Countdown to London with Tea & Toast

This past week I held the final informational meeting for all interested persons to learn about the Winter London trip. We had tea, Irish butter, brown bread (toasted, of course), marmalade (exactly like the kind we'll eat in London at our Mayfair hotel!), Hob-nobs, Lemon Ginger cookies, and Will & Kate Royal Edition Cheddar to sustain us over a discussion about the course I will be teaching in London from Dec. 26-Jan. 8. The course is entitled "Great Exhibitions" and qualifies as upper-level hours in art history. 

As the deadline approaches (Sept. 13 for $100 off; Sept. 27th is the final day to apply), please consult the consortium's website for the application procedures. See this link which takes you to the CCSA (Consortium) website.

I've included a pew photos below (thank you to former students for sharing them!) and payment details at the bottom of the post. 

Hope you can join us. And, if not this time, I hope that in the near future you do get the opportunity to study abroad or undertake an experiential learning opportunity of some kind. 

Earl Grey heading toward the London Eye. 

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (reconstructed) is one of the sites we visit.

Text blasts from artists...

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind.  The first week of school, Kim Fink, the visiting artist for the Cochenour Gallery installed his works on paper.  Installing in the Cochenour is usually not a difficult process.  The artist and I get to spend time and discuss the work, decide how it should look on the walls, measure and hang.  The only unusual aspect of the gallery is the lighting.  Also the color of the walls, but mostly the lighting.  We currently have a small select amount of lights to highlight multiple works of light.  I am sharing this information not to say, woah is me, but to share that every space that an artist works in isn't perfect.  Many times, especially when artists, and gallery employees, are starting out they are not working in a place that has a large budget or an awesome building or even many employees.  But all that said the exhibition really looks brilliant in the space and it was such an honor to have Kim's work on our walls.  Check out more of his work at his website: www.kimfink.com  And see the work for yourself! The exhibition runs through September 27th.

THIS week the Fine Art Galleries will open Dialogue by Rusty Wallace.  As a director, my job is to be the artist's right hand lady.  You work long hours, lots of coffee, and little sleep.  Well, I guess you would say that it is much like being a college student again.  Rusty called on Tuesday telling me he would be on campus at 6pm, which turned into 7pm that turned into also 9pm.  He was pulling a trailer through mountains which slows one down.  Per usual, I was back on campus at a perky 8am.  (This is also the week I have decided to start my morning workouts training for a half marathon in November, sigh.)

Rusty, myself, and the occasional Daniel worked throughout the day.  It is amazing that we have faculty in the Art Department that are so willing to help.  It makes my job a lot smoother.  Rusty and I worked until 9pm when I finally had to call it quits (I had been up since 5am to workout).  He stayed for probably an hour later than I did.  Along the way we laughed; I hung things completely wrong; we both worked together.  Having a visiting artist is a lot like your first week at summer camp.  You stay up late and are super slap happy but are so glad you can still get things accomplished.

I hope you are all able to stop by throughout the day and check on our progress.  Rusty will be giving a lecture this evening at 6pm in the Ward Room.  You should be there, he is pretty cool dude (do people say that anymore?)

His opening is tomorrow, Friday, August 30th from 4pm to 6pm in the Wilson.  Now enjoy some photos.

Peace, Jeanette

Before we got to work.

Rusty and I laid this out like it was a memory game... you will understand once you see it on the wall.

The occasional Daniel.  So glad he was there.  I KNOW it would have done this all wrong!

Rusty hard at work at 9pm.

LAL – CSA (Community Supported Art)

This summer I was invited to participate in a new project for the Lexington Art League. The LAL came across a new idea for raising support based on a concept similar to community supported agriculture, where people have the opportunity to purchase a share of produce from local and regional farmers. This same concept was applied to the idea of artists and art making. (Visit the Lexington Art League's webpage here.)

LAL, along with the Morris Bookshop and CD Central, commissioned nine artists (visual, poets/writers, musicians) to produce an edition of 50 original works exclusively for this CSA. We were provided with funding to help produce the work. And in the end each share, including nine works (one from each artist), was sold for $400.

I was very surprised and excited to be chosen as the sole photographer for this first CSA. And as

Senior Thesis: A Weekly Update

Hello artist world, welcome to my first post on the GCVA blog!

I’ll briefly introduce myself: My name is Maddy Fritz. I am a senior art/graphic design major and communication minor, and fun fact-->I also really like blue jello.  I pretty much knew I was going to major in art since I've been doodling on the backs of my math tests in the 1st grade. My first experience with graphic design was the Paint program that came standard on most hp computers; thank goodness my horizons have expanded! 

I'll introduce my work by introducing my obsession. I am obsessed with the way things are designed- the way things look... all the time. You have no idea how many posters, flyers, and signs are hanging up out there that are just complete wastes of space, money and trees. There are SIMPLE strategies and principles that you can apply that can make your work more appealing to the eye, you want your stuff to stand out from all the crappy stuff out there, but not in a bad way.  Some say good design goes unnoticed, that the good stuff just flows so naturally you don't even think about it. Design is everywhere!

I think this info-graphic is a good example of the unrealistic expectations that some businesses have about design. People think graphic design is something that you can just throw together, and trust me, it's not! 

..So back to what I was saying, this obsession I have is the fuel that keeps me sitting at a computer desk for hours and hours at a time. My crazy mind is always telling me there is always a way to make something look better. A little craziness is good... right? 

So here I am telling you about what goes on in my head when it's time to introduce my work. My senior thesis is centered on the creation of a brand. The majority of establishing a brand is graphically based... logo, advertising, and creating an overall cohesive/professional look across the board, so I have my work cut out for me in that aspect. But what also goes into branding a company is the audience you are aiming your product at, and how strong of a relationship you can build between your company and your target audience-it all determines the loyalty and success of the business. 

Branding a company is also a lot more than just a logo.  Before you even can create a logo, you have to establish your mission, values, vision, and what you want your company to be associated with, and the actual name of your company (9 times out of 10 the a businesses name is in the logo). The logo is just a representation of all those things combined. 

So... in a nutshell the graphic designer's responsibility is to create a visual image and cohesiveness of the things that are intangible in a business-things like reputation, quality, personality, mission, values...etc... So that is my goal! To brand my own company, and to be good at it! I guess we will see how far my obsession takes me in my journey to my Senior Show. 

I invite you all to check my weekly updates, as well as Shelby Eden's progress on her Senior Thesis work as well. 

We're gonna have some cool and crazy stuff!

Senior Thesis: A Weekly Update

For those of you who don't know who I am, or haven't seen me running around the art building before, my name is Shelby Eden, a senior Art Education major!

Just a little bit about me: I have a love for all art (especially graphic design & web design) some of my favorite things are tennis (I am a proud member of the GC Women's tennis team!), baking, and having a good cup of coffee every morning before class. However, that's enough of an introduction for now don't you think? My real reason for writing this post is to give everyone an update on this semester's senior thesis course! But first... i'll give you a little insight on what lead up to what I have decided to work on.

Just in case you don't know me! Sorry for the selfie!

This past spring semester, with my April review approaching I found myself struggling to decide what I wanted my senior show in the fall to be all about. At first I decided I would do exactly what I had intended since becoming an Art Major at Georgetown College, which was to do a show based on some graphic design/web design work. As I began working, something just didn't feel right to me! I had recently sat down with Dr. Decker (My hero!) and spilled my heart out about how I felt that I was being called to go into Education after graduating. Long story short... I went from an Art Major and Communication Minor to an Art Education major. I had a stressful spring semester as I entered into the world of education, a world I wasn't too familiar with... and after a few months I fell in love with being in the classroom and what could be better than teaching art? Art teachers are always the favorite teachers of kids everywhere right? I think so but maybe I am biased. In the end, I went into my April review with a plan for my senior show focusing on art education and my experiences teaching art thus far. 

A great resource for Art Ed thanks to Dr. Decker for letting me borrow it!!

As of right now, my plan for my senior show exhibit in October is to work with students around Scott Co.  by teaching them some art lessons and collecting some of their work to display in the exhibit. I also plan to invite some of the children to talk about their work as well! For the next few weeks leading up to the show, Maddy Fritz and I will be posting weekly with senior thesis updates to give all of our art fans out there a peek into our thesis work! 

Stay tuned for my update next Tuesday!

Shelby Eden 

Hey Painting, It's been awhile...

It is my senior year, so weird! Realizing I only have two semesters of classes left makes me extremely nervous. I have changed my schedule three times now trying to figure out which classes are most vital for life after Georgetown. I thought back on the art classes I have taken in my time here and I realized I haven't taken a painting class since my first semester freshman year! Well that just needed to change so Mallory Meisner and I are taking part in a Painting Independent Study this semester. I am looking to grow as a painter in my last two semesters here and really hope to introduce my developing skills into my October (technically September) Review and Senior Show. 

"Untitled" 3'x5', oil on canvas, 2010

As most of you know I am a fan of working on a larger scale. So this semester in order to challenge myself I plan on creating some smaller scale works to see which I enjoy most. For my first series of paintings I will be creating works based off a woman I met at the bookstore last week. For some reason people feel way too comfortable around me and like to tell me their life stories. This woman approached me talking about the concert that was going on outside and quickly changed the subject to her uninterested husband and her disapproving mother. She told me about how lonely she was multiple times. I will be making smaller scale pieces to represent this woman and many people like her. She looked like everyone else but was struggling with a lot. So I will be creating pieces that talk about the average Joe or Joan that are suffering silently waiting for someone to listen.

For the Whipper and the Snapper

I would like to take a few moments to address the issue of work and what its role in our lives should be. I know there are others, like myself, that have the problem of "shutting off". I love my job, I'm blessed to be able to do what I do for a living. But sometimes to be effective and to be healthy we must learn to the find the light switch. 

Over the summer I was interviewed by Michael Winters at The Sojourn Church in Louisville. (see the interview HERE) Michael and I have worked in a number of capacities over the years we have known each other and hopefully soon I will finish up my own interview with him for our blog. He asked a question about my production level and my honest answer was I couldn't help but make work. Sometimes I can laugh that off and sometimes it strikes me as guilt when I cant let a problem go even when I am supposed to be present somewhere else. When I was in Japan a number of years ago. Insert Flashback Picture...

(The gentleman on the right ran the wood shop and was a master craftsman. The gentleman to the right is a national treasure and a 10th Generation Karakuri puppet maker...he is treated as a rockstar.)

Back to working...When I was in Japan for a puppetry workshop they would work at a normal pace and every hour they would take a 10 minute break. On the first day I kept working through the break and the instructors approached me and told me to take the break. I said I was fine and I was here to work hard. (in hindsight it probably came off a bit like an addict... because I was) He put his hands on my tools and said nothing just smiled and looked over to where everyone else was taking a break. I reluctantly took the break. I then realized that this method of balance in work is something that has a defining impact on their culture and it is one of the reasons they are so focused and efficient. By the end of the workshop I realized how healthy it was to create space. Space that is not meant to be filled with other things to be "productive" but rather just space. 

I recently was reminded of this when listening to a podcast by Meredith Dancause (you can listen to it HERE) It is on the topic of Gluttony. It has really changed the way I think about my time and my self worth. Well worth the listen. Anyhow she addresses fast food and how it is not only unhealthy for its content but also for its context. How we fill our schedules to were have not made time for our most basic need. We fall into the crush crush crush go go go mentality and miss the opportunity of slowing down. I learned that you this running can actually be a form of addiction. Our bodies release adrenaline to deal with the go go go crush crush crush and we get hooked on it. Why do we strap our worth to our jobs? To production? 

I have learned  a lot of lessons in this area of my life over the past few years. More than can be shared in a blog post but I will share one. I have always respected the way the jewish faith views the Sabbath. The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of no work. Our culture too often uses it to get everything they couldn't get done on saturday or during the week. But I think it is beautiful that God gave us a day every week to remind us that we are more than what we do or produce. The real question is can you accept this space. More often than not we fill the space because we are scared of facing it. I challenge you this week to work hard and make it a point to create a small amount of empty space.

Summer Internship Experience Out West

This summer, I was privileged with the opportunity to intern at the Museum of Outdoor Arts located in Englewood, Colorado. I joined a team of 12 "Design & Build" interns and worked under the creative guidance of the artist in residence- Cory Gilstrap (Imagined Creations). I even got to spend 2 days getting paid to explore exhibitions of abstract art in the Denver Art Museum & the Clyfford Still Museum. We spent the summer "designing and building" a show titled "Art Abstracted-Weather Suspended" which opened August 3rd. It was a show consisting of 7 installation pieces that were all weather related. The weather-inspired installations were designed around the abstract environments created by the forces of nature.

I came into the internship with a sponge-like attitude, eager to absorb all the skills and knowledge I could. I have had experience working collaboratively before (in Boris's Impasto painting class) but never on a level like I did. I found the dynamic of the group intriguing because each intern brought a skill to the table that helped to bring the show together. I became an expert paper mache -er and used new gagets, gizmos and tools galore! I even experienced a bizarre allergic skin reaction from a chemical called Styro-1000. I got my hands into everything and played around with various new media and materials. Not only did I get to make art all week long, on the weekends I spent my free time in the Rocky Mountains hiking and exploring the outdoors with family. I made great friendships and was able to network myself as an artist with the privilege of having my own personal piece titled "Monsoon" in the show (pictured below). Here are some process pictures....

 "Monsoon" 2'x8' panel, plaster, acrylic, foam core on canvas

My idea to abstractly represent the weather term "Monsoon" came to me after some in depth research on the word. I discovered that a strange meteorological phenomenon called a sunshower happens in which rain falls while the sun is shining. These strange conditions often lead to an appearance of a rainbow. There is a old folktale that states during this weather phenomenon, there is a marriage between two foxes. I wanted that visual of the two foxes to be hidden from the viewer and not blatantly obvious. I covered the foam core forms with plaster for the added texture and relief making it become a storm itself. The connection of the two foxes made the focal point or eye of the monsoon storm in my mind. My color choice was inspired by the viewing of a TV weather station radar visual or the colored blobs moving across the screen during storm warnings. The radar itself is an abstraction of nature, so why not make my own.

I would like to continue my exploration in my painting independent study course this fall by taking these inspirations that I gained from my summer experience. I see myself experimenting with painting on textured surfaces and digging deeper into a possible theme of abstract representations of folktales or folklore.

Something old, something new

When I left my hometown, Toledo, Ohio, downtown was a mess. It still is. At least, the side West of the Hi-Level and MLK bridges is. However, when I came home this summer, the East side of downtown, amazingly called Old South End, had been remade. The buildings were all the same, but there were murals everywhere. When I saw the first one, I just thought it was very beautiful art in form of vandalism. We drove on and found a lot more. When you touch the paintings, you can still feel the chips and cracks in the brick beneath. It's a way of making something old new again. It gives back to the culture and society. 

I know for a fact that I prefer the murals to the bland, peeling canvases that the buildings once were.

I tried to find pictures of old Old South End, but was unable to do so. The below pictures are of a few the murals which I took pictures of while riding around. It was the only way to get the full images of some of them with my phone. 

The painting is still going on now. More pictures and info can be found about the project here http://www.toledoblade.com/Art/2012/09/02/Dazzling-murals-light-up-Old-South-End.html

On Sabbatical

During the Fall 2013 semester I will be on sabbatical. For professors a sabbatical is an opportunity to take a rest from our regular teaching responsibilities and focus our efforts on personal work and other projects. For some this might be writing a book while others may be doing research related to their area of study. Typically a professor may apply for a sabbatical once every seven years, and it may last either one or two semesters.

People usually want to know your plans for your sabbatical. I actually had to apply for my semester off, and in that application I listed a variety of projects: some photographic work, some course planning and revisions, and possibly some travel. Funny enough I already miss being in the classroom and seeing everyone. It's a little strange to not be at school after 10 years of teaching. But I have plenty to keep me busy and I plan to keep you up to date on what I'm up to here on the GCVA blog.

For starters I've been working in my personal darkroom. It's at my parents' home in Versailles, KY. My dad and I built it many years ago but I've never really put it to use until now. Already this summer I worked on a major project for the Lexington Art League. (I'll post more about that next week.) And on the first day of classes for you, I was in the darkroom developing a personal record of medium format film in one day. I got a little help from my eager assistant, Owen.

In addition you might consider following my Instagram feed. I post photos regularly of places I visit, subjects and moments that catch my attention, and documentation of the projects on which I'm working.

 http://instagram.com/darrellkincer#

So until next time, thanks for readying, work hard, and I'll see you next week.

The problems of living with a printmaker.

This is the problem with the world. No time or respect for peanut butter...and don't even get me started on the practices of toothpaste. 

In Exhibit A (seen above) a knife has been used to make a sandwich or something of the like. This is a cardinal sin in my house. A sin that my wife laughs off, but no doubt will catch up to her when she has to give an account of her life. 

I am a printmaker. I was before I knew there was such a thing. Printmakers love process, steps, and how things are created. We also love craft and usually precision. My wife wanted to be a painting major in college. But at the small school she went to the painting faculty was also the printmaking faculty and you had to take printmaking to be a painter...she changed her emphasis because she had such a distain for printmaking. This is why she doesnt understand the logic of peanut butter jars. 

As a printmaker I not only enjoy the process but also the tools and history of a process. Most people make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as follows (or its at least how I think they make one)

Step One: pull out two slices of bread.

Step Two: get a knife and use this incorrect tool to stab to the bottom of the jar to get less peanut butter than you need. Repeat this step like a bird hunting a worm in a tree until you get what you need.

Step Three: use a different knife to stab at the jelly in your jar until you have what you need. If need be lift jar up and scrap out the insides as they fall on your sandwich and hand. 

Step Four: slap both pieces of bread together and enjoy your less than well crafted sloppy sandwich. 

Step Five: wish you were a printmaker

Here is how and a bit of why I make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the way I do. 

Step One: Select bread, make a wise choice of grain and placement

Step Two: Get a spoon (not a barbaric knife). I use peanut butter as if it were printing ink out of the can (if you are right handed, if left handed reverse direction of rotation). Place the spoon at an angle back side facing yourself on the surface of the peanut butter and rotate jar in a clockwise direction and in one pull get what you need. Leaving the surface of the peanut butter clean and uniform. If you continue this healthy practice your jar will always look sharp and you will never be scraping the sided at the end. 

Step Three: Hold bread in your hand when applying the peanut butter. This allows the drop in your palm to collect more peanut butter and in a few seconds more jelly than its edges...So that when you bite into your sandwich nothing squeezes out. 

Step Four: using the same spoon, but now the front you can scoop out at much jelly as you need usually on the first go round. But what about the peanut butter getting in the jelly you say. As printmakers we are taught about the viscosity of layering inks and this is no different. The peanut butter being thinker and an oil based substance will not stick to your thinner water based substance.

Step Five: place both slices correctly aligned as they were cut from the loaf and enjoy your well crafted sandwich with the nice aftertaste of neat sustainable practices your mother would be proud of. 

Step Six: be thankful you are a printmaker.

Each of us has such a wonderful varied perspective on life. How things should be done and opinions on how to get there. An artists perspective is slightly different. From paper choices, pen choices (thats a big one) even to clothing choices and peanut butter, all of these are affected because as artists we are interacting with not only products and interacting and functioning within how they are made and why. So next time you make a sandwich please don't think like a painter but think like a printmaker.

 (**now next time you have to decide something quickly please think like a painter and not a printmaker, but thats a story for another time)

Seen above is Exhibit B: how peanut butter should look all the time when removed correctly. 

Welcome Back!

Orientation has come and gone. It's a new academic year at Georgetown College and we want to welcome everyone to a new year, and a new year in the life of the GCVA—our departmental blog!

As to academics and art: Earl Grey and Prof. Daniel Graham are serving as academic advisors to transfers and first-years, respectively. Our Gallery Director, Jeanette, has a fabulous slate of exhibitions and events planned for our fall semester. 

On behalf of our entire department — including those on sabbatical — I want to welcome art students and others to the Wilson Art Building and extend a special welcome to art majors —returning and new ones!—who have chosen GC as their place to learn and grow.

I hope you enjoy the photos from some of the Orientation events. Truth be told, I forgot my camera on days 1 and 2, so I only have shots from Saturday:) ENJOY!

Jonathan Sands Wise explaining how Foundations 111

builds upon firm foundations of GC's curricular past.

Earl Grey giving instructions at

Spaces and Places—an orientation program for first-years and transfers.

One of the groups at the Community Garden hearing
from Campus Minister Bryan Langlands.

Harold Tallant, History Prof, talking about the campus during
the 19th century. 

Terry Clark discussing the religious diversity
of Georgetown College — historically and today.

Awaiting a visit with GC's Acting President, Granetta Blevins.

We made it through the weekend!
Orientation is over—whew!
Earl Grey with one of her advisees, Gus, from Brazil.

Almost here!

We're looking forward to the art students coming back to campus for Fall semester. Thankfully, department assistants, such as Rebecca, are able to come in and help us get ready. Here's a glimpse of her "to do" list! We're getting ready for Monday and the first day of classes -- it's

almost here!

Opportunity: Art Contest

Fun opportunity from Custom Takeout!

http://woobox.com/4n2x4w

Draw or paint some artwork on a white cup, take a photo of it, and upload it on to our page. 

The prize is a 100 dollar Visa card! 

Opportunity: on and off campus jobs

Student job opportunities are available through the Graves Center for posting on the campus job board, TigerNet.  The fair will take place on Wednesday, August 21^st in the Jones-Hall-Nelson Suite from 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM. (502) 863-8122 (phone and fax)
ALSO: this just in...

ALSO: this just in...
Wall Street Greetings, LLC (www.wallstreetgreetings.com) is a greeting card and eCard company that caters to the financial industry and offers a variety of corporate cards; holiday, birthday, thank you, note cards and other special occasions. You may be familiar with our company; we have enjoyed working with Georgetown student interns in the past. We are located in Versailles, KY and offer a very creative and relaxed environment.

We are currently looking for a full or part time graphic artist and thought you might know of recent graduates or dedicated seniors interested in the position. We hope to hire a creative individual with strong skills in Adobe design software, including Flash animation. In this position the graphic artist will design custom greeting cards and eCards, assist in catalog and marketing art and assist in basic logo and signature reconstruction to assist with order processing. As a small, growing business we offer the opportunity for an individual to expand their position depending on their skill set and the needs of the company. Contact:

Mary Ellen Harden

maryellen@wallstreetgreetings.com

859.873.0877

Preparing for school

Exciting find from the Pierce Store

The Art Department is preparing for the arrival of new students this week. Today Daniel and I went shopping in Pierce Hall to find treasures that we could put to good use. Shown above—one of our finds! You name it, we got it—charcoal, laminating sheets, pencils, and markers for the studios; binders, a display case, and gifty items for the galleries, and all sorts of things for our Homecoming exhibit. Special thanks to Kay Blevins for inviting us to come over and pick out items that we can put to good use.

We look forward to welcoming back our art majors and seeing new students this week.

Opportunity: Funds for College

Each year The National Society of Arts and Letters provides scholarships for students, aged 16 to 22, displaying exceptional talent and promise of future success. The Naomi Winston Scholarship in Art also awards a total of $10,000 to be used for private study, special training, personal advancement

In Defense of Art: Feel like writing a letter to The Times?

Wendy MacNaughton

I rarely repost content from other sites but, due to the imposing deadline for replies, have decided to do so (from Real Clear Arts.)

"This is your chance, and it may be your best chance, to make the case for art museums. Right now, online, The New York Times has invited a dialogue with readers that will run in Sunday’s Review section. You must respond by tomorrow (Thursday) to be considered for publication.

Opportunity: call for artwork

GC Alum Ashley Clayton invites all art students to participate. Read the call below...

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR OUR SECOND ISSUE

Deadline for submissions is September 13th, 2013

Opportunity: Designer

From GC alum Laura McDonald, President of Impressions Marketing and Events: 

Freelance Position Information:

Impressions Marketing and Events, a full service marketing and events agency based in Central Kentucky, has an immediate need for a freelance graphic and web designer to assist with overflow projects. As a freelance

Art History Humor: Curator Tape

A professional group that I belong to mentioned this product, sold on Amazon. See below and click here.

Think about it...Should something with the name "Curator Tape" even be sold? Online we've had a good laugh about this. It's art history humor but also museum/curatorial humor. What kind of claims can you make about this product that is, ostensibly, gold tape? Here are some of the comments that have been made online in our list-serve, a few of which have been posted to Amazon. See if you catch the humor in each... 

“Everything looks like a masterpiece!”

"Man, that frame for the Van Gogh was in such bad shape, coming apart at the corners and everything!  I taped up the corners and now it looks like a million bucks!"