It is hard to describe my feeling upon finding this site without sounding melodramatic or maudlin. After almost four years of college as an art major and feeling non-verbal condescension, thinly veiled insults and derisive looks at last I feel I have found what I have always aspired to. Never once did I feel modern art had no place or deserved derision, indeed it is one area I have worked, and received good grades but my heart was always somewhere else. Any work I did do that was fine, classic, detailed or a somewhat recognizable object, person or place was constantly and snidely referred to in front of the class as "literal". I heard that constantly. This summer I spent almost a thousand dollars on an art class that included grad students. It was called advanced drawing. 2% of it was some drawing (nothing real though, had to be wild and crazy looking), the rest of it glue, torn construction paper, spray paint, junk found around the house. I tried to conform, do what the teacher wanted (at one point she squealed happily about a fellow artist that threw lines down on paper with her eyes closed and then made up a picture). Another student brought in piles of dried puddles of acrylic paint in multi-colors and she made everyone in the room file by and observe. Anything I brought in was not okay, even though I spent days arranging and
designing according to instruction. One day I told go look at Hannah Hoch art for inspiration which I did and found an obscure picture of hers almost identical to one of mine but when I brought it in, it was not acceptable!! I was a nervous wreck after several weeks and dreaded going to this class. The teacher mostly ignored me, refused to engage in conversation with me except a few brief dismissive words. I felt like a fool and very self conscious. It is sad because I had so looked forward to attending this class because she obtained her master from Yale University. I thought it would be wonderful. At any rate, I am at your website, deeply appreciate it and look forward to being renewed and inspired by it.
