This, my friends, is the mini recap of my first semester as a graduate student at Otis College of Art and Design, in the Public Practice program. I have been looking at Otis since I was 16 and words can not describe how grateful I am to be right here, working my ASS off. :) Enjoy the photos below and let me know if you have any questions or if you are looking for some community loving, my thesis is next year!
The above artwork is from the Otis basement!
Below are the first seeds to bloom in the alley garden.
I enjoyed my last few weeks of calm, before the MFA storm hits.
I took 17 units this semester and had the great opportunity to TA for Michele Jaquis's Radio as Public Art class. This is my first time helping out in an undergrad course. I got to teach an experimental radio class (YA, it was cool and kinda weird) I was ready to perform, use a lot of hand gestures, but I found out, undergrad student are polar opposite to that of, let's say 6 year old children in an after school art program (both are awesome and both are different). I had an amazing time with this creative group of artists. Everyone has their own ideas and thoughts and brings their experiences to the classroom to work together, using radio as public art. One of the cool projects I was introduced to in this class was the work of : LINGA Radio Ballet: 2002-03
Below is the entrance to the MFA studios.
In the spirit of my love for community, documentation and unity my cohort created a logo and a manifesto!
Cohort #9 in YR . GI . RA . MA order
YR: Yrneh Gabon
GI: Gina Valona
MA: Margo Mullen
Bill Kelley Jr.
Lead Curator & Researcher for Talking to Action
Otis College of Art & Design, Getty Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA
2014 - 2018Organize Otis College of Art’s research, curatorial and publication proposal for the Getty’s Pacific Standard Time: L.A./L.A. initiative. The upcoming research phase of Talking to Action will collaborate with institutions, artists and theorists in different cities in Latin America, while collaboratively investigating the core methodologies within community-based art practices. Talking to Action will culminate in 2017 with an exhibition and publication.
I chose to research the work of Iconoclasistas.
Up next is a visit to LMU, where the Radio as Public Art class will have their radio shows, broadcasting live!
Here is the small but Mighty cohort #9!
Ah....more books. I forgot how much I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVE school! Even taking a crap load of units, moving to a crazy busy city and no time to relax, I freaking LOVE school!!!
More school love, foreground Otis Campus, in the back is a park across the street.
This image is from our cohorts first time working together as a group (we created our manifesto shortly after). We would create a homage to Judy Chicago, and have people who came to enjoy their day at the 18th Street Art Center, create their own plate for someone that made an impact in their lives. Check out the full post [here].
I get to go to three different campus, each day, a new one! This is Main campus!
Here we are at CSU, Long Beach, where I had the great fortune to go the Far-Sited Conference. I also got to see this fluxus artist, William Pope L. in full swing , uh, yes...it was amazing! Check out that blog post [here!]
Moving on, back in the Organizing for Change class, where I learned about the Gender Unicorn, what does it mean to identify with a gender or not. I want to spread the love, check it out, fill it out, tell your friends and family! This was designed by Landyn Pan and Anna Moore, Thank You!
Above are more books I would be friends with for most of my semester. I found most of all of my research for different classes all stemming from graphics, politics and how to use humor to create change. This idea of humor not being sophisticated and completely dismissed is absurd and a model, like that of the Guerrilla Girls, Barbara Kruger and Sister Corita Kent (less humorous and more whimsy and love with Corita's work) is what I would like to follow. All of these artists are activists and using art as the catalyst for change and social justice.
The Mobile Mural Lab! Yaaaaa! What fun! I have been able to work with this great team for a few community projects and each time, I just fall in love with the community I get to work with! It is real fun to get to answer the question..."You mean, we get to paint on a truck?" I look at them with a big smile, say yes and ask them what color they would like, grab a brush and get creative! Check them out :here:
O gosh, the Engage More Now Symposium at the Hammer was interesting. Lots of questions from the audience. It has been really awesome to have so many conferences and talks take place in such close proximity and to be able to go to them all as well, it's great. Check out that post [here. day one] and [here. day two]
Off to Quito, Ecuador! I had the INCREDIBLE opportunity to get to be a small part of Suzanne Lacy's De Tu Puño y Letra project. Check out that blog post [here].
We are back to main campus for our FINAL! Here is the spunky and fresh radio class getting ready for their final. They have thought of different ways they would use the low powered FM transmitter. Below is just a snippet from one of the groups projects. They went to the Fine Art patio and banged out some collaborative music during the most stressful time on campus! One of the fun parts about this, was that students who were churning away in their studios flew outside and started banging with the rhythm!
O HEY! Some exciting news, I have been selected at the Otis intern for LACMA's Arts Education Program! Seriously amazing and exciting. One of their mottos is, Radical Friendliness, I will fit right in.
And there we have it folks!
I have become a more aggressive driver while maintaining my pleasantness at the check out stands. I usually hear people tell me, "Don't let LA take away that magic inside of you!" Thank you so much for your support all these years and if you have just hopped on the studiomargo-a-go-go train, WELCOME! This is going to be an epic two years!
xo margo
2 comments:
this is so great Margo! great documentation! wish I had been more diligent about this during my time here...keep it up!!
Thank you so much! XO
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