shirt No. 5 with dizzy shirt No. 5

Hi Everyone,

I've been taking a printmaking class and thought that I'd share one of my new prints. They are from the same drypoint card but the one on the left was put through the press twice.

  It was always my intention to take a print class at MassArt, but it never happened. A real shame that actually relates to the point Cole has made, in a certain way. The illustration department at MassArt is so separated from the other 'fine art' students. During my time on the Ninth Floor I felt very different from the painting majors (which is where I started out, in fact). My whole life I wanted to be a painter, but that department wasn't fun! I loved the pressure to draw from observation that the illustration teachers put on us, as well as the challenge to come up with strong conceptual elements. They have grouped illustration in with the design, which is why I think it suffers. I always wished to be closer with the faculty, but it never happened. They are chalk-full full of things I wanted to know, but the classes where too big and not condusive to building relationships. It seemed like they spent the most of the time talking about the elements of design and  other important though dry things. What has been said about the critiques is so true, they were often mind-numbing-ly boring and had no point at all. You really must teach yourself, everyday for the rest of your life.

Now, having graduated and spent my school-free time in galleries and museums, I have remembered the excitement of art, the unbelievable skill of some people, and the energy that I used to have to be a fine artist myself. Liverpool (where I live at the moment) has many good places to see old and new art, but I hope to live in an even more thriving art community some day. 

Anway, I'm trying to say several things here. I'm trying to say that I am working towards that productive way of life, that I'm looking at the history of art as well as what people are making today all around the world (It is so much!). And that MassArt is so tiny, but it taught me a thing or two. Don't be discouraged, get your degree and run with it!

The Real Thing

If your work can't make me want to throw up, then I don't want to see it.

Illustration has become masturbation.

Very few people know what they're doing with themselves. They all know how to paint, how to draw, how to build an image or convey an idea.But they don't know why they're doing it.

I don't know if I feel comfortable in this place anymore. I'm sitting here at my desk working at semi-abstract images, dealing with raw emotions and heavy imagery, and all I get are awkward chuckles and confused looks. I'm pouring my heart and soul into work that's some of the most important artwork I've ever made. I'm putting myself out there, and the only reaction I get is a laugh when someone doesn't get it. Even more than that -- they don't want to get it. It doesn't punch them in the face with its meaning, so it's not worth looking at. People ask what it's about, but I don't like to talk about it because no one understands it or even cares to.

"The mass hovering above the trench is a physical manifestation of the emotion of hopelessness. It is endless in it's blackness, it's shadow. The trench is empty, any remaining vestige of humanity would simply be redundant. The humanity is implied, the figures suffering in hell. The hopelessness is so heavy, yet it is not falling -- it is held aloft by the hope of the humanity in the trench. The indomitable will to survive when faced by unimaginable horror. "

I dare someone to talk about their work that way in Illustration 3, or in Word and Image, and not draw a whole bunch of stares and awkward laughs, and that bothers me. People can talk about their work, but only on such a physical level. There needs to be more positive space. That anatomy is wrong. I like the light and shading effects you have done.

But what do you get out of the image? Why is it good? Why am I sitting here looking at it? Should I even be here looking at it?

Tell me why you made it, what it means to you, and then maybe I'll care. I look at good art and illustration and it makes me feel like puking. Not because it's bad, not because it's disgusting, but because it MOVES me. Because I'm jealous. Because I'm witnessing a moment of pure artistic vision. I'm seeing someone get something perfect.

And I'm not there yet.



So if you're going to sit in the studio and complain about some banal, trite homework assignment instead of changing it and making it something you enjoy, then you need to take a few minutes and think about why you're here.

I'm doing this. And I'm sick of being pulled down by those who aren't.

All School Show submission picks

PIECES CHOSEN FOR THE 2009 ILLUSTRATION
ALL SCHOOL SHOW

IF YOU ARE ON THIS LIST, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR CHOSEN PIECE(S) MOUNTED OR FRAMED BY FRIDAY, 3/20/09. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Lindsay Small: Business Card piece, Cut Paper piece, Daft Punk poster
Joe Feinsilver: Mermaid piece
Kacie McLean: Cloning piece
Greg Miller: Turtle
Dena Bach: Dream Job
Alex Carlson: Reflection Eternal, Zombies, Cardboard cutout (big guy), Monsters City
Katia Wish: Snowman, Foxes
Alycia Garcia: Skulls (3)
Laura McCarthy: Peacock Box
Dave DiAngelis: Bear on a Bicycle
Jared Friedman: Cheese & Pineapple
Julie Lyon: Reflection Pool painting
Juana Sierra: Bunny in a Pink Room, Woman bathing
Jill Caturano: Sewing Machine
Allison Bamcat: Zeppelin Clown, Teacup Clown, Tumbling Clown
Dina S.: Sewing Machine Book, Bug Portrait
Michelle Daigle: Thom Yorke
Abe Tena: Dream Job
Kevin Burney: Cupcakes piece (Air Budd was close, but no cigar)
Dave Stringi: 2nd comic page (with mail truck), Stipple portrait
Sarah Kim: Medusa, Isis
Tanya Feydon: Banknote
Cece Laung: Lizard
Brandon Gorsky - Robot Sequence #2
Alicia Garcia - All 3 Skulls
Cole Swavley - Horse color piece, giant radial horse piece
Massi - Rockwell
Lindsay Small - Daft Punk
Scott Dessert - Grey monkey
Brenton Barnes - Bear Girl
Gavin Peterson - brown paper monster with white smile
Will Jeffries - Whales
Luc Mahmel - Tamino
Ross T - Girl portrait
Dave Wentworth - Lizard Study
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED, AND THANKS FOR HELPING MAKE EVERYTHING RUN SO SMOOTHLY. WE HAD A FANTASTIC TURNOUT, AND I KNOW THE GALLERY IS GOING TO LOOK GREAT.

-BAMCAT
allison.bamcat@gmail.com

AGAIN, WINNING PIECES MUST BE FRAMED/MOUNTED/READY TO HANG BY FRIDAY, MARCH 20TH, 2009. NO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS!

ILLUSTRATION ALL SCHOOL SHOW SUBMISSIONS

Important information!!!!

DROP OFFS FOR THE ILLUSTRATION ALL SCHOOL SHOW ARE DUE BY 3PM ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5th TO ALLISON BAMCAT'S STUDIO. (15)

JUDGING WILL BE HELD FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH, AND YOU MAY PICK UP YOUR WORK AFTER 5PM ON FRIDAY AT STEPHEN HAMILTON'S STUDIO. (the one with all the giant paintings - he'll be there.)

BRING:
-actual, physical pieces you'd like to enter (they don't have to be hung for the judging)
-contact information/labels for each piece (on the back is fine)
-CD WITH IMAGES ALONG WITH DIMENSIONS OF EACH PIECE - DO NOT HAVE TO BE HI RES IMAGES (one of our judges can't make it to the school, but we still want her feedback!)


If you have any questions, you can contact Bamcat at allison.bamcat@gmail.com or give her a ringy ding ding at (781)351-9699.