Karen Sullivan on fri 11 jan 02
much free time....
The discussion this past week has been engaging....tho. at times emotional.
I have been thinking about how it relates to my experience....
So the comments below have NOTHING to do with the discussion...other
that providing the spark for my thoughts about teaching....
I have had a two decades of experience in the environment of education.
As a student, I think I was lucky with my choices
and guidance, both my foundation in ceramics...which forms the
paradigm with which I view the world of clay. Later in graduate school,
both philosophically and creatively I was touched by magical,
inspirational, and talented teachers. I decided on an aesthetic point of
view that I draw from when approaching the material of clay, but I also
spent time trying to learn a variety of approaches to forming and firing
techniques. I was trying to learn how to be a more informed resource...
So...now I function in the role of a teacher/instructor/professor...
I have taught in a variety of colleges, private, state universities, junior
colleges. I am in Southern California, so I also have experience with very
diverse student populations.
In some cases I am hired for a semester while the permanent professor goes
on sabbatical. What that means is that I walk into a studio and can make
judgements about and adapt to the system in place to process the work. What
is evident with this process is the wisdom applied to the use of
materials. Blatantly evident is the background of the instructor...their
point of view in the use of materials. Also significantly, the budget that
is available to work with, how long the program has been in the teachers
hands. When presented with humble, pathetic equipment I have had to make it
work to enable the student to produce something of value. This has provided
me with an amazing education with how diverse the approaches are to the
creation of ceramic object making. I have also walked into some amazing
studios that contain magic and a history of activity. Always they are a
reflection of the instructor....it's the same as walking into someone's
house or studio....
I think that the most important issues when thinking about education are the
wisdom the the professor, the resources of the university....all schools
have a distinct agenda (personality if you will), student and faculty
culture. Resources that the school is able to provide for the program. The
vision of the professor as applied to creating a program.
But....aside from the political/ professional requirements of
the career of teaching...doesn't the whole process come down to the
individual...the nature of the questions asked...the inspiration of
the ideas bouncing around....the native intelligence and resources...energy
if you will applied to the task of making...so many variables that
revolve around the process...Even the philosophical paradigm applied to
the material.
As a student, my most valued instructors were aware of the problems I was
trying to solve...and made a comment at the appropriate time that
opened my perceptions...provided keys to the creative process.
Some where subtle, perceptive, profound, quiet comments that felt like
a ton of bricks crashing down on me. All were memorable treasures I
continue to hold close. The pure joy of making...the passion of the
materials....the image of someone who is covered in soot and grubby from
being in the middle of wood firing and flashes a blissful smile in an
exhausted physical state is what this whole thing is about for me....
It is also about the random discoveries that evolve as the result of
the process/act of making. It is about the history we all carry around
of the objects we have made..their lessons...their soul...
karen sullivan, MFA........
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