tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post7368660758690396094..comments2024-03-03T15:01:00.402-05:00Comments on Joanne Mattera Art Blog: Marketing Mondays: The M.F.A.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-72100956465473340142013-07-24T10:13:04.621-04:002013-07-24T10:13:04.621-04:00I have gone back & forth in pursuit of an MFA ...I have gone back & forth in pursuit of an MFA because it gives the illusion one is a master. This is partly true because of the value society gives to it and the focus of work actually done. <br /><br />I have children, run a business and maintain a painting practice. My husband is an academic at a very prestigious institution. Over the years, there have been many great artists/scholars, etc Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-78009941921716032392012-04-04T00:59:29.252-04:002012-04-04T00:59:29.252-04:00I don't have an MFA, although one of my teache...I don't have an MFA, although one of my teachers was adamant I should. I understood her reasoning, but it just didn't sit right with me. Instead I did an associates in fashion design (at FIT) that interested me and opened up other worlds into the art that I now make. I can't speak to what an MFA is like, but at one school I attended, SFAI, my performance/installation classes were Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-42202397140797763162011-05-15T15:43:21.937-04:002011-05-15T15:43:21.937-04:00Here's the thing, Anonymous 1:21. If you'r...Here's the thing, Anonymous 1:21. If you're going to be insulting to me or my readers, then have the courage to write under your own name instead of hiding behnd the curtain of anonymity. Literally.Joanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-10338834939619400222011-05-15T01:21:26.672-04:002011-05-15T01:21:26.672-04:00To people who say "I don't have an MFA an...To people who say "I don't have an MFA and it doesn't hold me back" you are all literally delusional. You simply cannot know what you are missing by not pursuing a given path. It doesn't work out for everybody but it definitely does for some. I literally know many, many artists who are exhibiting their work at and selling it to MoMA, the Whitney, the Guggenheim, etc. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-53128822816647179542010-02-09T00:36:33.614-05:002010-02-09T00:36:33.614-05:00I enter graduate school a poor white married man w...I enter graduate school a poor white married man with four kids and a wife, I left a a young educated father and husband of five kids and a wife. I was able to work on winter and summer breaks in the oil and gas fields;and came out of graduate school with $17,000 in debt after T.A.ing for 3 years. I was able to pay the student loans of in 2 1/2 years; whilie working back in oil field, not very Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-17024813067917411392010-01-30T20:06:26.160-05:002010-01-30T20:06:26.160-05:00I graduated in 2000 december with an MFA in cerami...I graduated in 2000 december with an MFA in ceramic sculpture. I have been working in other careers to support my art habit since then. I mostly dabbled in art in the evening and weekends previous to my lay off in 08 january. Since then I have been making art part time working part time living on a very small income. This present lifestyle is my favorite since I began making art in the late cbeiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09389656250416270925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-26182945134747652102009-10-26T22:36:14.185-04:002009-10-26T22:36:14.185-04:00Joanne- thanks for an excellent topic, and thanks ...Joanne- thanks for an excellent topic, and thanks to all who've contributed from their own experience. A number of folks have mentioned the benefit of attending public universities where teaching assistantships and lower tuition can help to significantly reduce program costs. Could anyone recommend particular such schools which also have strong programs? I'm a 45-yr old Sarah Blisshttp://www.sarahblissart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-14656627638639038612009-08-18T16:24:38.283-04:002009-08-18T16:24:38.283-04:00Very informative post! Thanks Joanne.
I recently g...Very informative post! Thanks Joanne.<br />I recently graduated with a BFA Honours in 2008 in Canada. During and after this degree I’ve been slowly, but surely getting my work out and have shows under my belt (and more to come) while still working a full-time job. It’s hard and studio time is a luxury, but I try to squeeze as much as I can every week.<br /><br />I decided to pursue an MFA mainly Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-50108345490094613482009-06-09T12:03:29.474-04:002009-06-09T12:03:29.474-04:00"Doing it yourself is really hard, really fun..."Doing it yourself is really hard, really fun and really obscure."<br /><br />Hit the nail on the head!<br /><br />That sums up my experience so far.<br /><br />Last year, I emailed several artists whose work I admire who attended MFA programs I was considering. All but two had day jobs to support their art careers. Nearly all of those jobs were not involved with the arts (two were Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716984314646883238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-78668507765832013772009-05-31T16:28:56.350-04:002009-05-31T16:28:56.350-04:00My take on MFAs has been out there for awhile; bas...<A HREF="http://brooklyndays.blogspot.com/2006/01/why-i-do-not-have-mfa.html" REL="nofollow">My take on MFAs</A> has been out there for awhile; basically I notice that everyone I know who did NOT have to go into debt for one (either because of full scholarships, teaching assistanceships or personal financial independence) was happy with their experience. The problem lies in assuming that the Pretty Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00342833918614545778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-221226087064902332009-05-30T00:54:31.449-04:002009-05-30T00:54:31.449-04:00You know, Kate, the terror can help you pull up so...You know, Kate, the terror can help you pull up some great stuff. And I don't mean "terrifying" stuff--simply that the emotion is a powerful catalyst. I know. Eleven years ago my 9-5 ended (a new editor in chief took over the magazine where I was working and fired the entire senior staff). It was the best thing that could have happened. I decided not to look for another editorial gig and instead Joanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-46428299144719623972009-05-28T12:09:18.145-04:002009-05-28T12:09:18.145-04:00As a public school art teacher (taught all grades)...As a public school art teacher (taught all grades) I burned out and finally went back for an MFA in my 40s, to me it was the most indulgent,gratifying and special years of my life, equal only to having babies. I never knew there was so much I didnt know. I loved the academic world and the chance it gave me to understand the huge pardigmical(word?) issues of the day but also the chance to really Kate P. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16462454681795313276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-37803373721677977142009-05-12T21:05:00.000-04:002009-05-12T21:05:00.000-04:00Joanne, thanks for your response...but this "dude"...Joanne, thanks for your response...but this "dude" is actually a woman. Sometimes I forget that my name leads people to believe that I'm male. I invite you and your blog contributors to view my blogspot. <br /><br />http://tobysisson.blogspot.com/<br /><br />I'm an encaustic painter too!<br /><br />Ms. Toby SissonToby Sissonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-18096458439535664842009-05-11T00:04:00.000-04:002009-05-11T00:04:00.000-04:00Dude, you did! Congratulations.Dude, you did! Congratulations.Joanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-57175333369666400422009-05-10T22:33:00.000-04:002009-05-10T22:33:00.000-04:00I wasn't the typical MFA student but I wasn't exac...I wasn't the typical MFA student but I wasn't exactly the typical aspiring artist either. I had been a bartender for 20 years when I entered an undergraduate art school at the age of 42 (I wanted to be an artist all my life but didn't find the courage until mid-life). I cut back to part time bartending, withdrew my savings, and took a leap of faith. It was all I had ever dreamed it could be -- Toby Sissonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-51155160623193767152009-05-09T14:58:00.000-04:002009-05-09T14:58:00.000-04:00I have an M.F.A. I do think it has made a differen...I have an M.F.A. I do think it has made a difference in my life in some ways. It has given me credibility. It has helped me get my foot into the door of some jobs. However, the most important thing that two year stint gave me was courage, tenacity, and balls. I was so young and naïve when I entered grad school. The art department was run by a “good ole boy” network of artist / professors. I had Sheree Renselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04950399494568831822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-76645105474538628592009-05-08T22:23:00.000-04:002009-05-08T22:23:00.000-04:00Joanne,
I was stunned to hear of a Ph.D in Fine A...Joanne,<br /> I was stunned to hear of a Ph.D in Fine Arts. If you ask me this is ridiculous -overkill. I think that the more you stay invoved in these programs the more you end up tripping over your own two feet.I think that the better M.F. A programs have a balance betwwen theory and practice. I am curious as to how a Ph.D in the fne arts would be constructed. I agree that the students will NJ ART 73noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-21137733247537737462009-05-08T08:36:00.000-04:002009-05-08T08:36:00.000-04:00Here's what I think is the most valuable aspect of...Here's what I think is the most valuable aspect of graduate school. Time. You get a two year period to indulge yourself in your own work. I got my MFA in 1993-before marriage/babies/life filtered into my existence and ate away studio time. I met some really interesting artists through our visiting and resident artist programs, made some important friendships that stay with me today, and had Ingridhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12491209017221453107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-67690857713849213122009-05-08T00:18:00.000-04:002009-05-08T00:18:00.000-04:00great post topic. i only got my BFA in 2007. i w...great post topic. i only got my BFA in 2007. i would have loved to launch right into an MFA program. I really wanted to immersed on an art-only, really intense program with the potential to radically change how i was working. however, being two years out of my bfa - and essentially nowhere on the job circuit - i wonder what advantage getting an MFA would have? would i just be pricing myself sranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-4723539180641577032009-05-07T11:00:00.000-04:002009-05-07T11:00:00.000-04:00I got an MA in Community Arts from MICA. I found ...I got an MA in Community Arts from MICA. I found it to be a complete waste of time. Many of the students I was with in the program couldn't meet deadlines and, to my surprise, weren't expected to. I wonder how they are doing now that they are in the real world where deadlines matter? I think my frustration was more in the program than the actual degree. I think a MFA program that was well Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-41246729658602083782009-05-06T10:31:00.000-04:002009-05-06T10:31:00.000-04:00NJArt73 says: "I have an M.A. in Visual Arts/Paint...NJArt73 says: "I have an M.A. in Visual Arts/Painting. I waited six years after graduating with my undergraduate degree." I thought that was me writing!<br /><br />You mention the Ph.D. Holy moly, now you're talking Ponzi in lights. You need a masters to qualify for the program. It can take three years--five if you do it part time. That's going to be some educated salesperson at Pearl paint! SomeJoanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-21306773979247244772009-05-06T10:27:00.000-04:002009-05-06T10:27:00.000-04:00What I always find so ironic and perplexing, as a ...What I always find so ironic and perplexing, as a biologist, is that it is the people who are the least inclined to think about money – artists – whose studies and professional degree cost the most. It should be the exact opposite.nemastomahttp://youtube.com/nemastomanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-19423989754220497892009-05-06T09:32:00.000-04:002009-05-06T09:32:00.000-04:00Hi Joanne,
I have an M.A. in Visual Arts/Painting....Hi Joanne,<br />I have an M.A. in Visual Arts/Painting. I waited six years after graduating with my undergraduate degree. The state college that I received my M.A. from is now a university and that degree is no longer offered. I have no regrets about undertaking that program. I know that an M.F.A could have provided a possible path to tenured teaching position at a college. I needed to take in NJ ART 73noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-71745817635909786852009-05-06T05:28:00.000-04:002009-05-06T05:28:00.000-04:00I thank you all because I have enjoyed this conver...I thank you all because I have enjoyed this conversation. After my BFA in '88 I moved to Maui. There were a world of artists making a living and nobody had a degree. <br />Sharon's words about the "choice between self knowledge and innocence..." strikes a cord with me. <BR>The academic indoctrination into niche conversations with others who are "in the know" is part of the process. In some Stephanie Sachshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11377131627540380362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30832682.post-75986006562902687652009-05-05T18:45:00.000-04:002009-05-05T18:45:00.000-04:00Among the many great comments that have come in, t...Among the many great comments that have come in, these jump out:<br /><br />. Ken: "Challenged me in ways I was ready for and needed. I was able to use that challenge to make my work better."<br /><br />. Sharon: "I earned an MFA from the University of Connecticut where I was fortunate to receive a teaching assistantship which included a full tuition waiver... we may not have had as many artworldJoanne Matterahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564594823192456546noreply@blogger.com