PNCA/PSU Critique Exchange

It worked! The first session of the critique exchanges between two Portland MFA Programs was excellent! Ruth, Zach and Mindy came over from PNCA and Ralph, Laurel and I all got to talk with everybody about current work and concerns, etc. I'm really looking forward to more of these!

We want Julie Ault to move to Portland for good

My words will have to stand in for the pictures I didn't take while Julie Ault was here. 
(Even though there was plenty opportunity)

Ryan and I ended up spending a bit of time with Julie everyday this week; besides seeing her lecture and having studio visits, we took her for a walk in the gorge, to our favorite deli, and to a glassblowing class that she had signed up for out on 82nd St. Her lecture on Monday was extremely rich with reflection on her work with Group Material in the 80's and 90's. Reading from original GM documents, she illuminated the working methods and the changes within the group over its 17 year life-span.  At the end she talked a bit about her recent installation work and her current publication and curating projects. Its amazing to see such a long career from its roots. The influence of Group Material's methods and aesthetics is clear, not only in Julie's solo work, but also in the work of so many other artists and curators working today. She also shared a bit with us about her current PhD work and the endeavor of trying to archive and historicize the work of Group Material.

Oh, and she gave Ryan and I some great book recommendations.

At one point during our studio visit she picked up our copy of Felix Gonzalez Torres, the monograph which she edited/created saying, "Oh its nice to see a copy so dirty. That's great." (It had been water damaged in the fire.)  She balances this kind of optimism with a really critical mind, I like that. 

New Applicant Reviews Feb. 15 and Feb. 22; Interviews

MFA Faculty and current students will review the portfolios and materials of applicants for 2009-11 on Sunday, February 15 in AB 200, beginning at 9 a.m. We will continue through the day until we arrive at a short list.

During the next week Social Practice and Studio Practice students are asked to organize and conduct interviews (in-person for locals, phone for out-of-state) with the short-listed applicants. (Pat has a list of the questions the Studio Practice students devised last year; Harrell or one of the second-year Social Practice students may have the ones they used. Current students may want to draft new questions.)

On Sunday, February 22, 10 a.m., we will meet at Shattuck Annex to discuss the interviews and compile our final acceptance list and wait list.

Though the process may not take as long as it did last year, it can be a long day. Let's plan on bringing something for a potluck brunch.

Please contact Pat if you have any questions.

PSU, Otis, and CCA at SFMoMA

SFMoMa invited Ted Purves (CCA), Susanne Lacey (Otis) and Harrell Fletcher (PSU) to speak on a panel to mark the closing of the exhibition: The Art of Participation: 1950 to Now.
In true Social/Public Practice fashion, they turned it over their students, both to shape and to people the panels. The three panel topics were: Responsiblity, moderated by Ted Purves, Consensus and Decent, moderated by Jen Delos Reyes, and Proffesional and Amateur, moderated by Randal Stott. With a couple of exceptions all students sat on a panel.
Pictured above are Cyrus, from PSU, Paige from Otis, and Brin from CCA participating on the panel Professional and Amateur. Panel participants met up before hand to discuss and frame our panel topics in person, following up on recent email exchanges. There was a great deal of lively conversation and passionate involvement between students before, during and after the panel discussions.

Michael Brophy Lecture!

Thank You Michael for coming to PSU and giving a lecture + more!
In the above photos we see the MFA post lecture talk with Michael sitting in the low chair, then a packed annex of lecture-watchers, and a photo of Bethany Hays reading to us at dinner!