The first Spring Training brought dozens of artists to Kroeber Hall to meet with art professionals for one-on-one consultations.
Whether seeking advice about:
*a new body of work
*website
*presentation materials
*prepared grant or residency applications,
in twenty-minute appointments, artists had the benefit of practical and professional advice in consultation chosen from a group of artists, gallerists, curators, and critics.
Participants were able to frame their sessions with a prepared format suggested by the College Art Association. This structure encouraged an organized presentation of materials, presentation, and questions.
Our supportive and generous Mentors for our charter event were:
Lucinda Barnes, Chief Curator, Berkeley Art Museum, University of California
Brian Gross, Brian Gross Gallery
DeWitt Cheng, Art Critic, Independent Curator, and Artist
Indira Martina Morre, Co-owner of Martina Johnston Gallery; University of California Berkeley Department of Art Practice Visiting Lecturer, Artist
We asked our Mentors for their general impressions and would pass on these observations:
Regardless of stage in their career, artists all seem to have one common question:
*What should I do next to get my work shown?
It was suggested that one
*find a gallery showing work where there might be an affinity
*ask for advice
*ask for one or two names of someone, gallerist, curator, who might be interested in your work
It was also pointed out that artists needed help with writing their
*Artist's Statement
Particularly for artists who had graduated earlier, the kind of statement in common usage today is a longer, more detailed, and more analytical statement than may have been presented in the past.
*Cover Letter
*Organizing a presentation---> **Choosing the Strongest Work****
*What Content to have and how to Organize a Website
At a Meet Up following our Spring Training event, participants shared their experiences with others who did not have the opportunity for a consultation.
Here follows some of the insight taken from their sessions:
Our Mentors were all well appreciated by our participants who all want to have
*more support for their art practice.
Our Participants were given suggestions of
*consultants, gallerists, museum curators
*selection of work for a grant, prize submission
*advice on a website development
*coaching on how to present their work to a gallery
*recommended reading
And who were some of our participants?
Artists who graduated in
2012, 2011, 2011, 2011, 2008, 2009, 2005, 2004, 2004, 2000, 1993, 11987, 985, 1984, 1984, 1983, 1977, 1974, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1967, 1966...with degrees from UC Berkeley as well as those who went on for degrees at the San Francisco Art Institute, Mills, San Jose State, Rhode Island School of Design, or received certificates at UC Berkeley Extension.
One thing they all expressed: this was a very valuable experience !
Hope we will be able to serve the art community again with Spring Training March 2013 ....
Best Wishes from
the Art Alumni Group
