Nestled among the exhibition reviews and auction reports in contemporary-art journalism last week were scattered items about the Roski School of Art and Design, at the University of Southern California. On Friday, the first-year students in the school’s M.F.A. program announced that they were all dropping out. “All,” in this case, meant seven students: a small number, but, given the difficulty of getting students or artists to do anything together, the action was a feat of organization and solidarity. It was also a brave gesture—not heroic, maybe, but one made at a personal cost and resonant with the larger situation in art right now.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-few-good-reasons-to-drop-out-of-art-school
I really liked this article.
My son is an illustration student and I keep thinking about his need to make money but his personal desire is to make art. Money isn’t anywhere near as important to him as it should be in my opinion but he’ll fail at anything that isn’t his passion. He could be a great artist which I guess should be enough but he is a horrible businessman. Squeezing him into some corporate mold is what he needs to avoid at all costs to succeed. He may be making art for art’s sake and money be damned.
It’s hard as a parent to realize that but I’m at a point where I need to let the chips fall as they may.
I’m not disappointed because I see my son pursuing his passion and he’s amazing at it. I wanted him to have an easier, more prosperous life but think he has a financially hard row to hoe ahead of him mostly because he’s not corporate and I don’t like hearing about the merging of art and corporatism.
@Madaboutx
Only those of us who still value the college years as an opportunity for self-development agree with you. Count me in.
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but his personal desire is to make art. Money isn’t anywhere near as important to him as it should be in my opinion but he’ll fail at anything that isn’t his passion. He could be a great artist which I guess should be enough but he is a horrible businessman.
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I understand your concern.
However, I wonder if the “student life” of parents/schools/FA/loans supporting such students makes it harder for them to realize who/how will they be supported once the education dollars end? The same people who may not think that earning money is very important may be still under the protection of money coming in from other sources. It’s easy to think/say that money isn’t important when at the present there is no current fear of being homeless or hungry.
Are you prepared to support him very long term post-college? If not, will he at least be able to earn a minimum to keep a roof over his head, the lights on, health insurance, food on the table, transportation costs, etc?
As for being a “poor businessman,” perhaps someone who hopes to earn some money thru his talents should take a few business classes or at least regularly consult with a trusted family member who has good “business sense.”