I was recently asked by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Houston to conduct an exit questionnaire for my graduate program in the painting MFA. Leading along a bunch of simple “agree/disagree” multiple choice selection sections, it closed the questionnaire out with three large text entry areas on the web form that implied something more extensive was permitted. Keep in mind I’m busy (but easily distracted) so my initial intention was to blitz these sections and get back to work. Keep in mind, I really have no complaints about my program. I loved the opportunities it presented me with. But the questions they had for me at the conclusion of the test really dug themselves into my head- the last one especially which was: What changes would you make to improve the program?

Below is the extensive, three part response I gave. It illustrates pretty well why you don’t ask questions like this of graduate students:

There are three areas I feel the program warrants some attention.

1) Art history courses taught to graduate art students, despite the strong showing of both talented and insightful professors and extensive courses available, need to be arranged better for practicing artists. Contemporary art courses should be taught by someone with at least a background in artistic practice if not an active practice of their own. Art history curriculum needs to have more connections within the curriculum that show how the field applies to contemporary art practice and theory. At present the program is too heavily couched in post modernist dogma. A perspective that is now at least 60 years old at this point. Ancient art studies and more recent or living artists should probably be approached in distinctly different ways in the program.

A “classics” or “foundations” course should also be taught for key discussion texts, so that history and art students are not being asked to read the same papers over and over again when professors aren’t certain if students have read them. This will avoid needless repetition and allow for a more efficient use of the program’s time in getting more exposure to contemporary theory.

2) Technology needs to be better integrated and more accessible to students in the various traditional art programs. Working in conjunction with the new IPEF program, or creating coursework that ensures traditional art majors leave the program with some bare essential of modern digital curatorial understanding would be a smart idea- lest they appear unprepared for the rapidly changing academic fields this program prepares people for. (more…)

Filed under: Announcement, Review or Commentary, Written by Vinegar Tom
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I know it’s a pretty strange title for a blog entry, but it’s actually the title of some work I’ll be presenting very soon. It’s a kind of collaborative work I’ve put together with thirteen other Houston and Texas area artists. A comic book and zine convention, of sorts, but presented outside the normal avenues you see these sorts of things in.

So imagine you walk into a fine art gallery on a Saturday night. You’re going to the MFA thesis exhibition for the University of Houston, School of Art. You know what to expect- you think- there’ll be paintings, photographs, perhaps some really unusual and challenging works in this diverse body of fine artists. The first thing you see as you step through the door, however, is entirely unexpected. You see what looks like a comic book convention taking place in the lobby entrance of the gallery. It’s crowded with fans of the artists and writers. People are selling their wares, hawking books, web comics, posters, pamphlets, etcetera- discussing the medium. Amongst these folks are more traditional gallery patrons. They came for the same reason you did- to see some art. And maybe they’re looking. Maybe they’re embarrassed and pass on by. Maybe they stop and participate. Maybe they even know some of the people at the table already. But either way, it’s happening.

This is the plan anyway. I can’t say it’s going to go down this way. What I described above is sort of an ideal situation. But we’re trying for it. Sure, I could couch the whole thing in academic terms, call it performance work- but that doesn’t seem quite right. I formed the idea initially, along with another even more ambition presentation format, after getting several opportunities to show the work in the Houston area. It’s been quite an experience, being able to do that. (more…)

Filed under: Announcement, Art, Journal, Sequential Art, Written by Vinegar Tom
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This post is to highlight the work I’ve been doing for a large portion of the summer. I’ve put up a lot of pretty pictures without much in the way of context. So I figured I’d remedy that here. What follows is a link to the nearly completed first 78 pages or so of the graphic novel I’ve been working on as my graduate thesis. As rough as they are, I don’t really feel I need to hear back from anyone about anatomy issues, text, etc. But if you like the story so far (or hate it), drop me a line.

I’ve put it in .cbz format because there seem to be a lot of free viewers out there and they tend to punch the viewing speed up a little from that of a .pdf. That said if you’d like a .pdf I’ll provide that link as well. I’m not overly impressed with either for digital viewing of comics at this point. Some links I trust at the moment for .cbz viewers are: http://comical.sourceforge.net/ and http://comicrack.cyolito.com/

ComicRack’s install was annoying, but its functionality is miles beyond anything else I’ve tried- so give it a shot if you have a care as to what your digital comics look like when formatted for viewing. Be aware that if you’re not concerned about how the software reads the book, several double page spreads may get a bit disjointed and confusing to read if not formatted properly- but you’re smart you’ll figure it out. I hope you enjoy. And by all means, please feel free to leave me feedback, personal issues with the work, compliments, insults or jibes should you choose to.

Here’s the .cbz link: http://cleopatragraphics.com/lorica_excerpt.cbz

Here’s the .pdf: http://cleopatragraphics.com/lorica_excerpt.pdf

The .pdf file is a bit large and may take a short while to download, but enjoy either way.

Below are a pair of images, the front and back cover of an early single issue edition of the first chapter, not available in the .cbz or .pdf files. The back cover includes a narrative description that might aid you in deciding whether to read the work.

Front Cover- The Lorica Chapter One

Back Cover- The Lorica Chapter One

Filed under: Art, Illustration, Sequential Art by Vinegar Tom
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