Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s Post

Title: "Is Fine Arts Right for You? Exploring Who Should Pursue a Degree or Master in Fine Arts" A degree or Master in Fine Arts (MFA) is an immersive educational experience tailored to individuals with a profound passion for artistic expression. Here's a look at the kind of people who should consider embarking on this creative journey: 1. Artistic Talents and Creativity: If you possess a natural knack for artistic creation, whether it's through visual arts, writing, performance, or any other medium, a Fine Arts program could be the perfect fit. 2. Passionate about the Arts: Are you deeply enthusiastic about exploring new ideas, concepts, and techniques within your chosen artistic discipline? A degree in Fine Arts offers an environment that fosters this passion. 3. Open to Exploration and Experimentation: Fine Arts programs encourage pushing the boundaries and trying out new approaches. Individuals who are open to experimentation and exploration tend to thrive in this environment. 4. Critical Thinkers and Analytical Minds: Fine Arts education involves critical analysis of both your own work and that of others. If you enjoy engaging in reflective analysis to deepen your understanding of art and its broader contexts, this field could be for you. 5. Committed to Continuous Growth: The journey of an artist often involves facing challenges and setbacks. Those committed to continuous learning, growth, and improvement, even in the face of obstacles, are likely to flourish in a Fine Arts program. 6. Interest in Professional Development: While artistic passion is crucial, aspiring artists should also be interested in the business side of the industry. Fine Arts programs offer opportunities for professional development, including networking and entrepreneurship. 7. Long-Term Career Goals in the Arts: If you aspire to pursue careers as professional artists, writers, performers, educators, curators, or other roles in the arts and creative industries, a Fine Arts degree can provide the specialized training and mentorship you need. In summary, individuals who are driven by a deep love for the arts, a desire to express themselves creatively, and a willingness to invest time and effort into honing their craft are well-suited for pursuing a degree or master's in Fine Arts.

In itself, the news about the closure of the University of the Arts is a tragedy. As one of Philadelphia’s great art institutions, it has trained artists and musicians since 1870. https://lnkd.in/gbi-rnEf The closure of UArts is merely the latest in a recent series of such closures. Last September, the Art Institutes, a group of eight colleges including the Art Institute of Atlanta, shut their doors. https://archive.ph/Yw6hj My own alma mater, the San Francisco Art Institute (founded 1871), closed in 2022. https://lnkd.in/gSNe9sur Of course, the decision for any business to declare bankruptcy and shut down is the result of a constellation of factors, and every institution’s situation is different. Nevertheless, in these cases, two reasons are glaringly apparent. One is that the tuition at institutions of higher education in the United States has skyrocketed since the 1980s, when many schools became privatized. Federal loans are a challenge for any student to pay off, but for those interested in studying fine art, an academic field that leads to a fiercely competitive job market and modest salaries, current tuition costs seem particularly unreasonable. Alongside such staggering costs, the introduction of the internet, cell phones, digital photography, and artificial intelligence has not only made high-resolution imagery, which many mistakenly conflate with high-quality visual art, accessible at little or no cost, causing an education in the visual arts to appear even less promising. The closure of private art schools is only the beginning of this troublesome trend, I fear. Now university administrators have begun questioning whether, amidst the increased emphasis upon science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), departments related to the Humanities are worth sustaining. https://lnkd.in/gszQvCWu Even art museums such as the one at which I am currently employed are struggling to redefine themselves and remain relevant amidst the ubiquity of digital imagery. Ironically, many of these institutions are now intensifying their focus upon art education, hoping that docents can make art exhibitions more “accessible” to the public. Certainly, as museums recognize the needs and interests of their multicultural audiences, we need to challenge the Eurocentric art historical canon that dominated American art museums for far too long. If making art exhibitions “accessible” means stripping them of intellectual nuance, however, then the opportunities for art education in the United States become even fewer. Is art education truly as expendable as these developments make it appear? Or is our increasing reliance upon technology as our cultural enterprises deteriorate leading us in a dark direction? RIP UArts. We will miss you dearly.

I wrote an artist statement for my Open Studio which showcases earlier work. ( you can see my current work at my website www.rmcimini.com and click on a link in the banner to see the work in the Ipen Studio ( today 2-5 pm @802 Partridge Ct Hockessin, DE) This collection of seminal paintings was completed in the years following my MFA study. The use of references to the world, pure abstraction, and color to express my spiritual journey began here.  The color, a principle element, is brighter and clearer in these paintings than in more recent work. These early pieces clearly show my efforts to continue embracing abstraction while leaving behind the flatness of formalism and of nonrepresentational art, which bear no traces or references to anything from the real world. This effort of  leaving behind the emphasis on the purely visual aspect of the painting without turning to narrative content often resulted in the emergence of imaginary places. In my current paintings, I synthesize my experiences, and often allude to places or spaces while not being representational. I have developed a method of layering semi-transparent glazes, developing a visual depth and giving the surface a greater importance, while the definition of shapes and forms has become less important.  In this earlier work, as in my current work, I am searching for a way to create a place of internal stillness. Then and now, the process of creating a painting entails slow working. Paying attention in a deep way, being totally present to what is on the canvas, then in an interaction, a  dialogue between myself and the painting. A conversation about what has come before and what should come next, until the conversation ceases. I start with canvas and paints and work until the resulting painting awaits viewers to discover something that did not exist until I painted it.

Good design is invisible. Who knew it applied as much to ART as to graphic design? Last night I was privileged to attend the first lesson in a course on composition and design hosted by Dena Ackerman. It was superb, and I'm so excited to be diving into this topic in depth, in order to improve my own work as well as enhance future visits to the art museum 😊 I don't doodle much when taking notes anymore, but was inspired to do so last night. (Just doodles, mind you. The great designs will have to wait!) #artcourse #artanddesign #composition

#CommunityEngagementGrantee Meet Deborah Aschheim: Artist - “My work is about memory and place. I am interested in all the ways we remember and make meaning in shared spaces, and how meanings change over time. I make installations, drawings, sculptures, temporary interventions into public space and digital projects. I have explored themes of collective memory, oral history and social justice in projects that bring the stories of diverse communities to life. I think one thing that sets me apart is, when I get interested in something I get very, very involved with my subject, and my research process can verge on obsessive. I like to spend time observing, researching and engaging with people and communities well beyond the information I literally need to create an artwork. I love making things, but sometimes I admit the art project is an excuse for being allowed behind the scenes in spaces where I wouldn’t otherwise have any reason to be, whether that is peering through microscopes at the cells that make up memory regions of the brain in the Neurology Department at UCSF, or jumping on a rig to answer a 911 call in Santa Monica, or capturing the stories of newly-minted U.S. citizens at the Immigration and Naturalization ceremony and their excitement about voting for the first time. I think the biggest challenge for me was, there really was no job doing what I do, and for a lot of my career I tried to fit into existing jobs. I wanted to be an artist but I didn’t feel a real affinity with the “art world” or gallery scene. Even “public art” was not the exact fit when I looked at is in terms of the end product, which is often designing artworks for public buildings. But eventually I came to see the process of meeting people and trying to understand a world or an experience that is different from mine (or, in the case of history based-projects, a time that is different than ours) as the work, however long it takes and no matter what the process involves. The actual artworks are important, of course, but they are not always the most important part.”

Imagine this: beneath the art museum lies a hidden gem, the Spring Garden Tunnel. This passageway offers a quicker route past the museum, bypassing Eakins Oval. As I glance out the window, the interplay of light and the beams supporting the tunnel often catches my eye. It occurred to me that this unique combination could potentially create an animation, adding a touch of magic to the mundane commute. The passing light and shadows could offer the same frame rate as a zoetrope, creating a mesmerizing effect for those passing through. When I'm driving or taking public transit, I often yearn for a different form of entertainment. Instead of staring into the blank darkness, envision captivating visuals or messages cleverly integrated into the tunnel's architecture. This space, often overlooked, could be a canvas for innovative advertising, transforming a mundane journey into an engaging experience. Of course, there are challenges to consider, such as potential distractions for drivers or issues with maintaining the beams. However, the idea of turning a seemingly ordinary space into a source of wonder and contemplation is truly intriguing. I love to ponder possibilities, and this concept of utilizing space in unexpected ways sparks my imagination. The thought of transforming a simple tunnel into a dynamic and interactive space is exciting and could enhance the daily commute for many.

Are you considering a career in art – Or perhaps you are already navigating the industry? – Either way, you may find yourself asking some of the following questions. 1 – You might be working away but aren’t entirely sure what direction to go in? 2 – Perhaps you are hoping to sell your work directly but need advice?  3 – Or would you like to have private gallery representation? Or both? 4 – Should you be creating collections?  5 – Do you have to partake in exhibitions?  6 – What is the difference between operating in the amateur space or embarking on a professional career in art?  And there are many more! As long-time curators of our busy, contemporary art gallery in the West of Ireland, and with a family background steeped within the industry, we have a unique understanding of what it’s like for artists starting out in the industry. And we know it can be a minefield of directions and choices. We have put together this E-Book, ‘Smashing it in the Art Industry’ – to help artists navigate the industry, to bring clarity to the many varying directions artists can take and to help artists gain more autonomy over their career paths. So, whether you enjoy art as a hobby; are emerging on to the scene and want some clarity around it all; are in art college and are wondering what your next steps might be, or indeed, whether you are already an established artist who is merely interested to read our observations – then download our E-Book today! We are certain it will be useful. Smashing it in the Art Industry – from the perspective of a private contemporary art gallery. . . https://lnkd.in/eGPXXV6X

In a series of articles, we will introduce you to Essential Tips for New Collectors. Jelena Simić Dragan Dinic Sara Werkee Shahinda mohamed YiXuan R. Tuana Sarı

Museums offer windows to the past. You can get a glimpse of life in the 1500s by simply looking at a painting. 🖼️ Now what if you could open that window to the past just slightly by involving another sense. Enter interactive exhibits. For day 6 of my advent calendar featuring standout museum social posts, I'd like to share this TikTok video by Museo Nacional del Prado. The video does a great job of catching the viewer's attention by pointing out a detail, that is not obvious to the average viewer who may not know what to even look for, and sharing its interesting backstory. The narrator, having already captured the viewer's attention, connects this detail to an interactive exhibit that allows museum guests to experience what that item would have SMELLED like. If you look at the comments of this video, you'll see how curious viewers are about this new sense that's been introduced. And the museum goes a step further in engaging their audience by replying to one of the comments with a new video describing the smell. 👃 Interactive exhibits can be hard to showcase because they may not necessarily be visual. What this video does so well is that it lays the groundwork with an interesting story/historical fact, and then it introduces the interactive component that can be experienced only at the museum. #interactiveexperiences #exhibitdesign #museumsocialmedia

Art collecting is a journey that isn't exclusive to the affluent, proving that even those with a modest budget can amass a collection filled with treasured pieces. Start this journey by finding art that resonates with you, identifying a common thread that ties your chosen pieces together, and remembering that the emotional value of art often outweighs its financial significance. Navigating the art world involves visiting museums, and galleries, and exploring online platforms to discover a diverse range of works, while also considering the importance of supporting emerging artists to sustain the creative culture. Embarking on art collecting with a comfortable budget in mind and being open to negotiation can set the foundation for a fulfilling and enriching collector's experience. In a series of articles, we will introduce you to Essential Tips for New Collectors. ➡ First Tip: Understanding Your Art: Collecting Motivations Reflecting Personal Identity Through Art Art collecting is deeply personal and reflective of one's identity. When choosing pieces to collect, consider works that resonate with your personal experiences, dreams, and aspirations, as these will form a collection that truly represents who you are. It's essential to begin with art that you genuinely love; selecting ten pieces that speak to you personally and identifying any common themes can provide insights into your aesthetic preferences and emotional connections.