Thursday, September 17, 2009
Looking Forward
While my pursuits as an art therapist are over, the therapeutic use of art making is something I will always remember and intend to use in the future. I will continue to update this site on related topics. If interested in social art practices, check out my other blog: New Practices (see link on side bar). This blog will document my experience in discovering a new way to make art, within the public realm.
Transitions.
One year ago I began 2 different blogs in another city. I had just recently moved to the Boston area from Miami, and was starting my graduate degree in Art Therapy at Lesley University. Fast forward one year later, to now, and I'm living in Los Angeles starting a new masters program in Public Art making, an MFA.
It's been a turbulent year for sure, questioning everything, feeling confused and stupid for having made mistakes. To look back now though, I am proud I made those difficult decisions, and had the courage to follow my dreams.
My motivations for going into Art Therapy was 2 fold: to become a professional, and to still be able to use art. The argument made sense to me, and I had to try it, but yet it didn't work. During the spring semester that I took off from school and worked, I considered all fields: librarian, politician, arts advocate, medical illustrator, doctor, engineer, and I'm sure there were more. I followed my partner's lead at the time, who was also looking for his dream job, and had found it a month before I decide I couldn't be a therapist.
The problem with the field for me was the idea of being a therapist. As much as I researched before, nothing prepared me for the experience, and then the outlook of doing that work for the next 20 + years. It wasn't challenging in the ways that felt fulling to me.
So thus, I went back to what I considered my idea of my "dream" job, inspired by an artist lecture (Alfredo Jaar) I attended at FIU during my undergrad studies. Jaar inspired me in the way he worked. It would only take 4 years or so for me to recognize this as a possbile option for my career. Thanks to the encouragement and support of my amazing partner, I cautionly decided to give it a shot. I mean, after all, what's the worst that could happen. I diecide I don't want to do this. Well, at least I know what that feels like.
I still have urges to explore other careers like a scientist or economist, but at least I can do that as an artist. An if I get out of this program, and decide to still do those things, I can. At least I will have pursued my dreams to the fullest.
It's been a turbulent year for sure, questioning everything, feeling confused and stupid for having made mistakes. To look back now though, I am proud I made those difficult decisions, and had the courage to follow my dreams.
My motivations for going into Art Therapy was 2 fold: to become a professional, and to still be able to use art. The argument made sense to me, and I had to try it, but yet it didn't work. During the spring semester that I took off from school and worked, I considered all fields: librarian, politician, arts advocate, medical illustrator, doctor, engineer, and I'm sure there were more. I followed my partner's lead at the time, who was also looking for his dream job, and had found it a month before I decide I couldn't be a therapist.
The problem with the field for me was the idea of being a therapist. As much as I researched before, nothing prepared me for the experience, and then the outlook of doing that work for the next 20 + years. It wasn't challenging in the ways that felt fulling to me.
So thus, I went back to what I considered my idea of my "dream" job, inspired by an artist lecture (Alfredo Jaar) I attended at FIU during my undergrad studies. Jaar inspired me in the way he worked. It would only take 4 years or so for me to recognize this as a possbile option for my career. Thanks to the encouragement and support of my amazing partner, I cautionly decided to give it a shot. I mean, after all, what's the worst that could happen. I diecide I don't want to do this. Well, at least I know what that feels like.
I still have urges to explore other careers like a scientist or economist, but at least I can do that as an artist. An if I get out of this program, and decide to still do those things, I can. At least I will have pursued my dreams to the fullest.
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