five year plan: summer 2011

Here is the second installment of the dreaded Five Year Plan. Seriously, this thing is fa-reaking me out. So much so that when I leave the gallery (where I do most of the planning) I have to sit in my car and steady my breathing because I am so ready to curl up and crash into other vehicles rather than having to make sure this plan comes to fruition. Seriously. I barely know what I am doing tonight, let alone for the next five freaking years.

SUMMER 2011

The possibilities are currently endless for the summer of 2011. This is mainly because I have little idea of what the school year will bring, and therefore how I will further be shaped into a working artist. Subsequently, my goals are rather vague, but goals nonetheless.

I have the ability to live in Baltimore, because of my current apartment, but also have contacts in Philadelphia and Los Angeles that can help with housing arrangements. Because of these contacts, my scope for finding an internship is rather wide. Mainly I am concerned with finding an internship more prominent than gallery work. My thoughts are on big names and big companies, or, relatively big, or at least relatively well off. Currently my list of possibilities includes: Squidfire (although I have a feeling I would need to first obtain some printmaking experience), Urban Outfitters Inc. (operates Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters, all of which offer Visual Display Internships), and Martha Stewart Living (would be a dream, because, well, Martha is the man). These possibilities are narrowed into the vein of retail with an emphasis on visuals. Each would offer an unique perspective to the idea of sales and merchandising, as each explores a completely different theme within the scope of their company. With Squidfire I am interested in exploring the ‘Do It Yourself’ attitude of occupation, where one can utilize their prominent skills and capitalize on the fact that they are more than able to make a living. With Urban Outfitters Inc. I have thoughts of interning as a Visual Display Artist with Anthropologie. The Anthropologie line with the corporation is known for the presentation of their wares, immersing the consumer in a fantasy tailored to eclectic styling of kitsch meeting vintage meeting modern. Lastly, with Martha Stewart I find a personal dream internship. I have always been fond of Martha, spending much time delving into her extensive library of crafts, faking sick from high school just to watch her television program, etc. With the fondness comes the desire to work for her, be part of her crafting team, and maybe, hopefully, fingers crossed, I will one day be invited to present some fantastic craft making ability on her show.

Other possibilities include working as an artist’s assistant (preferably in Baltimore or Philadelphia), or maybe finding a small time publisher who deals with independent productions of zines and art books, and learning the ropes behind bookmaking on a large scale.

Of course, the summer cannot just be about internship. It must also be lucrative. I am resigned to the fact that I will not be a paid intern, and so, a part time job will be needed. But, I have been working since the age of fourteen, and so have saved and saved and saved, so much so that if I must sacrifice hours and a paycheck or two to internship duties, I will still be sound in money terms.

Lastly, a personal goal will be to be part of a craft mart, or some type of crafty event in which I can display my wares and pass our business cards and shake hands.

five year plan.

In order to complete my current internship and receive three credits for the one hundred and twenty hours, I must first do stuff. What is that stuff? Really, you don't want to know. But, imma tell you anyway, if only to remind myself.

The list includes some legitimate stuff, you know, like submitting an updated resume and cover letter in order to prove you're professional and on the up and up. But, you also gotta complete some craziness, like three informational interviews with people that are in your desired career path, and, this one gets me, a five year plan. Not one, not two, but five. A FIVE YEAR PLAN! A FIVE YEAR PLAN? What is this craziness? I don't know what I'm going to do when I wake up, let alone what will go down in the next five years. Leave it to MICA to make me figure it all out.

So, without further ado, here is the first year. Tell me what you think though, is this craziness, or am I just crazy?:

As a rising sophomore I have left foundation year with the fresh realization that the time is now. While I can I need to make sure that I am doing everything. All the opportunities posted and thrown and whispered to me I need to make sure to grasp, grab, and kick in the face as to fully assert myself as a working artist. It sounds much easier to do such when casually typed onto eight-and-a-half by eleven paper, but that does not mean that what is said is truth.

I just have to do it. And by it, I mean everything.

With the return to Baltimore, to MICA, to art after a lazy summer I plan to hit the ground running, running for my life as the noise of the starting pistol cracks through my eardrums; I start these next five years with the goal to win.

Of course, of course, easier said than done. But, here’s the plan:

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Already I am enrolled to take eighteen credits, a balance of nine studio credits and nine academic credits. I know the year will be rigorous, and I know I will break down more than once, but I also know that I can set my mind to accomplish eighteen credits, and to accomplish those credits well. This first semester is as big as a circus spectacle as it starts it all; I am stepping up from foundation year into the beginnings of Illustration with Creative Writing and Book Arts, a track so highly concentrated and therefore such a departure from the breadth of study focused upon during the foundation year.

As well as eighteen credits, I plan on continuing to build my resume any way possible. That paper, I have come to realize, needs to exude all and everything about my working artist life. Currently, the thing does not read as much, and so that must change. My goal is to obtain something of an internship during the school year. When I say ‘something of an internship’ I mean that I really just want to volunteer my time and abilities to some arts force outside of MICA. This force can be anything; gallery or artsy boutique or crafting group or whatever one can really imagine that involves art and able bodies and strong minds. My primary desire to do such work is so that I can begin to network with the likes of the art community within Baltimore. I feel like I, personally, am a student lacking much knowledge in the working aspects of the art world, and so desire to obtain the knowledge of being there, in it all, and working.

If I am unable to find something close to the aforementioned, I plan on continuing to work with Community Arts Partnership.

Outside of definable work things, I plan to have an outstanding year in the way of being a MICA student. I want to sink my teeth into the student community and get involved. I love MICA. I. Love. MICA. I really do not know how to justify this fact other than, if there was a MICA mascot, I would wear the costume everyday. And if not the costume, I would at least sport the school’s colors at all times.

Being part of the community, getting involved, that means participating. More lectures! And more gallery visits! And more meeting and greeting! And, maybe even starting a club of my own.

Lastly, I of course have personal goals. Well, really, just one. And that is to begin an Etsy of my own. I want to craft some D.I.Y. goodness and unleash it upon the world. If, for anything, to be more like Martha Stewart.