Over the years, at AFI, there has been some talk and friction between those who have art degrees from college and those who do not. I am one who believes that art is not subjective, that there are definite constructs that define art and what denotes good art. That's why there are museums and libraries that are dedicated to the subject. Art classes, while being a relatively new phenomenon attempts to teach people what is art, art history, etc. I decided to take a college ceramics class. It had been over 30 years since I took a college ceramics class. Here is my experience: I had to write this in segments because my laptop is on its last leg and I'm getting the BSOD frequently and I want to publish what I've written before it disappears and I have to rewrite it. Part 1:
A few months ago I promised to write an article on my college experience. Michigan has a law that says anyone over a certain age can take a college course, for free. Since Northern Michigan University has a phenomenal ceramics facility, and a world renowned ceramics instructor, Brian Kakus, I thought I would take advantage of this. So, last May I approached him and he agreed to let me take a class. I thought I would do an independent study and I knew what I wanted to do. Soda firing has become the hot thing in clay, much like Raku was in the 1970’s and 1980’s. I wanted to do something different because over the years there has been a mistaken idea that Raku was too easy and it was getting harder and harder to get into shows. The climax came when I found out the only reason why I didn’t get into Cherry Creek last year was because I had Raku. Never mind that what I do goes way beyond conventional Raku and to get the colors I get takes a certain amount of skill and effort. So, I was really psyched for this class. I got a couple of the definitive books on soda firing and high firing in general. I did numerous drawings of work I wanted to make. I was ready to learn.
Two weeks before the class was supposed to start I had a chance meeting with a senior ceramics student. After a polite introduction, she smugly exclaimed she was in charge of the kiln room. I rolled my eyes. I was thinking, you are the instructor’s lackey so don’t act so arrogant. I asked her if people touched other people work because when I went to art school, nothing was sacred and people touched other people’s tools and work. She did nothing to allay my concerns so I jokingly suggested that I bring my taser and set it on low to keep people from even thinking about touching my stuff. I thought she would laugh and agree with me. Instead she started talking about how they got people kicked out of the classroom. I asked her if she thought I was serious because there was no way any intelligent person could think I wasn’t joking. She walked away from me in a huff. The experience was so unsettling that I thought about not taking the class. I was thinking there was too much of an age gap between me and the typical 20 year old college student. Note to Barry: Do not make jokes to the college students. They have no sense of humor, nor, are they smart enough to understand my dry sense of humor.
A couple days before class is to start, I go see Professor Kakus to remind him of our conversation months earlier and he tells me that, while there are a couple of non-traditional, non-degree students, if I want to be part of this, I have to sign up for the senior level degree class. He does not allow any independent studies or audits, which every other Professor at the university allows. I’m not sure he can legally do this but I wanted to use the facility and I wanted to learn something, so, I agreed to take his senior class. He tells me that there is hardly any space and that degree students have priority to kilns and work space. I should back up a minute. Over the summer I mentioned to a few people that I was going to take a ceramics class at Northern. To my surprise, a few people had mentioned that they had taken a class from him and that he like to create controversy, to create problems where none exist. So, I was prepared for this when I went to my first class session. I agreed to everything he asked me to do. How bad could this be? I’m a smart guy. I know how to navigate mine fields. It’s college, not the real world. It’ll be a piece of cake.
Comments
Great story Robert and Barry.
You know, this is wonderful that persons over 62 can take free classes, but I'd like to defer my free opportunities to my grandchildren who are having such a hard time finding money for college. Wish I could do that.
( and on another note, in a former life I had a husband who was a college professor ... )
Here is the policy for University System of Georgia:
Amendment 23
Definition: Persons 62 years of age and older.
According to the provisions of Amendment 23 to the Georgia Constitution, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia established the following rules with respect to enrollment in colleges of the University System of persons aged 62 or older:
I didn't know about taking a class for free either...will have to look into that myself. In the meantime, I look forward to your next installment...we're all on tenterhooks...
I took a photography class for free about 10 years ago at a local community college. I wasn't in my 60's yet either. Every so often I think about taking something else like Spanish or Arabic but haven't gone so far as to sign up. I think an art class would be fun. I got along well with the kids. The teacher had heard about Norm Darwish who I was working for at the time. That gave me a little clout. She treated me well, too. I'd do it again if the right class came along.
Barry, I can't wait for the next installment of the story. Who doesn't love an art cliffhanger?
I am suprised she didn't ask if, "Are you the Barry that runs this show?"
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