Graduate Portfolio Day

[imbeingdead]

Hello, everyone. I was just wondering if anyone has attended any of the graduate portfolio days? What was it like? Did you find it useful? Would you recommend going?

Thanks!

[lawrencegl]

I'd love to know the same thing. Anyone have firsthand knowledge?

[TheStranger]

There's one in LA October 1st so if anyone from So Cal attends, let us know how it was! I will attend next year's Portfolio Day.

[R. Mutt]

idk if anyone is interested in this but check out the link - http://www.mica.edu/Admission_and_Financial_Aid/Graduate_Admission_and_Financial_Aid/2011_Graduate_Pre-Application_Online_Portfolio_Reviews.html

[lawrencegl]

Yeah! I just did the MICA online review and now I'm trying my best to get to New York on Oct 29th. I'll let you all know how it goes.

[Childofcalamity]

Lawrencegl,

How much work did you submit for the mica online review?

Also, can you use the same work you submit for the online review for your application?

The website has this line:

Please note that a separate application and portfolio must be uploaded by January 15th, 2012 for application review.

I'm confused if that "separate" is referring to solely the application or also referring to the portfolio as well.

I'm going to be in NYC on Oct 29th! See you there!

[R. Mutt]

Let me know what kind of response you guys get from MICA - I'll be in NYC around December 7-10.

[lawrencegl]

Hey Childofcalamity,

I submitted 20 images of 12 pieces in total (8 detail shots included as well) to MICA's online review. I chose to add detail shots on the sculptures that needed more explanation, etc.

I think that the "Please note that a separate application and portfolio must be uploaded by January 15th, 2012 for application review" means that you will have to fill out the Slideroom page again but you can use the same work. It would be silly for them to look at the work for the review and then expect a completely different one for the application.

Awesome, I can't wait for NY!!! Do you know how these things work? I was planning on bringing a hard copy (printed images) as well as my computer with images.

[ol'spice]

I'm an older student (coming back to school) and I have 18 years of painting/exhibiting self-taught and a B.A in painting (last three years )

I went to the San Francisco (at the Art Institute) Grad Portfolio Review this past Sunday, 10-9-11...

here the spill:

I sat down with the following schools ( I wish I had talked to more of them, but the event was from 12PM to 4PM and these interviews were fairly long)

SAIC

Had a real positive review. After I showed my portfolio and sort of articulated why and how I'm going about doing my work, she then told me she liked the work and that she felt I'd be a good candidate because I didn't say I had arrived at any conclusions and on the contrary, that I expressed I was seeking to explore further new ways of creating interesting art.

RISD

The reviewer basically said he also liked the work I was showing him and that I just had to make sure my statement covered everything that I expressed on the interview, as far as explaining it.

SVA - The guy who reviewed my work and I had some things in common and this was the only reason why I'd consider this school. He is in the Computer Arts program (and I've worked with computers and multimedia as a career for over 15 years). This school seems to be a good environment for a painter that wants to explore other methods (such as digital processes, large format printers etc) as potential part of the work flow.

SFAI -

I spoke to the director of art faculty and he is a conceptual artist. If you look at the link to his work there are almost no images. Nice guy, really interesting but I started feeling like perhaps I'd not be a good match for that school. So at one point I just asked bluntly: "so do you think it would be a waste of my time to apply here, since it seems you guys have this interdisciplinary focus to your programs?" To what he replied: "No, absolutely not! As a matter of fact I want you to go to that table over there (it was manned by one of the painting faculty) and speak to that guy". Again, once I sat with the painting dude, basically he also really liked my paintings and even went as far as saying that he'd would put a referral for me in case I applied there.

Well, since my current work is really new even to me, I was humbled by the experience. It gave me confidence to really go for broke and deal with the next few years (student loans et all), quit my two jobs and leave my current career on hold. But I'm an older, seasoned guy and I believe in my work ethic and on the sliver of talent that I believe drives this whole madness of going back to school seeking an MFA.

Also I have 6 years of Community College teaching experience. I like teaching, so if I get accepted, and at the end I'm not a hot shot exhibiting artist, then I have teaching to fall back on.

I hope this helps...

[lawrencegl]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. That helps a lot.

About how long were your sessions with each school? Did you bring physical images of your work or a computer to show images?

[ol'spice]

I noticed that in some of the tables the reviewers where timing the sessions because there were lines of people waiting. I got there early and I was the first at SAIC's table. I didn't feel rushed and I spent a good 40 minutes with the reviewer.

RISD was the only table that told me we were out of time... I figure I spent the same amount of time with each of the four schools I was reviewed by....And in a four hour day, that was it... I tried running to the MICA folks area with 6 minutes left before the event ended but they were wrapping it up. He directed me to the link on their site (someone posted that here in a thread above)...

http://www.mica.edu/Admission_and_Financial_Aid/Graduate_Admission_and_Financial_Aid/2011_Graduate_Pre-Application_Online_Portfolio_Reviews.html

I brought a laptop with a simple slideshow (online and not in case there wasn't a connection) and I brought sketch books, some printed images of paintings, a slideshow of a sculpture project (just in case any of them wanted to see more than just paintings).

In addition, I brought a sheet with thumbnails of the progression of two of my paintings from start to "end". My process is very intuitive and the work changes dramatically from the beginning until the end. I take digital images of some of these phases (it helps me) and that was really really well received by all. All the reviewers gave me good feedback on that.

[BKCHICAGO]

I noticed that in some of the tables the reviewers where timing the sessions because there were lines of people waiting. I got there early and I was the first at SAIC's table. I didn't feel rushed and I spent a good 40 minutes with the reviewer.

RISD was the only table that told me we were out of time... I figure I spent the same amount of time with each of the four schools I was reviewed by....And in a four hour day, that was it... I tried running to the MICA folks area with 6 minutes left before the event ended but they were wrapping it up. He directed me to the link on their site (someone posted that here in a thread above)...

http://www.mica.edu/...io_Reviews.html

I brought a laptop with a simple slideshow (online and not in case there wasn't a connection) and I brought sketch books, some printed images of paintings, a slideshow of a sculpture project (just in case any of them wanted to see more than just paintings).

In addition, I brought a sheet with thumbnails of the progression of two of my paintings from start to "end". My process is very intuitive and the work changes dramatically from the beginning until the end. I take digital images of some of these phases (it helps me) and that was really really well received by all. All the reviewers gave me good feedback on that.

Hey! thanks for being so generous with your information. I'm at SAIC undergrad painting and cant say enough good things about the grad program. Good Luck!

[Childofcalamity]

OK wow, this was all really great to hear.

Consider me very naive, but this is my first time going through the application process, and for some reason I thought it was more about you checking out the schools then the other way around. I'm glad to know that you get to show them some of your work.

Some quick questions:

How many pieces do you guys bring with you? Do you bring your full 15-20 pieces that you will use in your portfolio or just a handful seeing that time can be a bit cramped?

I'm also assuming you should feel pretty fluent talking about your work, do you guys have prepared things you want to say about your work? questions you want to ask the reps?

thanks in advance