Underground Art School

What is Art School?

What art means changes as our knowledge of art, it's history, it's operation, and our own life perspectives change. So really the question is how do you feel about art right now? Side note: what should art do?

I'm pretty certain that art schools have no flipping clue what art is right now. Actually, many art schools have no flipping clue what art school in general is (meaning what it's meant to do). Teach a skill or prepare students for a career or both or neither? Finding an answer means work and work means change. Who wants do that?

I have a hunch that many presidents, professors, deans, and administrators haven't even considered these questions. Even some gallery owners, curators, critics, and dealers probably never thought twice.

 Go ask them (as a student, it is your job to ask questions). What is art? What is art school? What should they both do? How do you feel (right now) about both? 

Let us know what they say.

Let Go, Move On

 LET GO OF YOUR EDUCATION FIRST 

 BEFORE IT HOLDS YOU BACK 

Hey. So, we're back. I personally needed a break to evaluate what UAS means to me, and how it can help you. See, I began UAS because I was a confused, exhausted graduate with a piece of paper that to me stood for internal turmoil rather than pride, self worth, accomplishment, and clarity of art and design as business (and pleasure). Basically, pure rage fueled this positive thing I have going on here. 

In order to post here and share ideas, I need to return to that dark place where I was genuinely pissed off. Except, that's not very helpful for my current illustration career. It often makes me frustrated easily with the work I produce, I still have the voice of the professor (you know that ONE professor that really gave you a hard time) criticizing my work. Then, I get a damn student loan bill and realize: I'm paying for an education in which I feel I didn't even get my monies worth. And I am back at annoyed. I don't want to live and create like this!

I needed February off to realize I need to set boundaries about my feelings about my education and I need to let them go so I can professionally and personally move forward. I'm grateful for if my education was perfect, there would be no Underground Art School. 

The question here for any art school grads who feel disillusioned by their education: how long do you plan on staying frustrated? Is this frustration effecting your work? What steps can you take to move forward? 

Set a time frame to soak in your disdain and then let go. 

 

Art School Blogs

Let's talk about art school blogs. For those of you currently in art school you're probably like "yea, so?" We expect most nouns to have a website, or blog, but shamefully some art schools are way behind on their homework. So we'd like to share just a few art school blogs that are shaping the way for their students (and graduates) to connect through awesome content and design.

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 Seen + Heard: The CalArts Student Blog 

Designed by students (Bijan Birahimi to be precise), written by students, for students, this blog discusses everything from class projects to campus events. Check it out here!

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 Synthesis: The Blog of the Hartford Art School 

I'm really proud of Hartford Art School for creating a blog that posts about visiting artists, lectures, student and alumni work, visual inspiration, and even local art events! Hartford Art School is my alma mater and I can both love and be critical of them; like a family member. This time, they have made me proud. 

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 Words + Pictures: Parsons the New School Illustration Blog 

Big ups to Parsons Illustration and their blog for sharing alumni updates and shows, faculty and student work, industry insights, inspiration, events, and everything else under the illustration sun. Check it all out here.

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 The All-Nighter: Publication/Blog of the Rhode Island School of Design 

This student run online publication is dedicated to giving a stage to students to document and share the culture of RISD. It is published every Thursday and offers student and international news, artwork spotlights of students, alumni, and faculty, events, gallery and lecture reviews, and even opinion columns (that last one is VERY important and much needed). The All-Nighter is not shaping, it's shaped the way for other art institutes to communicate online because it combines all of the elements that are relevant to students, alumni, and faculty in a WEEKLY accessible online space. Art schools, please take notes!