Sasha Waters Freyer is the Department Chair of Photo/Film @ VCU. From the VCU website: "Trained in photography and the documentary tradition, Sasha Waters Freyer makes non-fiction films about outsiders, misfits and everyday radicals.  Her recent feature film, Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable, won a Special Jury Prize at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, was released theatrically in the U.S and Europe, and will air on the PBS series American Masters in spring 2019. Sasha also works in 16mm film, crafting experimental shorts that have explored memory, motherhood and the cultural and political legacies of the late 20th century. Her 16mm film dragons & seraphim premiered at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival in 2017, toured across the U.S., and most recently showed at Microscope Gallery in Brooklyn.  More information can be found on her personal website at Pieshake.com"

WATCH THE FACEBOOK LIVE VIDEO BELOW. The following links will be used in Ms. Freyer's talk. 

• https://arts.vcu.edu/photofilm/
• https://www.pieshake.com/
• https://www.winograndthefilm.com/videos/

MOSLEY'S NOTES:

• Artists maintain their personal art practice and often have a "day job" to support themselves, both financially AND artistically. By teaching, Waters Freyer keeps in touch with what's current in the field.
• ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER... this is why your sketchbook work includes curiosity questions and opportunities to research, plan, play, create, etc. Her interest in documentary photography lead to her graduate studies in documentary film.
  • She spoke about the importance of planning but also expressed the importance of just doing your thing (like PLAY or CREATE pages) in order to develop ideas.
• Filmmaking, like most art, takes time.  Her most recent feature film (2018)(see trailer below) started in 2013 with just the research aspect. Filming started in 2015. Editing was done in 2018. It will be featured on PBS in April.
• Also, like much of the art that is produced in the 21st century, filmmaking is collaborative. It takes a team to make a film. Filmmakers can also produce films more simply and independently, as Waters Freyer does with her experimental, short films (see her website @ https://www.pieshake.com/ for examples)
• She stressed that it is important to study what you are passionate about - and if that is art, DO IT. The field of art - and the career options - is far more extensive that it used to be. 
  • TO CONSIDER: Even if you are not studying art or film in college, how can the trajectory of Waters Freyer's career parallel the ways that you can make a career for yourself - any career? 

Local artist, Kirk O’Brien, shared a slide lecture on the topic of “The Role of Government in Comics”. This fascinating lecture enlightened us on how censorship of the Comics Code Authority shaped the comics industry of today.

His talk also compared the issues of today with those of the 1950s and 60s... Consider how the morality of the messages and imagery presented in comics back then might be analogous to contemporary events and objections to violent video games... The phrase "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" might apply here... think about it. 

Comics, like all art, are a product of the times in which they are created. Watch the talk and use the additional resources below to fully understand the context of the comics that were being produced and, in some cases, censored. Then ask yourself:

• Can censorship ever be a good thing? When is it bad?
• Did the Comics Code Authority make any positive impacts? When do you think they went too far?
• What are the unintended consequences of censorship - or the lack thereof? 

MORE INFORMATION:

• Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr coined the epigram "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" In English, this translates to "the more that changes, the more it's the same thing." We often say instead, "The more things change, the more they stay the same." In French, the phrase is often shortened to "plus ça change."
• The rules of the Comics Code Authority ​
• The video below describes the origins of the Green Lantern/Green Arrow cross-country road trip storyline and confronting the Comics Code Authority.

Lecture given by Amanda Dalla Villa Adams, VMFA faculty and independent curator, art writer, educator, and historian based in Richmond, Virginia. Amanda specializes in post-1945 contemporary art and holds a BFA in sculpture + extended media from VCU, an MA in art history and certificate in museum studies from the University of Cincinnati, and recently left VCU’s PhD program as ABD. She has presented her research domestically and internationally, including the Rothermere Institute at Oxford University. In addition to contributing art criticism for national publications like Artforum, Hyperallergic, and Sculpture magazine, Amanda is an art critic for the alternative-weekly newspaper Style Weekly. Her academic research has appeared in the peer-reviewed journals Art Inquiries and Archives of American Art and Amanda has curated exhibitions of the work of Hoss Haley, Emily Erb, and Carli Holcomb. (some of you will remember seeing 2 of those shows last year @ VIs Arts!).

• The resources below are meant to help you understand some basic concepts of Japanese aesthetics and to help you learn even more - especially as you try to APPLY these concepts to your knowledge-base and art-making skills.
• The live recording can be found HERE on the Maggie Walker Facebook page!
• The lecture PP has been put on itslearning.

If you WERE at the lecture: You will have a collection of notes that you can now review and compare with these resources as well as any related information learned in Global Studies.  REFLECT on these connections. 

If you WERE NOT at the lecture: You will NEED TO RELY ON these resources, any related information learned in Global Studies, AND your own research to make sense of the topic. REFLECT on these connections. 

Here's more information: Wabi-Sabi and Understanding Japan A philosophy and aesthetic as worldview

As hard as it is to explain wabi-sabi, it is equally difficult to express what was gained from Alex's lecture. My mind was blown, really. She is mature beyond her years and has a voice that can enthrall and entrance (she is also a singer whose original songs are as raw and powerful as all she spoke about). I hung on every word. I tried to take notes but the words on my page began to seem petty or at least inconsequential compared to the truths that Alex was speaking about. If you missed this lecture, I am truly sad for you - you missed something exceptional. I will document some of my take-aways below but, please know, they don't do her talk justice and may not make much sense if you weren't there.

I hope for all of you the ability to find what drives you, what grounds you, what keeps you happy and productive, and what separates you from the rest. I'd love to know that you found it through studying art - but if not, just find it. 

Some things I wrote down:

• When you deal with craziness (like the day-to-day @ Maggie Walker), you can better appreciate the simple moments
• Learning to "play" can cultivate compassion and can help one to be more resourceful
  • Look for "wabi-sabi" in everyday moments and things - like art made from what nature had discarded (and that people haven't learned to appreciate)
• IT JUST HAPPENS but you have to be open to it/ready for it (whatever "it" may be for you)
• You aren't expected to be perfect (at whatever you are learning) - you ARE expected to put put your heart into it 

Here are my notes about Hamilton's journey as an artist and the trials and tribulations of following his passion. There are some additional resources posted below.
​ 

• From Philadelphia, PA
• Mom recognized his artistic talent at an early age and put him in a million art classes
  
• At the time, he didn't "want to be taught," he just wanted to "make art"... now he recognizes the necessity of these lessons in building the skills that he is now using on a daily basis
• Graduated from Hampton University in 2005 with degree in architecture; worked in his field and moved to Richmond in 2007 (cheaper cost of living)
• Lost his job during the recession of 2009 (no $ to build things = less of a need for architects)
• Made art with the extra time - just to "make art," not "to become an artist"
  
• Worked for himself, showed his work as much as he could - then someone saw it, loved it, and asked for it to be on the side of a building
  
• This started the love for mural painting (although he was very familiar with the famous mural program in Philadelphia, he had never painted a mural before. Took a risk and tried it.
  
• He credits the hard task of getting through an architecture program with developing his ability to "do anything."
• In 2009, RVA was not covered in murals as it is now (Philadelphia had been for years) - this was a new thing here - not everyone appreciated it - one of his murals was considered "controversial" (the one he painted it over with was about censorship!)
• 2012, RVA is now beginning to be known for its murals but... he is concerned with the fact that many of the murals seemed to be simply about personal expression and were disconnected from the specifics of the Richmond community and culture (many of the mural artists were from out of town/country and did not have that connection to/understanding of RVA)
• Started working WITH the community, especially schools, to paint murals that could make a personal/community/historical connection with those viewing them
• His work is constantly changing/maturing as he continues to practice/work/study new techniques & processes
• "The hardest part of my job is not painting, it is managing the projects."

Who is HAM? The Online Portfolio

CLICK HERE for a great article on Hamilton Glass

Colleen Hall, a mural painter for 23 years, has a website that will give you a great overview of her work and career: http://www.colleenhall.com/about--press.html


​Her Lunchtime Lecture talk was comprehensive and included highlights of past mural projects (which you can see on the website) as well as sage personal/career advice that can easily be applied to anyone's life, artist or not.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRESENTATION SLIDES

HER ADVICE:

• Keep evolving - don't be afraid to change
• Keep learning - hone your craft - even as a professional, one can improve
• Be prepared to solve problems - creativity is key
• Believe in yourself - have faith

As per her own advice, "keep evolving - don't be afraid to change," she has recently taken on a new direction in her work, especially as inspired by her interest in Social Practice Art. An example of this practice in action is the collaborative mural project that she just completed in downtown Richmond. The videos below highlight the project and its intentions and outcomes.  

• Molly Cook O'Neal (MLWGS class of 2009) spoke about her role as a graphic designer for the Richmond Times Dispatch - but, more importantly perhaps,  she also spoke about her life and career journey since graduation from Maggie Walker 
• Dwayne Carpenter spoke about his role as an illustrator

SAGE ADVICE GLEANED FROM THE TWO SPEAKERS*:

1. "If you can draw, you can design" - Learn to draw - keep drawing - drawing helps you to brainstorm ideas quickly and to communicate those ideas with the client (btw, that's why Art 1 is a prerequisite for Topics in Digital Media classes).
2. Advocate for what you want to do (Dwayne hired to design ads but wanted to do illustrations... now he does both, as well as marketing items like t-shirts, banners, and umbrellas!).
3. Find YOUR right path - don't worry about what others are doing!!!
4. Talk to people! Tell them what you do, what your skills are - you never know who needs what and how word of mouth can get you jobs that you didn't even know about.
5. Be a perpetual student - never stop learning (BE CURIOUS) - this is how you grow. If you are not constantly learning and growing, then figure out why and fix that problem, pronto.
6. Related to the above - BE VERSATILE - the more you can do, the more valuable you will be to a future employer.
7. Don't be afraid of criticism (it helps you learn and grow!).
8. Get involved in what you believe - this path will lead to a job that right for you.

*Please note that these words of wisdom go far beyond the realm of art...

SOMETHING TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT... What is the difference between ART and DESIGN? 

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

• ​What is a graphic designer?​​

​Most lectures take place in the Black Box, however, Lecture #1 will be held in the Forum.​

• #1 - September 21 - MLWGS alumna, Molly Cook O'Neal (class of 2009), will speak about her role as graphic designer for the Richmond Times Dispatch; her colleague at the RTD, Dwayne Carpenter, will speak about his role as an illustrator
• #2 - November 16 - Local artist, Colleen Phelon Hall, will share the process of her recently completed monumental collaborative mural unveiled downtown on Main St.
• #3 - February 15 - Local mural artist, Hamilton Glass will share journey as an artist and the trials and tribulations of following his passion.
• #4 - ​April 19 - MLWGS alumna Alex Norman (class of 2016) will share her experiences at VCU Arts as well as her research on wabi-sabi.

The lecture was fascinating - what an amazing job she has. It was enlightening to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes. As visitors to a museum, we just look at the art on the walls - DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT GREAT LENGTHS IT TAKES TO INSTALL AN EXHIBIT? If you attended the lecture, now you know! If you missed the lecture, you'll need to do some research to learn about it on your own.

The presentation is below (may not be viewable on a phone) but you will need to do further research to truly understand what a registrar does. She did not have time to fully discuss her work with provenance research and restitution of stolen art. That is another topic that you can look into further. It, also, is truly fascinating. 
​

• Office of the Registrar, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Job posting - Art Gallery Registrar

To understand more about Nazi-ear art theft, watch the trailers (also posted below) for The Rape of Europa (documentary) and Monuments Men (Hollywood movie). The Hollywood film is based on the documentary and chronicles efforts of the US Army to protect art during - and find/return stolen art after - WWII. Watch the full versions if you can. Good stuff.