<p>Ok, so I’ll give you some more info about Chicago/SAIC.</p>
<p>I have known/met many many people who have gone there because I live in the area. If you have a strong interest in conceptual art, I really recommend it. From what you have said, you sound like you have a very strong academic side too- and there’s a degree there called Visual and Critical studies which would really give you strong academics. What’s great about that degree is that you can pair it with a Fine Arts degree, so that your art is inspired by your humanities studies in the Visual and Critical studies department. The downside is that it takes longer to complete, but in my opinion it seems to be a very rich degree. Here is the description of it (from their tumblr) “The Visual & Critical Studies (VCS) program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is designed for students interested in the scholarly and creative investigation of the production, dissemination, and impact of visual images, objects, experiences, and practices. With the visual as a starting point, students use multiple methods of critical investigation to study the interactions between visual phenomena and their historical, disciplinary, and social contexts. Our explorations use a diverse set of fields, including history; performance; art history; film, video and new media; visual communication design; sociology; political science; sculpture; anthropology; and literature, among others.”</p>
<p>Sounds interesting, right? It’s actually more selective too than their BFA program, and much smaller I think… </p>
<p>ANYHOW- onto SAIC’s role in the art world/ Chicago’s art world. While we’re not NYC or something, we do have a very good art scene here. I work at the Museum of Contemporary Art which is an absolutely phenomenal conceptual art museum. It’s small, but pretty large considering it’s only contemporary art that is almost all conceptual. The curatorial department right now is really doing great things. One of the staff members who runs the program I am in graduated from SAIC, and many other staff members have besides that. SAIC students get into the MCA for free, and it’s really only a bus ride away from the school. It’s free on tuesdays, is open super late then, and has really regular hours in general. They have really great performances, artist residences, etc as well, which are really inspiring. Many artists who we(the teen program I’m in) have collaborated with have graduated or are associated with the museum. Cheryl Pope, an artist we worked with, happens to work for Nick Cave, who teaches at SAIC and is well known in the art world for his soundsuits. Right now Martin Creed is doing a residency there, and he is not from Chicago but his work is super fun so if you went to SAIC next year, you could still get a glimpse of that…</p>
<p>ONTO THE GENERAL ART WORLD!</p>
<p>We have this wonderful district called the “West Loop” which is where many galleries are. Of course, galleries are generally commercial, but the art in these galleries is still really interesting. My favorite however, is “three walls” which is an experimental, non commercial gallery which has a lot of very intellectual and interesting work. I think there is an experimental workspace/workspaces popping up in Bridgeport, and I know there are lots of those sorts of places in Wicker Park too. </p>
<p>SAIC requires that all teachers are working artists- and they all are in Chicago. I’ve thus far met sculpture, screenprinting and Fashion teachers at the school. There’s a really cool artist too, who is VERY supported by the city of Chicago named Theaster Gates. His life is his art in many ways, and he creates art spaces in the worst areas of the city for African Americans. Truly a great and very nice person(who the mayor really likes). There are so many resources for you to get inspired in a place with such diversity in population. </p>
<p>SAIC really has great facilities, an amazing dorm space, and it is LITERALLY in the central district of the city called “The Loop”. While they don’t have like a “set campus” the buildings of the school are in the best spots, really safe areas(well except at 2am, but anywhere is questionable then). There are lots of student galleries too in the area. Also, if you are doing the Visual and Critical studies or art history major at SAIC, I think you have access to the archives at the museum!! If you wanted an internship too at the MCA or AIC I’m sure it would be quite easy to get it. </p>
<p>This message is very out of order, but I’m remembering a trip to the west loop galleries a few months ago. One of the gallery workers had specifically told us that the person on display was his friend at SAIC who he recommended to his owner. It’s really about the connections you make and where you want to go with that. One of the alumni from Visual and Critical studies even has his own gallery now, he literally started it in school,pretty impressive!(it’s called LVL3 gallery).</p>
<p>AND ONE LAST THING-
While I 100000000% agree you NEED intellectual backup to make intelligent work(if that is your goal) going to art school is VERY much essential if you are looking to make POST MODERN work. You will be SURROUNDED by it in Chicago and they give you LOTS OF SPACE to make installation, video, new media and VERY LARGE SCALE WORK. You MAY or may not be able to do that at UCLA(also you would have to balance it with regular coursework). One of the curators at the MCA (Naomi Beckwith) had once mentioned to our teen group that " if you want to be an artist, go to art school, it’s worth the investment." You would really be surrounded NOT JUST by the students, but by faculty, and ultimately, the art world of Chicago. SAIC will give you a lot of room to experiment and grow, and while at first it might seem that there are many kids who don’t care, as you go on and people drop out it would get better, and it’s what you make of it. If you choose to do the dual degree, or simply take VCS coursework, you will find you have intellectual stimulation alongside production of work.</p>
<p>OK -the monster of this message is done. There’s probably more, but that’s all for now.</p>
<p>All I have to say is do what feels right. If what I said makes you think “WOW SAIC” or the other way around, do that. You don’t want to make the wrong decision.</p>
thanks!</p>
But I’ll be sure to research both hardcore. Thanks so much!</p>