Rain + Art = Sad Face

Storm, J.M.W. Turner

(The following is primarily of concern to those with "outdoor studios" like the Broads, Annex studios, and Butler Building studios. Still, it could be useful to anyone I guess...)


So it's winter in Southern California, which means it will actually be raining every once in awhile over the next couple months. Due to the "unique" design of many of our buildings, some of your studios are "uniquely" prone to leaks and water seepage. To help avoid mayhem and damage to art work, please make sure your windows remain closed and you don't store any valuable artworks or equipment or possessions under window sills or on the floor near doors.

Also, check out your ceiling: is there bubbled up paint up there? A big crack in the ceiling of some kind? Water stains? You'll want to avoid putting something of any worth to you underneath that spot. Heck, you might even want to cover your stuff with plastic just to be extra safe.

Do I realize that I just told you not to store your art near windows, on floors, near doors, or UNDER the CEILING? Yes, I do. But I'm telling you anyway.

If you've got water leaking in your studio, let me know ASAP and I'll try and get someone out there to address it. If your windows are stuck open, let me know and I'll try to get someone to fix them.

Water damage is the cross we who inhabit experimental architecture have to bear!



Godspeed.

The Fire Marshall Cometh

Don't even think about it.


Hey There All Students in the School of Art

The Fire Marshall is inspecting CalArts this week. Some of you may
have received a visit from him.

I ran into him in the hallway today and he told me the biggest problem
in the studios is that there is too much stuffed furniture, too many
toxic/flammable chemicals, and a great deal of overloading/misuse of
extension cords. I have a number of notices already for "General
Housekeeping"---essentially "Too much stuff in the studio". I will be
trying to assess how to deal with this in the coming weeks.

If the fire marshall singles out your studio for an infraction, you
will receive notice from me and one week to address the issue. If the
issue is not resolved in one week's time, I will have to personally
take steps to resolve the issue in order to comply with the fire
marshall's demands.

As of my writing this, the fire marshall is still making the rounds of
the studios. You can probably make things a little easier on all of
us by taking a look at your own studio space, tidying it up, and
making sure that you unplug all extension cords before leaving your
studio, are not overloading your electric sockets, and are storing
chemicals like resings, turpentine, etc. in the Flammable Liquids
cabinets provided. Some studio areas (such as the Annex and Broad
studios) do not have Flammable Liquids cabinets, but if you contact me
I can help provide you with appropriate storage.

...And just so you guys know, to actually comply with what the fire marshall is requesting will actually require us to CHANGE our BEHAVIOR in some significant and RECOGNIZABLE WAY.

MFA-2's, take a page from Rollins.

DO IT.

CHANGE IN STUDIO REQUEST POLICY FAQ

Why the change in policy?

The art program's studio situation changed without warning over the summer. The Studio Czar is returning to his throne to find his kingdom in flux. At the moment, as I'm writing this, we've lost a couple of the studios we had last year. It's not a catastrophe, but it limits our options as to where we can put people and what we can provide. But hopefully only FOR THE MOMENT as a number of new studios are actually being built to make up for it. But the only problem with that is we have to, you know, wait for them to get built. The reason the policy is different this semester is that, in all honesty, I will not even know how many studios are at our disposal this semester, nor how many students will need them, for a number of weeks, and a number of decisions will have to be made based purely on the logistics.


I'm an incoming MFA. Is this something I should be concerned about?

No, this doesn't apply to you. These changes mostly effect returning BFA students.


But Studio Czar, I talked to you over the summer and you said to come bug you during registration and now registration's about to start and you're saying don't bug you! You're sending me mixed signals!!

Well, I sent you two distinct signals. The first was "Come on over, it's fine" and the second was "Actually it's crazy. Please don't come over here. I'll call you, I promise, just give me some time". Or that was the signal I meant to send. It's admittedly a pretty complicated signal.

I'm a BFA-4 and I thought this would be the year I got the gigantic studio with the huge window and my buddy who just moved out said he'd bequeath me his coffee maker and even though you didn't know that, I think that means his old studio is my new studio, right?

Wrong. All bets are off, my friend. Larger studios will probably be used for people to share, and the mid-size and smaller studios will be reserved for individuals to use. The theme this year is "Don't Worry Be Happy (That You Have A Studio)"

Studio Czar, I'm a BFA-3 in the Art Program and I'm supposed to get my own studio, right? So where is it?

Well, my friend, I'm trying to find it. So please sit tight and I'll call you if something turns up.

Studio Czar, I'm a BFA-1 but I'm incredibly mature and I make enormous things, can I have my own studio?

No.

But, as a BFA-1 in the Art Program, will I get a studio at all?

Yes, all BFA-1's in the Art Program will be getting studios to share. BFA-1's in the Photo/Media will not receive studios, but they will have access to the Photo Lab and storage in that area.

Studio Czar, I hear what you're saying, but I know a guy who just got a new studio and I'm jealous of him and angry at you. I believe you are playing favorites and I think this is all a conspiracy against me and I hate you.

Well, I hope you will reconsider your hatred. But anyway, yes, some people have already changed studios, and people will continue to change studios, and I WILL try to take everyone's needs into account and accommodate their practice to provide them with a positive work environment. But it will take time and cooperation.


Studio Czar, let's just say I actually believe what you just said--Riddle me this! I don't get along with people in my studio block. It's actually REALLY BAD, man. With this new policy, Are you saying I can't come talk to you about that?

You can, and should, absolutely come to me with any studio problems. If you can't get along with people in your block, or are having problems with your studio mate, it's good for me to know so I can help fix the problem. Sometimes that involves changing studios, and sometimes it just involves improving communication. Please feel free to come to me with these issues.

What about leaks, spiders, and other maintenance problems in my studio? Can I come talk to you about that?

Absolutely. That's what I'm here for. That, and all the other stuff I was just talking about. The best thing to do would be to contact me by email or to come to my office during the posted times where I'm available to everyone, and then I can make arrangements.

One more thing, Studio Czar. I don't really feel like walking over to your office from 12-1 on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, reading your emails, reading your blog, reading your fliers, or emailing you directly. Would it be cool if I just cornered you in the hall while you're obviously busy doing something else?

Not really.

God, you're so cranky!

That wasn't a question.

CHANGE IN STUDIO REQUEST POLICY

Hi Everyone.
Last week I sent out this email to all the students. It has caused shockwaves of confusion, panic, and fear (well, I got a few emails and stuff). Actually, I edited this thing since I sent out the email. Maybe the email I sent out was a tiny bit less air-tight than this version, but the basic idea is the same. Anyway, this is the thing on my door right now....

PLEASE READ THIS

I will be unable to consider specific studio requests for the Fall Semester.

If you already have a studio that you have rented over the summer, continue to use that studio until further notice.

Incoming MFA’s, transfer students and returning students without studios will be contacted about their new studios in the first 2 weeks of classes.

Incoming BFA-1’s will receive information on studios in Foundations class.

All returning students will be contacted directly about studio changes.

Please Do Not send me studio requests via email or leave studio requests on my door. I will not be able to consider them.

My Office, A211K, will be open at the following times during the Fall Semester:

MON 12pm – 1pm

TUE 12pm – 1pm

Thursday 12pm – 1pm

I will not be available for individual consultation at any other time during the week.

Please check the bulletin board next to my office door (A211K) for studio information. This information will be updated regularly.

Your patience and cooperation is appreciated.

John Hogan

Studio/Gallery Manager

Office A211K

jhogan@calarts.edu

(661) 222-2795

Okay, don't panic. Do not fear. I'm not being replaced with a robot. I know you are worried about that. I will FAQ this thing in the next blog post.

Art MFA Studio Lottery Tuesday May 4th!

So You Want A Pedestal, Huh??

A lot of people this year have asked me about pedestals, and whether or not I have any of them to lend out. (They have also used the words "plinth" and "podium". I do not have podiums, and to the extent that I understand what "plinth" means in today's day and age, I don't think I have any of those either). I kinda have access to a couple of big boxy pedestals of varying dimensions that have somehow ended up floating around the school, but I do not really have space to store them and I have no organized system of keeping tabs on them. If you want a pedestal (2 max. per person -- there's only like 3 on campus) I can try and rustle them up for you wherever I can find them. But I take zero responsibility for their condition, I don't really know where they came from (I didn't make 'em!), and I don't really want to or need to provide them. They're sort of like feral horses that can occasionally be wrangled up, but it's uncertain whether it's worth the trouble in the end. People often decide they do not like the available pedestals when they get them, or they decide to make their own instead. If a pedestal, podium, or plinth is an integral part of your gallery show, let me know a few weeks in advance and I'll see what I can do. I would also encourage people to think about the size of the objects they'll be putting on the pedestal, and to consider making a customized pedestal for their own specifications. It'll probably look better and who knows, maybe you can sell it later!