March 7, 2013 
Vancouver Island School of Art Newsletter
Dear Students and Friends of VISA,        

How long did it take you? This is the question I hear most often about my work. I really don't know how this question can be answered.  I don't know of any artists who time how long they spend on a piece. It is an impossible question because there is a lot of time that goes into an artwork that isn't actual physical time spent in the making the work. There is the time for daydreaming and imagining the possibilities of what you could make, there is the time looking at other artists' artwork, researching and gathering of materials and there is the time spent doing inventory and arranging in the studio (which is often when my best ideas come to me). I know I probably already addressed the issue of time spent on work in previous newsletters but it is something that continually comes up. I show an image in class of an artwork, and the first question that comes up: how long did it take the artist to make the work? Maybe the real question is why people are compelled to ask this question? What does this say about our relationship to time?  Jay Defeo whose work is currently in a retrospective at the Whitney, spent eight years on one piece of work called The Rose (see image below). Eight years on one piece. Probably a shocking a concept to some. However this work led to all of her other work, so when calculating the time spent on her work after The Rose, we would have to include the eight years spent on this piece. Kurt Schwitters is another artist who also spent many years on one work, an installation he built in his studio from 1923-1937: Merzbau. A version of this work was recreated at Berkeley Art Museum: Merzbau reconstructed. What I love about these two examples is that these are works that the artist did purely for the sake of doing them. They weren't done for gallery exhibitions, for personal fame or fortune. Defeo and Schwitters had a vision and the desire and compulsion to make tangible the inner workings of their imagination. Time was not a concern or consideration. The process of making was the end in itself for these artists. 


 
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Artist Talk:
WHITING TENNIS
TONIGHT: March 7 at 7pm 

Whiting Tennis presently lives and makes art and music in Seattle. He was born in Hampton, Virginia, the second son of an Episcopalian Minister, was raised in Buffalo NY, and finished high school and college in the Northwest (BFA in painting, University of Washington). In 1990, at the age of 30 he moved to New York City New York City and remained there until 2004, when he returned to the Northwest and bought a house in the north end of Seattle. He has received the Pollock Krasner, Neddy, Arlene Schnitzer and the Joan Mitchell awards for painting and has works in several museum collections. He is currently represented by Derek Eller Gallery, NY and Greg Kucera Gallery, Seattle. 

Talk is in Slide Room Gallery
2549 Quadra
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE INFO MEETING
TODAY: March 7 at 3pm
 
Do you want to study in the UK at an art school that is two hours from London?

A representative from the University of Gloucestershire will be a VISA next Thursday to discuss their Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts program and the process of applying and transferring credits from the VISA Diploma of Fine Arts program.

Students who complete a 3-year Diploma of Fine Arts at VISA can transfer into the 4th year of a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts at the University of Gloucestershire. Students will complete a Bachelor degree after eight months of study. 

Everyone is welcome to attend the information meeting. 

Meeting will take place in the Slide Room Gallery at the Vancouver Island School of Art, 2549 Quadra St. 

 

DROP IN WRITING
Starts March 12
Once again, writer and teacher extraodinaire, Buffy Cram will be hosting drop-in writing sessions. These sessions are great for people who want to get started with writing or for writers who might need a kickstart to their practice. Buffy provides a series of imaginative and inspiring writing exercises in a relaxed casual atmosphere.
No experience necessary
Cost: $20 per session
Every Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 (note time change from last newsletter)

 

CONTEMPORARY BOTANICAL WORKSHOP
Saturday, March 16, 10am-5pm
This extremely engaging and imaginative workshop includes three projects: collage, watercolour and drawing, all based on a fantastical plant-like creation. All materials are included in the supply fee so you just need to show up and let your mind go on an adventure.

Instructor: Wendy Welch
Cost: $100 + $25 material fee

 

GALLERY 1580
Sarah Cowan and Joanne Hewko
March 12-April 6, Closing reception April 4, 7-9pm 

POLYCHROME
Opening: Thursday March 14, 7-9pm
For more information about our courses or events contact
Linda or Jen at the office: 250-380-3500 or info@vancouverislandschoolart.com
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