University of Sunderland

Well that’s it – all over! I enjoyed the preview night and it was fun meeting new people. I was surprised by some peoples reactions as it was not what I expected i.e. there seemed to be a gender split about the four pieces in the show. And now – There’s no feeling of anti-climax as there can be when you’ve been completely absorbed in a task – just a sense of relief that I have my life back!

Without doubt the most important factor once you have decided to do your MA should be about the staff who will lead you; the most important question is – are they practising artists? In a way it does not matter if you do not see their current work, as long as you can see some recent work, and by recent less than three years. In some ways you do not want to see thier current work as you may respond, or think that you should (you dont!). You are going to get to know them very well (and they you!) so be sure. You should be looking for INTEGRITY above all else. Well getting near show time and I get my ‘space’ from Tuesday so I will be able to get going. Everything is ready just need the space!

A couple of answers for you. Dont do an MA if you have to consider the needs of anyone else as you need to focus on you you you! The cost is not pleasant if you have to pay fees and that hurts on the material and the ideological fronts. Dont do an MA if you can't think of what else to do. You will know when you are ready and then it is important to go all out. It seems the two year part time and the one year full time have benefits in how and when your progress takes place (more intense and focused in one year v more time to reflect over two years). I knew something was up when Rodin's figurative work didn't seem to work anymore for me but Caro's work did; its hard to explain in this little box of words! Susan – about the factory space; if you are in the north east you are welcome to join me for the next one! otherwise if you email me I will send you the recipe. You just have to be persistant ad make things happen!!

The first year of doing the part time MA got me thinking. I underwent a period of guided deconstruction of the way I worked and thought; the theoretical studies supported this and got me thinking – differently, about context and representation. The focus on contemporary art also moved me up a couple of notches. I had realised that there was something wrong with the art and the artists I had always liked but I found it was difficult to pinpoint what it was. Now I know!

It seems that I'm the only person interested in sculpture, but I suppose thats nothing new and I should be used to it by now. I think doing a part time MA is a very lonely process; I put in a lot of hours and am making great progress intellectually, but there is very little that can be quantified and it is difficult to explain your thinking to 'ordinary' people. There is also such a great contrast to where I started from to where I am now — and I suppose it is only me and my tutors who could notice. Now I am working on some pieces for the final exhibition – I have found what it is I am looking for and it is a question of now applying this. Watch this space!