http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/398095 CalArts Observations Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:53:39 +0100 a-n rss generator a-n The Artists Information Company and contributors edit@a-n.co.uk technical@a-n.co.uk http://sites.a-n.co.uk/img/logo.gif http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/398095 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/398095 I'm here. I mean, I have been here for 3 months, and I feel settled now. It still feels quite bizarre, I can barely get my head around it. It's been an ambition to come here for a long time, so although its been entirely expected, its still a shock.I am one of six Brits here. Three are exchange students, and two are on undergraduate courses, one of them in the art school. I'm in a minority group, a loved minority. It's very bizarre, I've just about got used to it, but the British accent is very popular, and therefore I am exotic. I love the course. I'm doing MFA Photography & Media in the Art School. There are 10 students on MFA1 Photo, and 10 in the second year. There is a separate MFA Art programme, with 20 students per year. There is a certain amount of flow between the two courses, we can take each other's classes, but they are different, with different Crits.The campus is mad. It operates very differently to anywhere I have been before. For starters, there is a swimming pool that anyone can use between 7am-11pm. There is no dress code. By that I mean, swimsuit optional. I only ever go early in the morning before the naked swimmers get up. I am English after all. The entire campus is 24 hour accessible. That includes the photography studios and darkroom - although you must check out a key and need to swipe your card to enter. All Art and Photo graduate students have their own studio, with sky light. I love my studio and I have purchased a $130 sofa bed so I can sleep in here if my dorm room is noisy, or if I need to put a friend up.Dogs are allowed everywhere on campus, except the library and cafe. The whole place has an amazingly relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and I felt part of this place fairly quickly. I have only really settled into getting on with my practice in the last month though, the first month I mainly spent getting acclimatised and the second I met up with the faculty and got stuck into reading and researching. I am now making whilst hitting end of class deadlines, that seem to be coming at me thick and fast. ... Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 http://sites.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/398095