search  current discussion  categories  teaching 

co bound, to mfa or not to mfa

updated mon 7 jan 02

 

Megan Ratchford on sat 5 jan 02


Camille,
Howdy and an early welcome to CO. Boulder is pretty pricey but there
are wonderful public studios in the area. I teach at the Arvada center for
the arts and humanities which is not too far from Boulder. I know there are
other studios in the Boulder area but haven't much experience with their
"inner workings." Our studio have a lot of very experienced people just
wanting a studio to work in after moving here. Look it up when you get here
and stop in to see us!
Megan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Camille Morin"
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2002 10:00 AM
Subject: CO bound, to mfa or not to mfa


> Wow - okay, ima new to clayart to please bear with.
> Currently living in Charleston SC and involved with a wonderful studio
coop
> began by Susan Filley BUT really wanting to experience the wild west and
> planning a move to Boulder, CO. Been out of undergrad for 3 years and
just
> now beginning to sell and be a semi-productive clay person - work part
time
> in a gallery and teach pottery classes. My fear is not finding another
> studio situation and putting the development of my ideas on hold (worries:
> can i afford to live there, should i break the momentum i've built in 2
> years here, will my wrist ever quit bothering me... and so on and so
forth).
> yada, yada, yada AND wondering if going for my mfa will do my some good.
> Reading the posts has really inspired me to study HARD and learn learn
> learn!
> THE POINT: anyone know of any studios that might take a late20something
hard
> working claygirl in the boulder area? should i make alot of work to take
> out there to try to consign for income? am i crazy for giving up the good
> thing i've got here? is it worth going into debt for an mfa or can i make
it
> without one until i'm REALLY ready? when is one really ready?
> anyone who reads this post let it be known i admire your getting this
far...
> and heres to knowledge and discipline for the new year.
> Camille
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Camille Morin on sat 5 jan 02


Wow - okay, ima new to clayart to please bear with.
Currently living in Charleston SC and involved with a wonderful studio coop
began by Susan Filley BUT really wanting to experience the wild west and
planning a move to Boulder, CO. Been out of undergrad for 3 years and just
now beginning to sell and be a semi-productive clay person - work part time
in a gallery and teach pottery classes. My fear is not finding another
studio situation and putting the development of my ideas on hold (worries:
can i afford to live there, should i break the momentum i've built in 2
years here, will my wrist ever quit bothering me... and so on and so forth).
yada, yada, yada AND wondering if going for my mfa will do my some good.
Reading the posts has really inspired me to study HARD and learn learn
learn!
THE POINT: anyone know of any studios that might take a late20something hard
working claygirl in the boulder area? should i make alot of work to take
out there to try to consign for income? am i crazy for giving up the good
thing i've got here? is it worth going into debt for an mfa or can i make it
without one until i'm REALLY ready? when is one really ready?
anyone who reads this post let it be known i admire your getting this far...
and heres to knowledge and discipline for the new year.
Camille

_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

Dannon Rhudy on sat 5 jan 02


...... is it worth going into debt for an mfa or can i make it
>without one until i'm REALLY ready? when is one really ready?.......

You'll know when/if you are ready for graduate school. DON'T
go into debt to get an MFA - or any degree, for that matter.
Most programs will have arrangements where you can teach or
assist or do research or run the kilns or something, to offset a
good deal of your expenses. Do whatever is necessary to get
the rest of what you need - part time work or whatever. You
should not even THINK about getting out of school with an MFA
and some huge debt weighing you down. Better to be a starving
student for a bit than a new grad with no job and a $30,000 debt.
You can manage without borrowing. You'll be glad of it, too.

regards

Dannon Rhudy

Pat/Kent on sat 5 jan 02


Camille:

I live in Aurora, CO. My landlord, Walt Weinberg, has studio space to rent.
The rent is VERY reasonable and light and heat are included. He is a
production potter and would love to rent to another clay person. Right now
we are in the process of beginning classes in throwing, handbuilding and
sculpture. We have 2 electric kilns, a large gas kiln and are in the prices
of building a raku kiln and a low fire salt kiln. It is not a co op.

I don't know where you plan to live Boulder (Boulder is VERY expensive and
limited in resources). Other places from which you can commute are fairly
plentiful, like Aurora. I live only 10 minutes from the studio! If you
need more info contact me off list.

Welcome!

Pat Porter
Aurora CO USA
pporter @4dv.net

Ned Ludd on sat 5 jan 02


>BUT really wanting to experience the wild west and
>planning a move to Boulder, CO.
>
>THE POINT: anyone know of any studios that might take a late20something hard
>working claygirl in the boulder area? should i make alot of work to take
>out there to try to consign for income? am i crazy for giving up the good
>thing i've got here? is it worth going into debt for an mfa or can i make it
>without one until i'm REALLY ready? when is one really ready?
>anyone who reads this post let it be known i admire your getting this far...
>and heres to knowledge and discipline for the new year.
>Camille

Hi Camille

You lucky woman. I lived and potted in Boulder for several years.
It's a great place to be. Around 100,000 population, with no fewer
than 4 (or maybe 5) potters co-ops where you can rent space and
facilities.
My place was -

CENTERCRAFT Studios
5785 Arapahoe, Suite F
Boulder, CO 80303-1362

303/449-1101 (studio, daytime)

Rent was about $200 + a month depending on the spot.

Ellen Spiller, a potter and good friend with a studio there is the
person to talk to.
303/443-4760

bonne chance!

Francis






``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
`````````````````````
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
``````````````````````
There are three truths: my truth, your truth, and the truth.
- Chinese proverb

william schran on sun 6 jan 02


Camille - It's a tough question to answer. I think much depends on
what you want to do. I would say definitely go for the MFA if you
want to teach at the college level (or really any level). And I'd say
apprentice if a self-employed artisan is your preference as an
ultimate goal.
Of course this is not a hard and fast rule, which I'm certain others
will comment one way or the other.
I went for my MFA cause I didn't know what I wanted to do. Ended up
being lab assistant in ceramics and printmaking studios, worked in
the college art gallery and worked a weekend job.
After graduate school this was my job progression:
Full time warehouse work in ceramics supply business, part-time
teaching at community college & par-time teaching at local arts
organization.
Lost/laid off all three - worked as hazardous materials handler.
Hired full-time at community college teaching ceramics, drawing,
design & painting (did lots of last three in undergad school).
Suffered RIF, was fortunate to move to other campus of school, put
ceramics studio in storage, taught drawing & design for 4 years until
I set up pottery studio - that was 1987.
Since then: I'm the only full-time ceramics teacher, Fine Art program
head, Director of campus gallery (7 - 8 large shows per year), just
served semester as acting Division Chair (no teaching, about three
thousand students!), will be back teaching stating next week and just
assumed position of curator of small gallery in our new cultural
center (still doing the other gallery).
I also maintain and repair all ceramic studio equipment (12 wheels, 5
electric kilns, misc other stuff) and most equipment in the art
program.
I also organize fund raising activities for the pottery studio.
Oh yeah, I produce work in my own studio and have shown in several
galleries and fine craft shops through the region.
Every day I go off to school, not to work. I'm extremely fortunate to
have a position that pays me to do what I love. There are certainly
many, many artists and artisans that are more highly skilled in their
particular area of expertise than I am, but I feel I have much to
offer my students and they seem to appreciate all I give them.
Bill