Jessica Klauzer-Zimmerman on fri 31 jan 03
Hello Clayarters!
After several years out of the loop and off the list (and two babies later), I
have decided to start looking for a school in which to pursue an MFA in
Ceramics. I'm feeling at a loss about where to start looking, so who better to
ask than the Clayart group, from whom I have gotten so much encouragement and
great advice in the past?
I have my BFA from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and studied under Tom
Potter, Linda Sikora, Jeannie Quinn and Scott Chamberlain -- all in all a nice
experience. I loved having access to the facilities and the greater University
community so as not to get totally lost in the intellectualized discussion
about art. Now that I have had a few years away from school, I'm feeling that
itch to seek out others like me and to develop my artistic ambitions into
something more convincing. Based on this, does anyone have some good advice as
to where I could fit into a graduate program? I would like to relocate with my
husband and two small children and seek out a great adventure...
Thank you to all the intelligent and kind members of the Clayart Listserv,
Jessica Klauzer-Zimmerman
=====
Jessica's Hands --
ceramics, handmade books and cloth creations
1621 16th Street
Boulder, Colorado 80302
jessicas-hands.com
"Life's true gift is the ability to enjoy enjoyment" -Lwaxana Troi
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Vince Pitelka on sun 2 feb 03
Jessica -
This has been discussed repeatedly on Clayart, and you can find lots of good
information in the archives. You don't give us much information to go on,
because choice of grad programs depends a lot on the kind of work you do
and/or the kind of work you want to do.
Excellent programs for utilitarian pots include University of Minnesota
(Margaret Bohls, Mark Pharis), University of Nebraska (one of the very
best - Pete Pinnell, Gail Kendall, Eddie Dominguez), Ohio University (Brad
Schwieger, Joe Bova), Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (Lee Rexrode),
Utah State University (John Neely), University of Iowa (Chuck Hinds, Bunny
McBride), University of Florida (Linda Arbuckle, Nan Smith), Alfred (Linda
Sikora, Wayne Higby, John and Andrea Gill), UMass Dartmouth (Rebecca
Hutchinson, Jim Lawton), Penn State (Chris Staley), Southern Illinois
University at Edwardsville (Paul Dresang), Indiana University (Tim
Mather), Arizona State University (Kurt Weiser), Ohio State University (Mary
Jo Bole, Rebecca Harvey), Rochester Institute of Technology (Julia Galloway,
Rick Hirsch). I know there are more, but I can't think of them. And I
suppose almost any one of these programs would be great if you were looking
for sculptural clay as well.
As always, do your research. For any program you are seriously considering,
talk to ALL the faculty, ALL the current graduate students, and a good
sampling of graduated alumni. Do not ever make decisions based on what you
get from one person.
In our mid-thirties I shut down my studio in Northern California and my
wife, son and I sold 90% of everything we owned, and packed up and moved to
Amherst MA to do graduate work at UMass - she got her PhD in American
History and I got my MFA in clay. UMass Amherst had a fantastic grad
program then, and I couldn't have picked a better place for my needs. It
was one of the best three things I ever did in my life (the other two were
marrying my wife and applying for my job here at the Craft Center). But
unfortunately the UMass art program is controlled by 2-D media, as is so
often the case, and facing drastic budget cuts they have let the 3-D areas
completely go to hell. What a terrible shame. It makes me sick to think
about it. I wouldn't recommend it to ANYONE now.
But there are lots of great programs out there, and you will find a good
one. Like I said, do your research. And remember, don't select a program
because one of the faculty makes work like you want to make. That is the
WORST reason to choose a teacher. Select a program because the evidence you
gather through talking to the faculty, the grad students, and the alumni
convinces you that it is the best learning environment and will give you the
opportunity to reach your full potential.
Good luck -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jessica Klauzer-Zimmerman"
To:
Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 12:26 PM
Subject: Clay MFA - where to go?
> Hello Clayarters!
>
> After several years out of the loop and off the list (and two babies
later), I
> have decided to start looking for a school in which to pursue an MFA in
> Ceramics. I'm feeling at a loss about where to start looking, so who
better to
> ask than the Clayart group, from whom I have gotten so much encouragement
and
> great advice in the past?
>
> I have my BFA from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and studied
under Tom
> Potter, Linda Sikora, Jeannie Quinn and Scott Chamberlain -- all in all a
nice
> experience. I loved having access to the facilities and the greater
University
> community so as not to get totally lost in the intellectualized discussion
> about art. Now that I have had a few years away from school, I'm feeling
that
> itch to seek out others like me and to develop my artistic ambitions into
> something more convincing. Based on this, does anyone have some good
advice as
> to where I could fit into a graduate program? I would like to relocate
with my
> husband and two small children and seek out a great adventure...
>
> Thank you to all the intelligent and kind members of the Clayart Listserv,
>
> Jessica Klauzer-Zimmerman
>
> =====
> Jessica's Hands --
> ceramics, handmade books and cloth creations
> 1621 16th Street
> Boulder, Colorado 80302
> jessicas-hands.com
>
> "Life's true gift is the ability to enjoy enjoyment" -Lwaxana Troi
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
> http://mailplus.yahoo.com
>
>
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