When I was in art school, once at Rhode Island College and again at Edinboro University, I was denied candidacy into the program. At RIC we had to be accepted into the BFA program by presenting our work and ideas to a committee. I was denied. One of the things I was told was that they weren't really sure what to do with me. It was funny, I worked all the time, made a lot of work, experimented and generally produced a body of work that normally would get me accepted without question....accept I lacked the craftsmanship the school held dear. When this happened to me I was at a point of change in my life anyway. I worked another semester towards figuring out what I wanted to do. I could reapply. Instead I got married and planned to move out of state as my new wife was going to start grad school. After making some work, but not really very much for a couple years as I worked in a furniture store, I wanted to go back to school. We ended up out here in Meadville after I was accepted into EUP. I fit in well here, they worked with my lack of ability and craftsmanship and I really was allowed to grow as an undergraduate. I stayed on for grad school and this is where deja-vu happened all over again! Grad school has a little different connotation. You're expected to make a professional and cohesive body of work. I approach everything as a learning experience so I'm quite often ready to experiment whether it fits into a scheme or not. So after 1 year I found myself in a similar place... applying for candidacy to be allowed to say in the MFA program. And again... I was denied. This time the reasoning was more about how I was 'all over the place' and my work lacked focus in a direction. They could see I was working very hard, but they felt that I wasn't working toward a unified body of work. So over the summer I had a bit of a rough time trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I've never felt more constrained in my life. In order to get a degree I had to slow my process down and concentrate on a small number of things---let other ideas wait. I managed to do this and got accepted and then finished off the degree in a year culminating in large painting and drawing show. I don't think it was my best work, though it was very focussed. I guess I'm glad I was able to complete this task of getting an MFA, but it is much more freeing and pleasurable knowing that---as an artist---I can create whatever I want--whenever I want--how ever I want. So I can make something traditional one minute and something highly altered in photoshop the next. And since I'm not seeking many show possibilities at this point, no one has to know that I lack a focus and give me grief on that---just me a- as I will always question what I make in order to come up with the next and the next and the next idea. SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer.
Hello there...trying to find you and I had trouble on the Tribune website...not sure if you are still with them..I finally graduated from Edinboro with a degree in print journalism..I am a mother of two boys now and work as a counselor at Sarah Reed Children's Center. I very much still want to be a photojournalist and don't know how to go about doing so..wondering if you had ideas for me..I was in your photojournalism class and you were getting an internship for me a few years back if you recall....I had a nervous breakdown and was unable at the time...Things are just fine in my life now and I am also in the market to purchase a new camera..a real one..Iv'e been using a Nikon D40x for awhile and it's just not enough..suggestions? hope you get this! Take Care..your photos are still amazing!
Colleen Flatley