search  current discussion  categories  business - money 

: making a living and a question for all

updated mon 18 oct 04

 

Dorothy Feibleman on sat 16 oct 04


Dear Louis,
If you have been in Japan for too long, and really want to move back to
the US, it sounds like a good idea to do exactily that if you can afford
it. Go somewhere practical like Cranbrook or whatever the name of the
college where James Makins teaches, his course sounded good and the
teachers sound quite committed. I live in Tokoname (4yrs. but been in Japan
since 1993 on various residencies and worked for Inax on a contract) and
London(32yrs.) and would find it hard to live in the States without some
re-orientation. If you have been out of the US for more than 4 years, the
army used to refuse you in the draft because they thought you were out for
too long and couldn`t have reliable blind trust in your officers. They are
right, you have had too much exposure to another culture and it is
difficult to conform again to the blinders. I am always shocked when I go
back, it still feels like 1967. But Japanese television and US television
are similarly turn offable. The international news is a bit more
interesting in Japan expecially if you listen to all the different
countries take on things.

Good Luck

Dorothy---if you want t see my sakazuki, they are in the exhibition now at
the Messe.



>Louis Katz wrote:
>
>> We can accept people without degrees in art. Most require some
>> undergraduate hours in art, usually upper division level (junior
>> senior).
>
>I've thought, that if I ever move back to the States, that one way to do
>it would be into an MFA program. It would be good to do at first
>landing, before putting roots down again. Not necessarily for
>teaching credentials, but just as a way to keep learning. I am a firm
>believer in liberal education.
>
> Don't have an undergrad art degree, but I figure that any
>place that be a match for me, would recognize other kinds of experience,
>like formal apprenticeship.
>
>--
>Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
>http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/ WEB LOG
>http://public.fotki.com/togeika/ Photos!
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.

Lee Love on sat 16 oct 04


Louis Katz wrote:

> We can accept people without degrees in art. Most require some
> undergraduate hours in art, usually upper division level (junior
> senior).

I've thought, that if I ever move back to the States, that one way to do
it would be into an MFA program. It would be good to do at first
landing, before putting roots down again. Not necessarily for
teaching credentials, but just as a way to keep learning. I am a firm
believer in liberal education.

Don't have an undergrad art degree, but I figure that any
place that be a match for me, would recognize other kinds of experience,
like formal apprenticeship.

--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/ WEB LOG
http://public.fotki.com/togeika/ Photos!

Louis Katz on sun 17 oct 04


Hi Dorothy,
I haven't been in Japan long enough, only about one month 15 years ago.
I think you mean Lee Love. I have spent more time in Thailand, but not
enough of that either.
Louis

On Oct 16, 2004, at 2:16 PM, Dorothy Feibleman wrote:

> Dear Louis,
> If you have been in Japan for too long, and really want to move back
> to
> the US, it sounds like a good idea to do exactily that if you can
> afford
> it. Go somewhere practical like Cranbrook or whatever the name of the
> college where James Makins teaches, his course sounded good and the
> teachers sound quite committed. I live in Tokoname (4yrs. but been in
> Japan
> since 1993 on various residencies and worked for Inax on a contract)
> and
> London(32yrs.) and would find it hard to live in the States without
> some
> re-orientation. If you have been out of the US for more than 4 years,
> the
> army used to refuse you in the draft because they thought you were out
> for
> too long and couldn`t have reliable blind trust in your officers. They
> are
> right, you have had too much exposure to another culture and it is
> difficult to conform again to the blinders. I am always shocked when I
> go
> back, it still feels like 1967. But Japanese television and US
> television
> are similarly turn offable. The international news is a bit more
> interesting in Japan expecially if you listen to all the different
> countries take on things.
>
> Good Luck
>
> Dorothy---if you want t see my sakazuki, they are in the exhibition
> now at
> the Messe.
>
>
>
>> Louis Katz wrote:
>>
>>> We can accept people without degrees in art. Most require some
>>> undergraduate hours in art, usually upper division level (junior
>>> senior).
>>
>> I've thought, that if I ever move back to the States, that one way to
>> do
>> it would be into an MFA program. It would be good to do at first
>> landing, before putting roots down again. Not necessarily for
>> teaching credentials, but just as a way to keep learning. I am a
>> firm
>> believer in liberal education.
>>
>> Don't have an undergrad art degree, but I figure that any
>> place that be a match for me, would recognize other kinds of
>> experience,
>> like formal apprenticeship.
>>
>> --
>> Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
>> http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/ WEB LOG
>> http://public.fotki.com/togeika/ Photos!
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________________
>> ________
>> 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.
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> 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.
>
>
Louis Katz
WIKI site http://www.tamucc.edu/wiki/Katz/HomePage

Jennifer Rehkopf on sun 17 oct 04


Hi, Lee. There have been a few people on the list who have been stating the advantages of not persuing a graduate degree, the biggest being debt. But I have to say, that there is so much to be said for achieving an MFA. It is an amazing experience to be working with a group of artists on a daily basis that are all supportive of each other and push each other, and is also an amazing experience to be working with a mentor. It's key to find a program who has a professor(s) that you admire, and feel you could learn a great deal from. Not only does it push you, and your work, but in most cases you have the opportunity to teach. Which, even if you have no intentions of teaching after school, I know from personal experience it has taught me so much about myself, and my work. Not to mention, even if you are not crazy about teaching, teaching a short summer class for 4 weeks is not a bad paycheck for what it is. I teach on occasion, and I think it helps keep me in balance.

Above all, graduate school teaches you a level of professionalism that is so important in any aspect of working. Many of us are very blessed to be working for ourselves, but we must also remember the level of responsibility that comes along with this. Grad school taught me how to market myself, helped me find connections, taught me to listen, learn, and teach, and above all pushed my work to a new level.

Also, as far as debt is concerned, if you do your homework, you will find that the majority of programs offer a stipened in exchange for teaching one class a semester. Your tuition is waved, and you are paid in exchange. Granted, you are not paid much, but none the less, I have no debt now. Most of the people I know and have talked to were able to find the funding, it's just a matter of finding the right program!

I hope this was helpful in some way, best of luck to you!

Thanks,

Jennifer Rehkopf
rehkopfstudios@yahoo.com


Lee Love wrote:
Louis Katz wrote:

> We can accept people without degrees in art. Most require some
> undergraduate hours in art, usually upper division level (junior
> senior).

I've thought, that if I ever move back to the States, that one way to do
it would be into an MFA program. It would be good to do at first
landing, before putting roots down again. Not necessarily for
teaching credentials, but just as a way to keep learning. I am a firm
believer in liberal education.

Don't have an undergrad art degree, but I figure that any
place that be a match for me, would recognize other kinds of experience,
like formal apprenticeship.

--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan http://mashiko.org
http://www.livejournal.com/users/togeika/ WEB LOG
http://public.fotki.com/togeika/ Photos!

______________________________________________________________________________
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.


---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today!