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As art majors at SUU, we have to pass a "skill check" of sorts in order to be accepted into whatever BA or BFA program we want. Basically we bring in work from all of our studio art classes, stick it on a piece of wall with all of the other potentials, and leave while a panel of professors scrutinize and decide whether or not we're cut out for our particular major. This is supposed to happen in our sophomore year. I have a couple of teeny tiny rants about this.
1) The art department doesn't prep you for this at all. In fact, the very first time I ever heard of it was a week before it was supposed to happen an entire semester after I could have applied the first time! How hard would it be to have a little meeting once at the start of each semester with new art majors and tell them about it? This would prevent students from throwing away artwork they'll need later. It would also set a clear checkpoint in their schooling for them to look forward to and prepare for.
2) The information they DO eventually give you about the review is misleading. "Bring at least 3 pieces of artwork from each studio art class you've taken, up to a total of 20." Wait, okay...do you want to see crappy work from every class, even if it means you can't put more than 3 pieces from another class that you have better work? I still don't know. The opinion of each professor is different from every other, and also is different from the Art Department Head. They also COMPLETELY NEGLECT to inform you in this info packet that your art is supposed to all be printed out and matted nicely, and that presentation counts. You learn that when you show up.
3) The venue is terrible. You have a choice: a small piece of painted wall that you can't put pins into and doesn't let wall tack stick, or a small piece of wall covered in fabric-wrapped cushion that is like a corkboard, if corkboards didn't work at all. They provide tacks, but they are the ugly kind that could kill a small child.
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| More people are killed by T-pins each year than by sharks. True Story. |
~ I need to keep a sketchbook. This is bull, since I DID keep a bright orange sketchbook that I took with me everywhere and both professors saw on a regular basis.
~ I need to attend Wednesday night open drawing. Also bull. This is not a class, not a club, just a few people who informally gather every week and draw. Nobody ever said it was required to get into the BFA program. Besides, I worked many Wednesdays that semester. And I knew several people who got into the program and never went to open drawing ever.
Well, I have learned from all of the above, and have talked to the Art Department Head to try to get things changed a little. A heads-up at the start of every semester for people new to the major. A little bit better explanation in the info letter. It hasn't worked though...I happen to go in and ask this semester, and found out that the review was 5 days away. I hadn't received any email or heard any announcements; the secretary said I should have read the posters they put up. On the boards around the school that have about 900 other posters on them. That I don't even walk by, and most people don't bother reading. Then they sent out emails TWO DAYS before the review, essentially giving us (by the time we get home to read the email) about a day and a few hours to prepare.
BLAH BLAH RANT RANT I could go on about this for quite a while. In any case, I feel good about my personal progress, and I got my art into the review and I feel good about it. Even if I don't get into the program again, I'm almost beyond caring. I know I'm improving quickly, I know I have a lot to work on, and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing this.
Now for arts!
