Informal crits
3.1.21
Since the beginning of this module, MF7004, some of the current MA Fine Art cohort, both full timers and part timers, have met online most weeks for what we have called Informal crits. Some of us had recognised how difficult it would be to get to know one another, especially as some people are not able to go to the studio. Also, the part timers have not had studio space for this module. Instigated and organised predominantly by Tim, each session lasts for an hour. To begin with we asked for volunteers to present their work to the group and get some feedback. That worked well and a number of people shared their work. More recently we have each presented one piece of work, without any explanation and have received criticism and feedback. Alongside the more formal structure we also talk about the course, and all sorts of other things. It really helps to have this regular contact, especially when we're working from home and feeling so isolated.
I have found it so helpful. Although I have been going to the workshops a couple of times most weeks during term time, I think I would have found it really hard to get to know the new students if we hadn't had these meetings. It is definitely not the same as the incidental conversations we would have had working side by side in the studio, but it has been a way to simulate similar relationships. Now, when I do go into the studio, I feel confident that I will know at least some of the other students and can talk to them about their work. I feel that it is really important that we get to know one another as most of us will be graduating together, but it also makes this highly unusual experience of doing an MA during a pandemic more bearable, I think. I hope we will continue with these meetings for the rest of the course, and naturally, I hope they will be face to face, in the studio, eventually, before we finish.
Since the beginning of this module, MF7004, some of the current MA Fine Art cohort, both full timers and part timers, have met online most weeks for what we have called Informal crits. Some of us had recognised how difficult it would be to get to know one another, especially as some people are not able to go to the studio. Also, the part timers have not had studio space for this module. Instigated and organised predominantly by Tim, each session lasts for an hour. To begin with we asked for volunteers to present their work to the group and get some feedback. That worked well and a number of people shared their work. More recently we have each presented one piece of work, without any explanation and have received criticism and feedback. Alongside the more formal structure we also talk about the course, and all sorts of other things. It really helps to have this regular contact, especially when we're working from home and feeling so isolated.
I have found it so helpful. Although I have been going to the workshops a couple of times most weeks during term time, I think I would have found it really hard to get to know the new students if we hadn't had these meetings. It is definitely not the same as the incidental conversations we would have had working side by side in the studio, but it has been a way to simulate similar relationships. Now, when I do go into the studio, I feel confident that I will know at least some of the other students and can talk to them about their work. I feel that it is really important that we get to know one another as most of us will be graduating together, but it also makes this highly unusual experience of doing an MA during a pandemic more bearable, I think. I hope we will continue with these meetings for the rest of the course, and naturally, I hope they will be face to face, in the studio, eventually, before we finish.