion?

"The Diploma dilemma: I am not letting this go until the class of 2011 gets the right of passage diploma that we deserve. I have taken photos of my children's diplomas. Interesting, my son just graduated from eight grade to high school, my daughter just graduated from high school entering college and myself MFA entering society with a new voice.

My Diploma looks so cheap and unprofessional. I did not show my children. If our voice is not heard and the situation out of respect for us not changed, I will be going to Grand Central and taking the three diplomas and getting the peoples opinions and voice on this social issue. I do believe this mis-representation is a social issue. Below are the photos. I hope you show them at your G meeting today and speak that the recent graduates need to be part of the change if and I hope there is a change from cheap diploma to traditional diploma or a diploma that has all the right legal embossing.

As it stands it is my impression that my son's diploma and my diploma can be reprinted with no problem."

Sincerely,

Nancy

Bert's Piece For the Art crawl. How did I miss this?

2011-07-27T04:20:00.000-07:00

Title of the piece "700 Year Plastic Composter."

Check it out! Follow the plastic bottles near the cafeteria, down the steps, through the exercise room. Turn left.

Art Crawl at Goddard is open to the public.

2011-07-26T04:42:00.000-07:00

Today from 4:30- there will be an art Crawl open to the public on the Goddard College Campus. Perhaps you already heard about it on the public service announcmenet on WGDR . The community radio station from Goddard.

What is an artcrawl?

Performers, artists, musicians, and basically lots of art happenings will be had at the Goddard campus from 4:30-? Come to the campus, pick up a map and begin to crawl around campus. Great fun!

Goddard College

123 Pitkin Road

Palinfield Vermont

05667

(800) 906-8312

G4's PAY ATTENTION

2011-07-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

One of the best things that happened to me was that Erica my G4 advisor suggested I dialogue in my last packet of G4 , or through the semester with both myself and her about anything I felt stuck on as far as having to discuss in my portfolio. I sent some things in to Erica in my last G4 packet. This helped a lot.

Frankly, I wish Goddard would change their rules and ask students to have an outline by their G4 5th packet for their portfolio. Just finding out that I have exactly one month to get my first draft of my entire portfolio done, is pretty overwhelming. It would not be if my work schedule didn't all of a sudden become filled to the brim.

The race begins.

Did you know?

2011-07-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

That there is a vote by all of the faculty about if a student should graduate? I am told it is just a formality.

Outrage! This is what our diploma will look like?

2011-07-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

It was brought to my attention at lunch today, that many of the graduates were very surprised to see what was actually handed to them at graduation. A lingering graduate offered to let us take pictures of this new diploma. Please note-

It is presented in a paper binder that looks like something that comes from Kinko's
Is not a very good paper stock
Does not have an embossed seal.

Who do you think sat down at our table while the next to graduate G5's were in an uproar over this diploma business —the president of the college, Barbara Vaccarr. We were told to talk to Julie.Martin@goddard.edu Dean of Institutional Advancement

802-322-1622 to discuss our opinions on this new design.

Our thoughts are:

It is not really something that we would want to hang on our wall.
We paid a lot of money, it would be nice to get something that looked like our education was worth it.
The diploma reflects on the school, it is not good "branding" to be handing these things out.

In defense of the new diploma

( journalist in me is forced to do this)

It is recycled paper and therefore reflects the nature of Goddard.
A lot of time and possibly money went into this investment of the new look.

Robin, a G5, has agreed, I hope it was not in jest, to take our thoughts to the appropriate person. So, we would love to hear what you think? Graduates weigh in, either on this blog post or the facebook post. G5's, G4's, what do you think? Others?

Because this is a personal blog I'll start.

I appreciate recycling, but not sure I want it to apply to my degree. Personally, give me some fake leather binder and the usual diploma. I do, after all, have to present this to the rest of the world, and I might not have time, or want to put a disclaimer on my wall, should I chose to hang it up.

And because a picture is worth a thousand words, though this paper might not be worth the thousands of dollars that each of us spent on our degree, here are some photographs of the diploma.

G2 study plan

2011-07-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

New students may find it interesting to see another person's study plan. I have posted 4 on this blog, My overall study plan , My G1 study plan, My G2 study plan and my practicum study plan. PLEASE NOTE: your study plan may be very different. I am not an academic writer so my study plans are in plain English.

Guidelines: The study plan for one semester describes, specifically and in detail, what you will accomplish this semester. Refer to your STUDY PLAN AS A WHOLE as well as the MFAIA Degree Criteria, and as thoroughly and concretely as possible elaborate on this semester's plan of study activity.

Areas of Inquiry that provide the academic and artistic context of your studies.
sculpture
writing
technology

1. What are your overall learning goals for the semester? Describe the areas of inquiry, central themes, concerns and/or questions that your learning activities will address. How do you envision your creative and intellectual work evolving? How do you anticipate this work will move your practice forward?
There continues to be two areas of focus in this study plan. The first is bridging the gap between digital and traditional sculpture, where I further explore the incorporation of digital technology into my own creative process. The second area is writing, both creative writing, exploring other styles of writers, and an inner exploration of self and nonfiction writing.

Part 1. Digital/Traditional Sculpting
This semester in many ways is a continuation of last semester as the research and the digital processes are much more extensive than I expected and need further exploration. I will be focusing on the process of what I call tra-digi art, a mixture of traditional and digital practices as well as the technology that is incorporated in creating tra-digi art. I feel it is necessary to continue the research that began in last semester and compile information about the process. This will help me to utilize this technology in the future in my own work. I will however, be taking one of my own pieces of art working through the process of digital scanning, molding in the computer and output and I will be documenting that process. As I put my own work through this technology I will be able to know exactly what to expect from the new mediums and the difficulties and pitfalls that come with this technology. It is essential for me to document this process to be able to define it for myself and to help other artists know how to affectively integrate these technologies into their own art. I look forward to sharing this through my nonfiction writing and descriptive and evaluation essay.

The study also consists of becoming familiar with the contemporary artists and researchers who are also investigating this new technology. I would like to do this through personal one on one interviews. I will also be interviewing the resources, vendors, and university research laboratories that provide this type of technology. This research helps to move my work forward because as I gather this information for my own process, I would like to write instructional essays on how other artists can use it. A collaboration with Ed Tacket of Saddleback College, Rapditech National Center for Rapid Technologies will be proofreading this essay to be sure that the technology is correct and to help me anticipate and interpret what other information is necessary to smoothly incorporate these techniques into my own practice.

Part 2. Writing
As a writer passing on information and knowledge is as important to me as creating and learning the process myself. This is one of the reasons why I love nonfiction writing. Besides the nonfiction writing I’m also interested in continuing a personal dialogue with my creative writing. After the loss of my mother last semester I have found that reflective writing is helping me to both process her death and work through my own creative process. I will also be exploring the work of other writers who are writing memoir or narrative essays.

2. What creative projects will you undertake and what products do you envision emerging from your creative work this semester? Describe how this work will be documented and how it may contribute to the development and rigorous exploration of your interdisciplinary practice.
Part 1. Digital/Traditional Sculpting
Most of this semester I will be continuing my research. I am very excited about not just researching papers, but actually meeting and talking to those who are using the technology, as well as those universities, professors and individuals who are working on the advancements.

I will be doing this through podcast interviews - Art and Technology. As I started, with this research last semester I was thrilled to find that many of those who I have spoken with were delighted with my goal of bridging the gap between technology and the traditional studio. This exploration helped me to become known in the fields of rapid prototyping, additive and subtractive manufacturing and laser scanning research. That notoriety assisted in the research itself. The element of putting my name out there with others who are doing the same research is essential because much of the technology is cutting edge, and the researchers encourage open source and sharing. They pass on my name to others or other new technology on to me. Also, with some of the steps that I have been trying to take in using this process there have been technological obstacles. It has been important to push past these obstacles and find further resources to make this tra-digi art a realization. Having my hand on the pulse of the technology and pulling other resources to add to my process have done this. I must consider approaches that may not fit within traditional definitions of art. Much of this work is not only interdisciplinary it is cross-disciplinary moving into manufacturing, engineering, architecture and math and science. As a traditional artist I am trying to not just bridge the gap between the traditional and digital studio but anticipate the problems, by examining my own resistance, both psychological and technological that keep me from realizing the final creation. My goal is to process the information, find the best way to utilize it or how others are utilizing it, and then disseminate it. If the semester and interviews lend themselves to the topics I may also reference some of the difficulties with the technology, from copyright infingement to the psychological aspect of the artists and their transition to the digital processes.

Part 2. Reading other people’s work, and regular writing- whether fiction or nonfiction helps me to become a better writer. Researching writing styles and absorbing those styles trying to make them a part of my own writing style is a goal. I loved doing this with Ann Lamotte and Donald Miller last year, I just kept reading their work until it morphed into my own. There was freedom in exploring an alternative Christian writer. I look forward to reading others works and further exploring narrative essays through my creative writing.

3. What critical discourses and theoretical concepts will you engage with this semester? Identify the artists; theorists; movements; fields of study; cultural, social and political frameworks; or other areas of knowledge that you plan to explore and describe how you see this work in conversation with your creative projects and/or contributing to your overall creative development. How will you document this activity; what written or other products-such as critical writing, essays, annotations, etc.-will emerge?
Part 1. Digital/Traditional Sculpting
The discourse incorporated will be essay writing and interview. Seeking out artists who are using technology in creating fine art as well as those utilizing data, science or math to create 3d artwork. The first semester at Goddard has been rewarding and fulfilling. It stretched my own personal interaction with contemporary art and techniques that I would not normally consider in my own practice. This interaction and dissemination of my own research will continue on that journey.

My questions for interviews are based on my own questions that I have asked myself. As I interview others I am sure more questions will arise.
1. How has digital technology and sculpture changed in the last 10 years?
2. Is it the work or the process that excites those interested in this technology?
3. Can digital sculpture be accepted as a fine art medium?
4. Will these digital process take over the traditional process of the lost wax method of bronze casting? If so, what is needed for that to happen and what are the advances in this technology.
5. Who are some artists, vendors, or universities that are using the technology or contributing to their advancements?
6. What are the limitations of the process? How can these either be worked through or used to the artist’s advantage?
7. For artists - How has this technology changed the way that you create?
8. For service providers - What are things that artists need to know to help them get the best end product in their creations?

4. What specific resources do you plan to use? Include a Bibliography, as well as other resources you plan to use. In addition, please describe how you envision co-learning with peers this semester.

My resources for my first semester were extensive covering 12 lectures and workshops, 13 gallery shows, museums or designs exhibits and relying heavily on online research incorporating 47 sources, along with reading 13 books.

I would like to continue to depend on the online resources of which I cannot identify in this bibliography as many of the discoveries in research are cutting edge technology and are being made or happening from moment to moment. The bib will grow with the research. Also I have found that one paper and question builds upon the next.

The resources will also build as I conduct the interviews.

As part of this semester I do plan on creating an open dialogue with those who are creating and researching this new technology. This dialogue itself will lead to further resources. Many of those that I want to interview are people that I found from my previous research and who are listed in last semesters bibliography. A sample of those possible interviews are:

Sculptor - Barry X Ball
Vendor - Ex one digital printing and those using this resource
Research University - Solhiem Rapid Manufacturing Laboratory University of Washington
Vendor- Next Engine and those using this resource
Sculptor - Robert Lazarrini
Weaver - Nathalie Miebach
Research University - Ron Beal, UC Berkeley concerning printing in porcelain
History of 3d printing and fine art- Robert Michael Smith NY IT Fine art
Research University - Keith Brown Manchester Professor of Sculpture and Digital Technologies Manchester Metropolitan Museum
Curator of Design and the Elastic Mind MOMA Paola Antonelli

Part 2. For the personal reflective writing in this semester I will be focusing on reading memoirs, or literature that can inspire me in the direction of reflective essays, and narratives.

Potential Bib for Writing

Claxton, Eve. “The world's best memoir writing: the literature of life from St. Augustine to Gandhi, and from Pablo Picasso to Nelson Mandela / edited by Eve Claxton.” Napperville, Ill.: 2007.

Couser, Thomas. Vulnerable Subject Ethics and Life Writing. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2004. Print.

Hayes, Bill. Five Quarts : A Personal and natural history of blood. Ny: Balentine Books, 2005.

Hayes, Bill. Sleep Demons : An insomniac's memoir / Bill Hayes. New York: Washington Square Press/Pocket Books, 2001.

Hayes, Bill. The Anatomist : a true story of Gray's anatomy. New York. Ballantine Books: 2008.

Kvale, Steinar, and Svend Brinkmann. InterViews. Sage Publications, Inc, 2008.

Welch, Dennis. Rich People Shop Here. Intermedia Publishing Group, 2009.

5. If you are planning a practicum for this semester, include the complete Practicum Proposal (as outlined in the MFAIA Handbook Addendum) here, describing the project's aim in relationship to your learning goals and how you plan to document it.
Though a practicum does not apply for this semester I have spoken with Jackie Hayes about creating a semester of art and writing that is totally reflective and somehow connected- art to writing. I envision this study as having the component of total solitary creation. This is a stretch for me because with my sculpture work I only work in collaborations- myself with the client, to complete a commission of a child, husband, wife etc. This practicum is different as it is working in the studio to create without having any outside influence or direction. I know that sounds strange to some artists as many do this all of the time, but for me I do not. I always create with the goal of serving a client in mind. I weave my own creativity into it but I’m guided by a clients needs. It will be interesting to see how I approach this process and perhaps even that journal of the approach of doing art for art’s sake. Creating Portraits- or images of others is important to me, as is exploration of the deep emotion. However instead of creating figurative detailed sculpture I will instead stretch once again to create either art nouveau or sculpture of found objects, abstracts- a portrait of the person or feeling without actually a portrait of the person.

6. How will the work you are planning for this semester advance you toward fulfillment of the MFAIA degree criteria?
Ability to Conduct Rigorous Exploration within the Context of an Art Practice
Sculpture
• The exploration of the artists and process along with the technology is extremely rigorous. My interview and investigation of the technology and its possibilities and well as the boundaries, and of the artist that are using this technology helps me to explore creative possibilities that I might not have ever considered in my work.

• Being able to disseminate this knowledge opens up a possible future rapport between myself vendors, artists, and research universities and will transform my own work.

Understanding of the Nature of Art and Articulation of a Personal Theory of Art. Ability to Develop a Critical Discourse on One own and Other’s Practices. Understnading of the Cultural, social an Political Context of One’s Art.

Sculpture

Exploring the nuances of incorporating tra-digi art, the history of it and how artist are taking these processes that were originally created for manufacturing or industry and pushing the boundaries of that technology to create what is not an object but becomes art, helps me to develop my own art philosophies.

Conducting interview with other artists who are interested in the same research and art as I am assists in helping to develop a critical dicourse.

Writing

The factual precision and exploration of the interview, journalism, essay of creative nonfiction, and the intellectual rigor of academic discourse that I inititate with those who are studying these works of art are perspectives from which I can critique and rethink the conventional boundaries of each form of writing and creation of art. I will also work to gain a new perspective on my experiences with language.

Through the listening of other artist’s voices and through essay I will be developing a critical discourse. I have found Social issues within the context of rapid prototyping and additive and subtractive manufacturing, both in the possibilities that they hold and the problems with the waste that they can generate. It is my deep desire to find alternative methods to the lost wax method of bronze casting that has been around for thousands of years and in itself has waste material.

I am also very intrigued with the idea of how we can now see data as art. It is already being shown that this is having huge implications in the areas of science, which in turn affects our world as a whole. I’m drawn to the idea of incorporating that data/art/science into my own work. In hopes of creating work that can enlightening on more than just a creative standpoint but might reveal some hidden secret to affect the world on a broader scale. I will continue to evaluate and develop discourse on this both in an inner dialogue and within interview and essay.

Understanding of the Concept of Interdisciplinary Art

This semester as was last semester is not only interdisciplinary working with different forms of art and writing, but also is cross disciplinary as the exploration of art in additive and subtractive manufacturing also brings me into such areas as architecture, manufacturing science and math.

Keep in mind, as you plan your study, the ways in which you will move towards meeting the MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Program's Degree Criteria. Please refer to these criteria.

At the end of the semester you will write an evaluation report. Then you will need to look at this plan and ask yourself how well you followed it. The more specific it is now, the easier to compare it with what you actually do during the semester. The clearer your goals, your plans for learning activities and resources, the schedule you laid out for yourself, and your description of the products you hoped to make, the easier it should be for you to assign values to or find value in ('evaluation') these aspects of your ongoing study.

Study plan G1

2011-07-24T16:15:00.000-07:00

New students may find it interesting to see another person's study plan. I have posted 4 on this blog, My overall study plan , My G1 study plan, My G2 study plan and my practicum study plan. PLEASE NOTE: your study plan may be very different. I don't do academic writing so my study plans are in plain English. This study plan has been approved by your advisor
Guidelines: The study plan for one semester describes, specifically and in detail, what you will accomplish this semester. Refer to your STUDY PLAN AS A WHOLE as well as the MFAIA Degree Criteria, and as thoroughly and concretely as possible elaborate on this semester's plan of study activity.

Areas of Inquiry that provide the academic and artistic context of your studies.
Sculpture
Digital media
Writing
Exploration of creativity, expression, faith, emotion and process

1. What are your overall learning goals for the semester? Describe the areas of inquiry, central themes, concerns and/or questions that your learning activities will address. How do you envision your creative and intellectual work evolving? How do you anticipate this work will move your practice forward?
Part 1. Digital/Traditional Sculpting
There are two areas of focus in this study plan. The first is bridging the gap between digital and traditional sculpture. Through the semester I will explore working with Mudbox as a sculpting tool as well as using other digital technologies to aid in my creations. How is Mudbox used, what are the difficulties that a traditional sculptor will have entering the digital world? Are there alternative methods of workflow that might make that transition easier? It will be important to document my own frustration with the process from a traditional sculptors point of view.

The use of digital technology in my studio is very recent. Embracing the technology increases my productivity, saves times and offers me more time for creativity. It also gives me tools to expand upon. Along with the creative process I’m also interested in exploring the ramification this new technology will have concerning copyright as it pertains to 3D scanning and creating.

Part 2. Creative Christian
In addition I have a strong desire to research my own creative process as it pertains to my faith, business and person. And would like to journal these thoughts.

2. What creative projects will you undertake and what products do you envision emerging from your creative work this semester? Describe how this work will be documented and how it may contribute to the development and rigorous exploration of your interdisciplinary practice.
Part 1. Digital/Traditional Sculpting
With the digital art, as it pertains to the traditional studio, I am in the process of collaborating on a book with artist Mike de la Flor. My collaboration on the book is to translate the traditional process of sculpting to digital. The exploration brings frustrations, concerns and more questions that I need to resolve. Once resolved, those discoveries need to be formatted to educate others. My packets will consist of my own writing and research for the book as well as notes/journal about my personal experiences and frustrations.

Part 2. Creative Christian
Within our inspirations podcast we have decided to interview one creative Christian a month. The interview questions that are asked are burning questions of my own. I’m interested to hear how others are interacting with their creativity when it is melded with their faith and often with their livelihood. I know the interview will also bring up further questions and emotional responses, which I would like to journal about.

3. What critical discourses and theoretical concepts will you engage with this semester? Identify the artists; theorists; movements; fields of study; cultural, social and political frameworks; or other areas of knowledge that you plan to explore and describe how you see this work in conversation with your creative projects and/or contributing to your overall creative development. How will you document this activity; what written or other products-such as critical writing, essays, annotations, etc.-will emerge?
Part 1. Digital/Traditional Sculpting
Working through the process of using digital technology helps me to bridge that gap between traditional studio and the digital tools. Because of my own exploration and incorporation of these tools, I feel that I can better educate others. I can identify with the affects of using them in the creative process. It will however be interesting to see how other traditional artists come to terms with technology and if they will embrace it or shun it.

Because technology is changing and growing it will be necessary to keep engaged with the advances. Just as digital photography and printing has changed the photography, new advancements in digital technology will be changing the field of sculpting. It will even change the way that bronze casting has been done for centuries. With such changes come a great deal of uncertainty and psychological barriers between the creator and the tools. It will be interesting to explore these barriers.

Part 2. Creative Christian
Through the writing and exploration of creativity it is important to allow myself to become vulnerable to others in order to assist them with their process of growth and healing. In turn, the sharing affects my own growth as well.

4. What specific resources do you plan to use? Include a Bibliography, as well as other resources you plan to use. In addition, please describe how you envision co-learning with peers this semester.
Part 1. Digital/Traditional Sculpting
I will rely heavily on the information that comes from the computer graphics convention SIGGRAPH, which I am attending in August. I will also draw from the research gathered from those I have already been in contact with. Because this study and the new technology is really groundbreaking work there is very little written about it. I will however, be reading books that I can find that are on similar topics such as the competing software—Zbrush. Online discourse with modelers and Mudbox users will be of great assistance combined with the tech department of the software company. Books on polygonal modeling are available and may or may not apply.

Part 2. Creative Christian
The interviews of the individuals that I feel inspired by, whose work I will have to research prior to interviewing will be my resources for this portion of my study. I look forward to talking about t

5. If you are planning a practicum for this semester, include the complete Practicum Proposal (as outlined in the MFAIA Handbook Addendum) here, describing the project's aim in relationship to your learning goals and how you plan to document it.
This does not apply at this time.

6. How will the work you are planning for this semester advance you toward fulfillment of the MFAIA degree criteria?
I believe this study plan for this semester expands on six of the seven Degree criteria, the only one it does cover is of course the practicum. It is transforming both personally and creatively and it will take vigorous research to achieve this goal. Part 1 – traditional to digital sculpting is all about contextualizing my research and comparing it to what has been done in history as well as contemporary. Because of the somewhat controversial, old way verses new technology, and my documentation of not only what is available but the affects and relation that others have to it, I believe that the criteria of “ability to develop critical discourse on one’s own practice” and “understand of cultural social and political context of ones practice” is also met.

Keep in mind, as you plan your study, the ways in which you will move towards meeting the MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts Program's Degree Criteria. Please refer to these criteria.

At the end of the semester you will write an evaluation report. Then you will need to look at this plan and ask yourself how well you followed it. The more specific it is now, the easier to compare it with what you actually do during the semester. The clearer your goals, your plans for learning activities and resources, the schedule you laid out for yourself, and your description of the products you hoped to make, the easier it should be for you to assign values to or find value in ('evaluation') these aspects of your ongoing study.