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graduate school info

updated wed 7 oct 98

 

Potterman on sat 3 oct 98

To all Clayarters,
I am looking to get into a M.F.A Ceramics program by next fall and would =
like
information on graduate schools in the Midwest (United States). I have =
visited
their websites, but the info is very generic. Amongst others, I am looking =
for
any info on these schools(specifically their graduate ceramic programs): =
SIU,
Edwardsville=3B University of Nebraska, Lincoln=3B University of Missouri,
Columbia=3B University of Kansas, Lawrence. The first two schools I'm =
assuming
have very good programs, but I rarely hear anything about MU and KU. KU in
Lawrence used to have one of the best programs in the United States-what's
happening there now? I'm seeking the real lowdown on these schools, any =
gossip,
rumour, comments, compliments, complaints,status of the facilities, anything=
at
all. I would especially like to hear from grad students currently enrolled =
at
these schools. Information on other grad schools in the Midwest I have not
mentioned would be greatly appreciated=21
Thanx=21 Karsten

Vince Pitelka on sun 4 oct 98

>Columbia; University of Kansas, Lawrence. The first two schools I'm assuming
>have very good programs, but I rarely hear anything about MU and KU. KU in
>Lawrence used to have one of the best programs in the United States-what's
>happening there now? I'm seeking the real lowdown on these schools, any
>gossip, rumour, comments, compliments, complaints,status of the facilities,
anything at
>all. I would especially like to hear from grad students currently enrolled at
>these schools. Information on other grad schools in the Midwest I have not
>mentioned would be greatly appreciated!
>Thanx! Karsten

Karsten -
U of Kansas at Lawrence has Gail Kendall and Pete Pinnell. You could not do
much better than that, especially if you want to make pots. U of Minnesota
is legendary - Curtis Hoard and Mark Pharis and I don't know who else.
University of Iowa is also legendary, and strong on woodfiring - Bunny
McBride and Chuck Hinds and I don't know who else. I always confuse
Southern Illinios at Carbondale and Edwardsville, but one has Harris Deller
and the other has Dan Anderson - both good people and good programs. Some
of the very best information you can possibly gather on grad programs is by
calling the grad studios and talking to students currently in the program.
Find out what kind of work they do, and find out if the program supports a
balance of pots and sculpture. If it doesn't, don't bother with it. Be
sure to talk to as many of the grad students as possible, and be sure to
talk to all the ceramics faculty.
- Vince

Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166

Donn Buchfinck on mon 5 oct 98

hey lets get this straight
Gail Kendall and Peter Pinell and Eddie Domengueze are definatly NOT in Kansas
The are at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln Nebraska.
I know this because I went to UNL for my first three years of college.
I was there before Gail was hired
I had Peter Pinnell at the Kansas City Art Institute
He is the best
UNL is great, but I do not think they have a lot of money to give a graduate
student. But working with the faculty would be great. I know what I learned
from Pete is what I use on a day to day basis.
and they will be moving into a new building soon, in the next few years.

I think in this day it is important to realy ask yourself why you want to go
to graduate school.
It has become real sport for some schools to try to tear down students
to break them
find a teacher that you like, but do not assume that if you have had that
teacher in a workshop that they will be the same when you become a student.
there is the oporative phrase "become a student"
when someone enters a school enviroment they give up some of thier otonomy.
you can start to loose your confidence and being an artist in a scolastic
setting can be damaging to the creative process.
find someone that you like, and talk to a lot of old students
find out if they are supported by thier teacher and the program, ultimatly
what you are looking for in a grad school is a good life long relationship
with a teacher that will someday become a peer and supporter. If you find a
school out there and they have a great reputation, "the teacher makes all the
right moves and says all the right things" do not assume that that will be a
good school
talk to the people who have graduated. A graduate of a program is the product
of that program, I think it is important to question some of these so called
"GREAT" programs that graduate more Ceramic MFA people who never touch the
medium after they leave. that to me is a failure. those programs are looking
for that one student who will make the program look good and the program is
not interested in helping an artist develope a life long career.
At UNL you will find good caring people, you can't go wrong there.

Thanks
Donn Buchfick

Vince Pitelka on tue 6 oct 98

>hey lets get this straight
>Gail Kendall and Peter Pinell and Eddie Domengueze are definatly NOT in Kansas

Donn -
My mistake. Thanks for clearing it up -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166