Art school. MFAs. The academic system. I was just chatting with Robyn about it. About how a friend of mine just got hired as a sculpture professor though they are a photographer..... but they are alumni. I have some frustration about this. Over the years I have been parallel on my path to friends who chose the academic route for their artist journey. I have cultivated my curiosity about the differences in our paths, believing that there are many ways to be an artist (human really). I have come to see the systems in the art world, academia being a big one- as doing something other than art. I think artists survive within and throughout the systems but that it breeds other creatures as well. Anyhow. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Here's a blog article featuring my work from a few years back.

Basically the apex of my existence thus far. Hope it’s ok to share here, I am immensely, immensely proud (and immensely, immensely exhausted!). I have big feelings I can’t name and I can’t stop crying! Even this last year has been inordinately challenging and to still have achieved this is taking a lot of processing. (My phone’s camera likes to be “helpful” so the temperatures are all over, but I hope you can get the gist of it.)

It's been a while, and a tough road to feel secure enough to apply for some types of opportunities - like the Macdowell Colony Residency, Headlands Grant here in the Bay Area, or The Pollack Krasner grant. I've been trying to flesh out how I support this career, using all the opportunities available. First I had to break beliefs I'd created to keep me safe, limiting beliefs... to do this. I used to say "I'm independent and that's what's great about me", and that's true as long as it doesn’t become a shield protecting me from getting what I need. The help that wasn't available earlier in life when I had no knowledge or skill to ask for it. We survive- but we must not identify so strongly with our survival skills that they hinder us when we no longer need them. Im seeing a story of a man alone in the wilderness for twenty years... imagine the skills and tools he develops. One day survival is easy but he's lonely... he goes to town. That's gonna be an adjustment!! You hear someone approaching... probably don't assume it's a bear. Something like that. Who else is applying? What are you experiencing? Ps. Robyn I did take your advice and apply for some smaller opportunities. Great idea, thank you.

Monica Donohue @monica-donohue-5138 Check out the studies she's been making of our lessons here. Nice work!

..everyone else goes gaga for the painting you don't really care about? What does it mean? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Can't wait to discuss with you next weekend in Creativity Club.