shadorea2000

I have become abysmal at keeping up with this thing. My apologies. 4th year at university, but not my last (unfortunately). I still have another year and a half to go before I can finally move on and make my way to.... Graduate school! Oh boy! But really, as much as I'm tired of being in the same place for this long, and I feel the need to get on with my life, I appreciate the extra time to get my head wrapped around my work and organize my processes. I feel like now, rather than rushing to just get done and get out, I can take my time and focus on producing solid work.

As you can see from my latest updates, I'm working with bugs. My faculty advisor call me her bug girl. I'm working with bugs, movement, mathematics, and integrating it with a visual system that incorporates transparency, repetition, and text with only small color accents. Sounds terribly interesting, right? I know, it really only does to me and my professor (and only to her because she knows nothing about bugs or science). Such is my life.

Speaking of life, real life has been a roller coaster ride. Saw the end of one (very) long term relationship that should not have lasted as long as it did, the end of a semi-long term relationship that ended (at least I feel) before its time, and the start of something new that seems promising. My family is as close as ever, and there is a possible trip to Florida with some cousins around Christmas time to visit our grandparents. I miss the ocean, so I'm hoping it all works out.

So that's my update, and hopefully I will be better at updating in the future.

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you though.

So no, I haven't died. I'm in my junior year of university. My major is kicking my ass. Life has flipped upside down and inside out. My family has become much closer over the last few months due to my father's recent illness. I've discovered who my true friends are. And I am slowly coming to terms with some of them leaving. But I realize that it is what they need in their lives, despite my fears. I hope to, at some point, start photographing my work and posting it on here (there's a lot). I have review next semester. Although I am confident in my abilities, there is still that little voice in my mind that worries whether or not I'll pass. If not....I don't know what I'll do.

To any concerned artists who may see this:

The arts are under attack. As many know, this recession is severely harming the art world. The arts are losing funding at institutions of higher learning, artists can't find work, the NEA is cutting back on grants, ect.

The specific trouble I bring to light is the blatant lies told by one Kent State University. KSU touts a great love of the arts and arts community and claims to foster the arts whenever and wherever it can. DO NOT BELIEVE THESE LIES. The Kent State University has slowly but surely putting a stranglehold on it's School of the Arts. The university has allowed the main art building to a point of disrepair that is beyond help. They have taken the art program and spread it out over at least 7 different buildings throughout the main campus, making communication between departments difficult and cumbersome. They have given a preference to the School of Technology in the case of the battle over the fate of office spaces that currently serve as studios for senior BFA students and MFA students in the printmaking program. These students would be moved to a different building, which would hinder their access to acids, presses, vacuum tables, and a dark room; all of which is required for them to complete their works.

Lastly, the University has sided with their Department of Residence Services to kill the only arts community dormitory on campus. This residence hall, Verder Hall, is equipped with studio that is home to artist students of many trades that form an Arts Co-op. This studio area is a vital part of the lively and energetic community that resides in Verder. It is the reason many dedicated arts students choose to live in Verder. Although it has not been permanently decided yet, the staff of Verder have been informed that there is near certainty that the Artist In Residence that run the studio area and keep it in order, will have their position terminated.

What this termination means is that there will be no leadership within the studio. The studio will have no one in charge that will organize where artists will have their desks located, to keep reference materials tidy, ensure general cleanliness in the studio, and most importantly: provide the planned activities that keep this lively community what it is. Without the AIRs (Artists and Residence), there will be no one to organize community building activities that keep people coming back year after year after year to live in Verder.There will be no one to mediate quarrels over who truly needs what space and what area.

Verder Hall on the Kent State University main campus is one of the few residence halls that students enjoy living in. They enjoy living there because of the strong and active community that thrives there. But that is being taken away. Simply because the Department of Residence Services wishes to save money. Keep in mind, that no other themed community are having vital staff cut. The Women's Learning Community, Business themed Community, Physical Education Community, Science Community, ect. None of them are experiencing this massive violation of their communities as the Fine Arts Community in Verder Hall is.

This is an outrage. Should Residence Services choose to go through with their intended actions, they can be rest assured that there will be a retaliation from the artists in Verder. Thus far, there has been an active effort to keep the studio community from knowing what is going to happen. This is because Residence Services knows that informing the studio members would mean they would have to deal with 40+ angry artists trying to stop them. They'd rather deal with the actual people that their decisions are affecting after the fact, when nothing can be done about it.

"The entirety of all that is human history can been known through art."

I will say more once the final decision has been made.

So I can't understand why people feel the need to bring others down. So you two might not get along, that's fine. So just avoid each other. It is completely unnecessary for you to go out of your way to belittle the other person because they express an opinion that you do not agree with.

Does your calling the other person a dumb bitch or an idiot or stupid make you feel better about yourself? Does it let you sleep well a night? That person's experiences are different than your own. Who are you to judge them? Who are you to tell them that what they have experienced is wrong, or simply their fault?

If your opinion is not requested, then it is completely unnecessary to state it anyway in a corrosive, negative way. Not everyone enjoys the same things you do. Not everyone has the same friends you do. Or the same number of friends.

Get over your self-righteousness.

So I have work that needs to be updated. And I will do that......before the end of the summer. Hopefully. I need to get my film developed first. And photograph my other works.

In other news, been working. I take people photos around a water park. Go me. I also do airbrush tattoos. And there are too many deviations in my watch-box for me to feasibly view. It's cold, and rainy outside. Going to spend the day with Mark, and hopefully not fight. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Other than that, don't really have much going on. Between work and Mark, my time for other things is quite limited. Need to give my mom a call here sometime soon. Told her I'd call over a week ago. Oops.

Anyway, I need to go clean myself. Catch ya on the flip side.