everyonelikesbubbles

Haven’t heard anything from UCLA but have a Columbia sculpture interview in 2 weeks

I think Tulane would be so interesting! New Orleans is such a special place with a really strong film and DIY creative scene. Also Prospect Triennial is this year, so it’s a great time to be there and network!

Anyone hear back from MIT after interview?

Congratulations! I interview with Goldsmiths in the coming days. The school seems like an exciting place. Not sure who has come out of the program since the YBAs, though (well, and Forensic Architecture). My friend who recently got his PhD there told me that he recommends the school, but that an American university will give you "more value for what you pay for." Not sure if these links came up in your research. Check it out: Article from Studio Museum Harlem curator Legacy Russel about her experience at Goldsmiths: https://www.artandeducation.net/schoolwatch/58220/beyond-the-critique-goldsmiths-college BBC documentary about the school (fun to watch for any contemporary in general)

My interview is on Sunday for sculpture.

I'm not too sure about your hypothetical. The biennial curators I know typically choose artists based on many factors but in general it boils down to weak and strong ties. A top school like Yale or Bard are able to secure good representation for grads at the Whitney Biennial, for example, because the faculty bring those curators and critics to the school. At Yale for instance, I've heard that every week two critics/curators /artists come for studio visits and you must arrange those meetings. This build a strong network. Not to say that prestige doesn't matter at all, but the artist' practice and their network/opportunity are the chief factors.

Condensing an artist’s practice (Meleko or otherwise) to “working on BLM” is so reductive that it almost sounds like a code word for something worse. Actually makes me nervous of the possibility of ending up in a cohort with someone with such regressive views.

Hey here’s an update in case it helps anyone? Yale sculpture: rejected Columbia sculpture: interview request a few days ago Bard sculpture: interview request today UCLA sculpture: No interview request, but they reached out to my recommenders. So status pending MIT ACT: interview to occur this week RISD Sculpture: Admitted after interview Good luck everyone!

Received an interview request from Columbia sculpture. Check your emails maybe there will be good news

“Incredibly low” hahahahaha. Rent going down 15% in NYC means that rent is where it was 4-5 years ago... that would still make it second highest in country...

I believe Goldsmiths teachers are on a partial strike at the moment: I wonder how this will affect the admission timetables. The faculty of Fine Art were also absent from their open house zoom a few months back. Anyone have any background on what’s going on behind the scenes there?

Sounds like you did great. Interviews are awkward enterprises and it’s typical that there’s moments that don’t go perfect. Asking someone about their personality is not a weird question to me—and I ask it a lot when I interview people in my corporate job. I typically ask that when someone is being overly serious or formal and I can’t figure their vibe out. Conceptually it’s aligned with the “Would I want to have a drink with them?” test.

The advice to focus on your practice is good advice. That said, I think asking about COVID is a great question to determine how organized and flexible your program is. Some schools set up excellent systems to support students and some haven’t. This is a excellent way to see if a school has their shit together. Not all schools do...

As someone here said, there's a handful of ambitious artists who do 2 MFAs simultaneously, typically with bard low-res over the summer. In general, if you already have an art MFA, and then apply to another art MFA program later for a second art MFA, most programs would see this suspiciously and unless there’s a very compelling reason, I doubt a top program would let you in. A lo-res could be an exception if you started with one, but I’d really contact the “top schools” you’re interested to gauge if this has been done before. In your case, a low-res at warren Wilson or SAIC or another non-bard school could work. Warren Wilson’s craft program is a MA, so you could do a MFA later. Also I believe applications for these are still open. Alternatively, you could do an art MA or MAT in either art practice or teaching. These programs are typically one year and even at top schools are easier to get admitted to because they are applied to less widely since they are not terminal. Then do an MFA later. SAIC has quite a lot of programs that are still open for application. There’s many art MAs open for application in Europe too. Or you could do a post-bac. Cynically-speaking, these are expensive money-makers for the schools, but these programs are designed to train you for admittance into a top school after. Or if your art practice has a research interest, you could get a MA in that discipline. Then go on to a MFA. Also a fair amount of people go from American MFA to Goldsmiths/Oxford PhD. But then you’re in school forever. Or maybe do something more niche like de ateliers or Jan van ayck academie in Netherlands for the upcoming year? Then do MFA? These are still open for application I believe. The advice I've always heard is that you only do a MFA once, so you should really consider how you want to spend your time, how important prestige is to you, and your long term goals as your current plan of 2 art MFAs may be non-ideal.

I think having your recommender be a teacher is not as important as having someone who knows you, can speak to your practice, and also give context to what you make / your space in your local art scene. Consider people who can answer: what is your trajectory? What is your growth? How are you in conversation with the contemporary moment? Where does your work fit in with art history? The benefit of a professor, though, is that they can speak about how you are as a student and as a member of cohort. Are you open-minded? Are you easy to teach? My recommenders were a professor, a museum curator, and a biennial director. I think stature may help minorly, but the best recommender would be someone who has a connection with the faculty in which you are applying, which may be difficult to determine. Also--better to waive your rights and keep the recommendation letter private when adding your recommender emails...

Yale has a 3-year graphic design MFA that has 1 foundation year for non-designers. Other colleges may have something similar. Not sure how graphic design could be considered “STEM” though.

Not sure where I am in the process at UCLA. They reached out to my listed recommenders to get more information about my practice a few days ago.

I have a friend who was at Yale who paid almost a thousand dollars shipping her work to New Haven from abroad to make it on time for her interview. It’s my understanding that because of Covid, that requirement has been waived.

Name dropping in your essay sounds silly. If you have a contact that you think can help you gain admission, you should have them write your recommendation letter or contact the faculty.

The RISD ceramics HOD is incredible. Anyone who gets in that program will be so lucky to experience Katy.

@Kim2016I doubt it...Yale was upfront that they were not allowing deferrals this year--and others will do the same. I think considering last year's deferments and the fluctuation in intake, schools wont allow it. Too much risk. They need budget and headcount. Even if we end up having class and access to facilities--which is the bare minimum IMB--I think the Class 2023 will be disadvantaged by the lack of in-person artists and critics at studio visits, which sort of diminishes the "attention boost" that artists typically get from their MFA program and its associated networks.

Wow that's so exciting. Theaster Gates teaches at Chicago: he is such an icon and has such an inspirational social practice. Lucky!

In this case, you should look into Art post-baccalaureate programs. Post-bacs have a spotty reputation as a money-making scheme but if you truly feel like you're not ready for graduate level work, it's a great option. It's basically designed to get your portfolio up to MFA level competitiveness, and could be consider foundation. And if you do well in your post-bac, there's a good chance, the school will accept you to their MFA program. SAIC, UC Berkley, Colorado, SMFA and lots of others offer this kind of program. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/education/edlife/cont-ed.html

I really appreciated that email! Yale has a very unpretentious tone that's a good sign and makes them approachable. In the zoom, they kept saying "Don't be afraid to apply..."

Thank you! Wednesday.