Jennifer Moore MFA at San Diego State University

On this podcast we talk to Jennifer Moore. Jennifer is another friend and cohort at San Diego State University. Jen and I talk about her choice to go to SDSU for graduate school, what it's been like for her as a graduate student. We also talk about what it's been like making art during the pandemic and how it's effected her practice as and artist and student. Jen shares what she does when she has a creative block and what she does to decompress as an artist. I also ask Jen what her future plans as an artist are. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

If you would like to learn more visit Jennifers Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/junipertea/

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.

Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color

https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

Summer Recap MFA Chronicles @ SDSU

Here is a video about how the summer went and plans for the next school year.

Made In America

This piece started during spring semester after San Diego State University campus closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I was looking for a way to maintain or create some sort of income as I was soon going to run out of financial aid money for the school year. Since it was and continues to not be safe to be in public due to the pandemic my options for making money were and continue to be limited. It did not take me long to think about the possibility of making masks to sell. This concept weighed heavily on me, as I was not trying to take advantage of the situation in a greedy way. At the time, there were a lot of people donating handmade masks to institutions in need. Unfortunately, I did not feel I had the luxury to donate my time and materials in this way. I decided to give up the idea of selling masks and made art instead. My first response was a small project where I made five masks. These five where an attempt to use art as a way to explore what was happening in our society, and how it was affecting me. Based on the feedback I got from the original five masks I knew I wanted to continue to explore making masks in this way. I was also able to reconcile the idea of selling masks by making them a pay what you can afford model. I let people know I was raising money for school and living expenses, while also wanting to support anyone who needed a mask by making them for whatever amount they could afford, even if it was only the price it cost to mail it to them. 

Since the time of the original mask project more has happened in the world most notably the murder of George Floyd. These “Made In America” masks are designed to share with you some concepts and ideas that I have been exposed to and reflecting on over the past few months. I feel there are a lot of problems with our society especially as it relates to the pandemic and social justice. I also feel there are an equal amount and possibly more solutions to these problems. I want to express and share both what I see as problems and what I see as solutions. 

These videos and photos are the first phase of this project. You can find all of these masks on eBay listed for auction. Ninety percent of the selling price will be donated. Forty-five percent will be donated to support Black Lives Matter https://blacklivesmatter.com/, and Forty-five percent will be donated to Artist Relief supporting artist impacted by Covid-19 https://www.artistrelief.org/. The remaining ten percent of the selling cost is to cover all expenses related to the project.  The second phase of the project will conclude at the end of the auctions, I will be asking the purchasers of the masks to share why they bought them, and what they plan to do with them. The goal is to have them send me statements and pictures that will be complied and documented to share with you.

Visit this link to bid on an auction. https://www.ebay.com/usr/creatorzim

Learn more about this work here: http://thezim.com/madeinamerica.html

Andrew Blackwell MFA at San Diego State University

On this episode of the MFA Chronicles Podcast we talk with Andrew Blackwell. Andy and I both attend San Diego State University School of Art and Design. Andy tells us a little about what he has been up to this summer moving back to Little Rock Arkansas and doing some work on his parents kitchen. We also talk and try to make sense of the state of the world including the pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and politics. Andy breaks down his experience as a graduate student at SDSU, why he chose it, the good, the not so good, and more. I also ask Andy about feeling successful as an artist and what it means to him. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

If you would like to learn more about Andy please visit his Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bhboiseries/

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.

Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color

https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

It Will All Work Out (Post-It Note Mural) 2020

The "It Will All Work Out" video serves three main purposes. One is I wanted to respond to the current moment our society is going through. To try to express through art how I am feeling about the Covid-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and the current administration. Another purpose is I want to make sure that the limitations of accessing society due to the Covid-19 pandemic does not stop my attempt to make art and continue my pursuits in education as a graduate student at San Diego State University in the School of Art and Design. Presenting work in a format designed for the internet has always been important to me, and now is even more so. The third main purpose is to continue the investigation of how to use video through the lens of an artist.

Thanks for watching I look forward to hearing and reading your reactions to this work.

Noe Alonzo, Photographer, Neonnoir, Cyberpunk, Anime

On this MFA Chronicles podcast we talk with Noe Alonzo. We started the conversation asking Noe what are some of his recommendations and favorite anime. I asked Noe to give us a comparison of how Korea and America differ in terms of culture and the pandemic, he also told us how politics are viewed differently by both places. Noe also gave us insights into how he uses social media, what he sees as a successful practice and what he doesn't like about it.  Noe tells us how he balances his job of being and english teacher with his pursuits of being a creative, and why he likes the balance he has achieved. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Noe as much as I did.

If you would like to learn more about Noe please visit his website and Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/noealzii/
https://noealz.com/

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.

Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color

https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

Matthew Bacher MFA Candidate at San Diego State University

On this episode of the MFA Chronicles Podcast we talk with fellow first year graduate candidate Matthew Bacher.  Matthew and I started off the conversation reflecting on the pandemic and Black Lives Matter and how we have been affected by them.  Matthew then tells me about some of his plans for teaching drawing in the Fall 2020 semester. I ask Matthew about his experience as a graduate student so far, what are some of the positives and some of the negatives of the experience. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

If you would like to learn more about Matthew please visit his website and Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/matthew_bacher
http://www.mbacherart.com/

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.

Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color