\\\\ IN-PROGRESS WORK
You will need to have work that can be critiqued. It can be work that you plan on having in your exhibition, or it can be work that experiments with the materials and processes you intend to use. However, IT MUST BE COMPLETE ENOUGH TO COUNDUCT A CRITIQUE. Work that cannot be properly critiqued will not be critiqued, and we will move on to the next artist. If you are concerned that you do not have enough work to discuss, then you most likely do not.
\\\\ ARTIST TALK
At the end of the semester, each student will give a short artist talk, accompanied by powerpoint presentation, which will be followed by an in-progress critique of work for or relating to the senior show. This process will continue making us more comfortable with openly discussing our work and process, along with getting feedback on the direction or feasibility of the direction of our work. This talk should take no more than 10–15 minutes; at 15 minutes you will be told to stop.
- Start your talk with a brief introduction. Imagine that you are presenting to people who may not know you personally; this could be your blurb / elevator speech we practiced for our interviews — the ‘Tell me a little about yourself’ question.
- Next, introduce the overall concept with which you are working. By now, we will have developed multiple exhibition proposals, artist statements and studio visits; your concept should be concrete enough that you are able to break it into a clear and concise statement that introduces the subject and media without rambling.
- Talk about the research you have been conducting and artists you’ve been examining. Have you been reading books? Looking through magazines or online articles? Taking photos? Making models / sketches? Even if your work is very personal, you should still be reviewing what others have done with your subject matter. For example: If your work consists of candid photography of dogs in silly costumes, you should be examining what has already been done, as the main question you will be asked is ‘What are you adding to the conversation that hasn’t already been said?’
- After you have told us about the research, introduce the work you have completed and briefly describe the processes for creation. You should be able to explain how it fits the concept you just described and why the medium you have chosen is the best method for conveying these ideas.
- Then, describe 3 things you have learned about the project or process, and 3 challenges you are having, for which you are looking for feedback. These can be related to the conceptual or physical aspects of your work, and it is your last chance to ask very specific questions of your peers before leaving for semester break.
- Finally, outline your upcoming goals, such as what you hope to complete by the start of the next semester and what your schedule is for the spring. We will have two official in-progress critiques in the Spring: one in late January and one at the beginning of March. The final critiques will be held during the duration of each show.
- At this point we will open the floor for 5–10 minutes of discussion about your questions and any feedback your peers may have.
\\\\ REFLECTION
- After your talk and the critique, you will need to submit a 1-page reflection (double-spaced) that answers the following questions as a PDF on Blackboard:
- What did you do well during your talk?
- What can you improve for your talk in the spring?
- What are you going to do to improve your work over the break?
///////// GRADING
The assignment will be graded on the following criteria:
- Quality of your talk and powerpoint presentation (50 pts — graded by professor and class)
- Work completed for critique (40 pts — pass / fail)
- Reflection essay (5 pts — pass / fail)
///////// AUTOMATIC FAILURE
- Your submission is received after the 5:00pm deadline
- Work is not at a level of completion for active critique
- Talk is incomplete or missing elements
- Talk runs longer than 15 minutes