24 Devoted Hours

my amazing class and all their work

Over the weekend I taught an artist process class at Pratt Fine Arts Center and it was a truly wonderful, rewarding, inspiring experience. The master class was three 8-hour days of thinking, writing, and making exercises devoted to the how and why of art making. On the first day we focused on ideas, followed by how students make their work on day two, and lastly on day three, we looked closely at challenges and blocks. 

We began each day with an exercise to get everyone thinking deeply about their work followed by a 3D "sketching" project using common materials. After lunch we took a walk to observe our surroundings and take pictures of the things we find interesting. Then I asked students to observe what they observed by studying the photos and jotting down quick notes. The afternoon was spent with another focused thinking/writing exercise and then independent work time. Students could use these hours to dive into a project of their own or try any number of process exercises I had suggested. I took this time to meet with each student for 15 minutes to talk about their work. By the end of day three everyone had lots of writing done and made lots of wonderful, exploratory pieces. My students worked so hard in those 24 hours and were so open and fun. I felt just as inspired as they were!

I also gave a lecture the first day to a big crowd. Throughout the course of the talk, I detailed my career, process, individual bodies of work, and travel. I always try to be conversational and enjoy making eye contact with as many people as possible. Everyone seemed really engaged as I spoke and there were great questions and comments at the end. 

detail of some of the fantastic student work

during my lecture

 

Julie tearing copier paper

Checha fitting a bracelet made of egg cartons 

talking about the "how" on day two

a brooch by Barbara

Satpreet sewing on cardboard 

Thanks to Pratt, Rebbecca Tomas, Jewelry/Metals Manager and instructor at Pratt, and my students for such an incredible weekend! I would also like to thank the National Endowment for the Arts, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and 4culture for helping to make the Master Series possible.

See more pictures on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Teaching and Lecturing Today

My Master Class,"Exploring a Process, Forming a Language," begins today at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, WA. For the next three days I will lead my students through a variety of making, thinking, and writing exercises to help them discover and define how and why they make their work. Also this evening at 6:30 I will give a lecture about my work and process. The lecture is also at Pratt and is free and open to the public.

Masters Series Class: Exploring a Process, Forming a Language

Pratt Fine Arts Center
1902 S Main Street
Seattle, WA 98144
206-328-2200
May 8, 9, 10 from 9:30-5:30 each day

Master Artist Lecture

Pratt Fine Arts Center
Painting and Drawing Studio (Yellow Building)
1902 S Main StreetSeattle, WA 98144 
206-328-2200
May 8 at 6:30

Thanks for reading.

Two Weeks and Three Events: Seattle!

I flew to Seattle on Friday and will be here for the next two weeks. I've got several events happening soon...here's a little refresher:

Masters Series Class: Exploring a Process, Forming a Language
Pratt Fine Arts Center
1902 S Main Street
Seattle, WA 98144
206-328-2200
May 8, 9, 10 from 9:30-5:30 each day

Master Artist Lecture
Pratt Fine Arts Center
Painting and Drawing Studio (Yellow Building)
1902 S Main StreetSeattle, WA 98144 
206-328-2200
May 8 at 6:30

Trunk Show at Velouria

145 S King Street

Seattle, WA 98104

206-788-0330
Saturday, May 16 from 1-4pm

Please feel free to send me at email if you have any questions (atavern@gmail.com) or contact Pratt or Velouria. 

Thanks for reading.

Discovering the How and Why

I have two workshops coming up, one here in New York at Syracuse University and the other way on the other side of the U.S. at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, WA. I will teach process at both places, leading students through different exercises to get ideas flowing and to understand where they come from and why. I truly believe process is a tool just like the hammer or paintbrush. There are lots of ways to discover and define your process and the more you understand, the better equipped you will be to make your best work.

My class at Syracuse University is for the jewelry and metalsmithing department and happens on March 31. The workshop will happen during the day and later I will give a public lecture. The lecture is free and open to everyone and is also on March 31 at 6:30pm.

Then in May I fly to Seattle to teach a master class at Pratt Fine Arts Center. The class will focus on process, too, and is open to all artists, not just metalsmiths. In addition to process exercises and hands-on learning, I will also talk about how I use social media to share my process. Here's the description from the catalog:

"Every artist has his or her own way of generating ideas and making work; discovering these methods is a helpful tool for creating better work and for dealing with common daily challenges like starting a new piece, making aesthetic decisions, and overcoming creative blocks. In this workshop students will be introduced to a variety of ways to find ideas and understand how they make their work. Through hands-on and contemplative exploration with common materials, collecting visual inspiration, and simple writing exercises, students will consider their own individual artistic process. All exercises are based on Amy's unique experience defining her own process over the years. In addition, using Amy's experience sharing her process on social media through her blog and Facebook, students will begin to learn how to present their process in a public manner as they discover their own language for describing the why and how of what they create. Prerequisite: some Jewelry/Metals experience (or some experience in any media)"

The weekend class runs May 8, 9, and 10 from 9:30-5:30 each day.

I will also give a public lecture at Pratt and will post those details soon.

If you have any questions about the class at Pratt or the public lecture I will give at Syracuse University, please feel free to email me at atavern@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading.