Statement of Interest a la Grad Schools

1-8-2012

Veronica Black

Statement of Interest

The summer of 2010 I visited my grandmother in Houston, Texas. Toward the end of that two week trip I had an opportunity to to rush over and visit the Museum of Fine Art Houston. I have always enjoyed exploring new museums or revisiting old ones whenever I travel. For me this new museum was filled with exhibits from 5th century burial masks to American contemporary art. With such artists as my hero Willem Van Aelst, his epic still lifes, and introducing me to contemporary artists like Jasper John, I roamed each wing of the museum and began to realize I was studying not just art work but the museum itself--how the exhibits where laid out, the flow of visitors, the design and color for each gallery--until I came across the Art of Asia exhibit. Weaving through the pillars that Hindu gods stood on, I wondered what their stories were when I came across a monitor. The touch screen, with built in Adobe Flash, was a simple interactive explaining the stories behind each of the Hindu gods. The interactive was bright, easy to navigate, and entertaining. It was perfect for all ages except that the touch screen was installed on the wall in a far off corner four feet from the floor--to high and out of the way for the younger museum visitors that this interactive was clearly designed for. That was the moment I realized I wanted to go to graduate school, so I can advance my education to be able to work in a cultural institution creating and installing technology that would help enrich the visitors experience. "I could design and install this interactive much better" was my mantra for the rest of my museum visit .  

When that summer ended I started my last year as a undergraduate at New Mexico Highlands University’s (NMHU) Media Arts Program, I have experienced an education both in and outside the classroom. My BFA in digital filmmaking, and my studio arts minor, have given me the foundation for creating professional and creative art. I have built upon my educational foundation with professional internships with SITE Santa Fe—a contemporary art space—the Department of Cultural Affairs of New Mexico, and the Marion Koshland Science Museums, Washington, DC, producing pieces ranging from oral history documentaries, to e-publishing children’s books, and virtual tours for the web.

In my five years at NMHU I have worked with local museums on such projects like SITE Santa Fe’s seventh biennial exhibit, “Lucky #7”—one of my first videography projects—made me part of a documentary film team comprised of students from three universities around Santa Fe. The biennial was curated by Lance Fung and focused on collaboration. Together we created a web based-only archive of the eighteen international and local artist works. Capturing the beginning process, the construction of the art, and the final installation of work in the contemporary art space through my camera lens was a wonderful way to experience how exhibitions are created. 

In 2008, I had the opportunity to be a part of the Program for Interactive Culture Technology (PICT). Within the program I worked with the New Mexico History Museum to create a short video as well as interactive pieces for the “Fashioning New Mexico” exhibit. I took ownership of shooting and editing a video that documented the process the textile conservator took to prepare the clothing for the exhibition. This video has also been displayed at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM, and the Mesa Public Library in Las Alamos, NM. I saw this project through to the end, developing the style of the video, the photography, and music of the piece. I finished with installing the sound system and monitor in the exhibition space.

This past summer I entered the professional field immediately after graduation through the alliance of AmeriCorps, the Center for Cultural Technology (CCT), the Media Arts Program at NMHU, and the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Through AmeriCorps I started work for SITE Santa Fe as their summer External Affairs assistant. Through out the summer I worked on organizing and formating press images, cataloging press images and press clips, and assisting in documenting public events, getting a taste for the logistics side of museum life.

When I started researching MFA programs that had a museum connection, one of the first schools I came across was Parsons. The variety of fields in the Design and Technology program was an immediate draw. I knew I wanted to end up working for museums but how to go about it was still unclear. Having worked on many different kind of projects outside school, I feel I have much to offer in whichever path I take. I have a passion for filmmaking but skills in designing logos and layout, creating and building websites, and most recently working on mobile applications.  The design and technology program will offer me an opportunity to develop all my skills, without having to narrow down to just a few. And in the end I will be a much better employee at no matter what museum I end up.

All of my experiences have centered around museums in a positive way. I have seen how my work has helped to tell others' stories, captured a moment that was almost forgotten, or given someone an idea of what awaits them before they visit the museum. These experiences and the pleasure that come from them have secured the path I hope to tread. 

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This letter was for Parsons college in New York, NY.

Enjoy!

The Things I'm "About" to Accomplish

Despite my mother, grandmothers and great grandmother, I will never be a stay-at-home wife/mother, it's just not going to happen. I remember my mother trying to teach me how to sow and cross stitch and it came out looking like this:

Re-actant-ment of said cross stitch

My mother bought me dolls and my grandmother got each one of the grand daughters on christmas a new porcelain doll. I throw dolls off the top bunk bed, not the porcelains but the others. Just to see if they bounce.

My dolls never ended up this bad but dang it I didn't try

I was outside more then any of my five brothers. Once I had to start wearing a bra, which I put up a fight until the very last, I thought it was stupid to take it off at night, mostly because it was a pain to even get it on.

This isn't me but this would have been me

I never walk around a puddle. I go through it! my poor husband tries to direct me around a puddle but I still manage to go through it. It's to much fun to miss out of it.

I had boys calling at my door when I was 6 years old because I was the only girl in the neighborhood who wasn't afraid to get dirty. I remembered my mother opening our front door to find 3 little boys asking if I can come out to play. My mom who's very lady like told the boys that "I was to young to be asked out by boys yet." It was pretty funny!

In short, I'm not a girly girl nor a tom boy, I'm just an adventures person with no designs on being a stay at home and do nothing kind of person. There's nothing wrong with being a mother and wife who does stay at home. It's just not my idea, I much rather be at work and busy out side of the home. I guess I'm just not a being at home kind of person really...

This little intro was to help you understand this next part. Since I've been old enough I've worked. I always had choirs, even on the weekend (Lame Dad.) When I was 11 I started house/animal sitting for neighbors. And then when I turned 13 I started babysitting, and I still do. I was the best babysitter and the most requested one in town. I made a killing. Once we moved to South Dakota I found a job at a Nursing Home, then after working there for awhile I started work at a bakery and ref'ing soccer. Right before my 21st birthday I moved out of my parents home and from that time until I moved to New Mexico in 2006. I worked 2 jobs, babysit or went to school. At one time I worked 72 hours a week for 2 weeks and somewhere between 38-40 hours ever week. Once I landed in New Mexico I became a full time student and worked 20+ hours a week. I did that for 5 years. For the full list, Rewriting New New Chapter.

Now that I'm on a break for the unseeable future I need goals - plans - units of time - things to do. Otherwise I don't think I can guaranty yours - my husband's - my puppy's safety. So with my husband's support I've come up with a sort of list. And as I go about accomplishing this "list" I'll mark it off by posting them.

Unit 1) Clean the Apartment: Since we never really unpacked after we moved into our new apartment and the family-in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving.

Unit 2) Craft-y Things: I'm not really that crafty but I love making clothes from old clothes, like Tshirts.

www.generation-t.com

I also want to try my hand at crochet.

I haven't crochet since I was 17 and then it ended looking like a knot

Needle work.

Mine's going to be awesome

Unit 3) Memphis's Place: So our puppy Memphis has been hanging out in a crete when we go some where or we're asleep. Yet we have this little cubby where he could stay and have more room. The only reason he doesn't live there now is because there's so much junk pilled up in there. So my mission is throw away or find a place for all that junk so Memphis can have his own little place.

Unit 4) Paint + Draw = Do Art: I love painting and over the summer I was so inspired by all the creative art I saw that I'm dying to do art. I want to paint, I want to draw, and if I have time I want to display my art in a gallery. I've been asking around to see if there's a gallery where I can do that. I might have found a place but we'll see.

Apples!

Unit 5) Canada: Montreal Canada in fact. My husband has his 10 Year High School thing coming up in October and he really wants to go. We even got passport so that we can, but we have been having car issues so that's slowed us down in the buying of the tickets to get us there. I'm holding out, it's a pay week and hopefully the tickets will be at a good price and then we're off. I've never been out of the country. I really want to go.

This is my very first passport but not my last

Unit 6) Grad Schools: I really want to go to grad school and get an MFA. I'm just not sure where and in what for sure that is. So my job is to figure that out, find a place and take the GRE, which means I'll be studying for them. On the bright side of having to study my husband will be taking them and studying for them with me. He's applying to PHd programs too.

Unit 7) Run: Before I moved to New Mexico I worked out every day and once I moved here I ran every other day and worked out on the opposite days. I even run a 1/2 marathon, but now I'm lucky if I can get a yoga class or walk the puppy in. So I'm going to start running and working out again. In fact, I'm going to start training for a 1/2 marathon or better yet a full marathon. I think I can do it. I want to do it. I just need to find a marathon somewhere near. But what's going to be really challenge is running a full 26. something miles because to run the whole of the city of Las Vegas, NM is 5.5 miles. (Of course that doesn't include the the part of town going out of town toward Wal-Mart.) I will have to run around Las Vegas like 5 time. That's going to be fun.

I have an iPhone so I can cover most of these gadgets 

I have a lot planned but I also have until I find a job or we move in August 2012. I'll keep you posted on how this list turns out.

Enjoy!

Letter to a friend who's planning their 1st NM trip.

Ok! I'm got the HOT spots for you.

Hi! How are you?

So if your are starting in Santa Fe stay at the Saga Inn.

We've stayed there a few time and it's great. We've never had an issue, the staff is super cool, the breakfast is really nice, it's cheap and it's close to a lot of the best of downtown Santa Fe.

Across the street from the hotel is the Railyard park it's super nice. During the summer months they have event and art shows. There are also 3 or 4 art museums there that are fun to look around if that's your kind of thing. Jared might like SITE Sante Fe, http://www.sitesantafe.org/. I work on a project for them a few years ago. They always have fun stuff and media arty things. Also, in the mornings the railyard host a farms market. It's the bomb!

At the farms market you'll be at the railyard. In about block you're at the railyard station. Take the old train to Lamy. It's beautiful and you feel like you're in the old west. You can also take a ride on the Rail Runner to Albuquerque (Abq). Abq. is fun but there's not as many places to visit there. You can go and see some really nice museums. But, if I were you I'd go to the Centeral Ave./ Nob Hill. It's over by the University of New Mexico. Over there it's a lot like Poplar Ave. and U of M in Memphis but way cooler. There's some really fun shops, clothes, art, comics. It's fun over there. If you do go swing by the Flying Star. It's great place for lunch. It's like McAlister Deli but New Mexican style. Another cool place in Abq. is Uptown. It's kind of like the Carriage Crossing in Collierville just with the New Mexico twist. That's about all as far as Albuquerque goes. Back to Santa Fe...

Down another block from the railyard you'll come to Sambrusco Shopping. There is an Rei store, Borders and a little inside shopping mall. There are ton of fun shopping place all over that area.

The best places to eat, I think, are Zia Dinner. It's pretty famous. Tomasita's, the Cowgirl and Kohnami Restaurant. All nice places.

Now if you don't mind a few minutes walk you can go down town to the Santa Fe Plaza. It's totally amazing. They have the church with the crazy stair case, there's our favorite toy store in the whole world, Moon Rabbits Toys! You'll totally love it down there. Don't be afraid of walking down very and all streets. On good days there are Native American and Hispanic artist selling their wonderful jewelry and art. It's so amazing. And the history behind them is cool. Do swing by the Palace of the Governors (The oldest continuously used public building in the United States) and the History Museum.

There's also a very cool little street that circles around and very building on the street is an art gallery. It's really fun. I can't remember the street address but when I do I'll pass it on.

On your way back you'll pass by a little antique shop inside the shop is the best little Greek cafe in the world Cleopatra Cafe. You must stop there, at lease once. The little shop is totally cool too.

The place to eat while you're in Santa Fe are; Backroads Pizza, The Pantry, and Jambo Cafe.

The Santa Fe Reporter will be a great help when planning things to do besides eat.

Now, Taos, NM is fun for a hippy, chil-lax, day. There's so much to do like, relax. It's just great. Take the drive from Las Vegas to Taos. I think it's the best way to view this beautiful state. While there have a meal at Joseph Kitchen. It's pricy but really good. You totally get what you pay for. There's a fun book store called Moby Dickens. It's a great place to just relax. When you get ready to leave, there is a back road from Taos to Santa Fe. Try to leave Taos just as the sun sets. It'll take you breath away.

In the original Las Vegas, our home town, It's small but for all its small town-ness it's really wonderful. Stay at the Plaza Hotel. It really nice and full of fun facts, like, tons of movie have been filmed there. No Country for Old Man, Easy Rider, Red Dawn. You'll be close to the World Treasures Traveler's Cafe. The best coffee and scones you'll every have. Going up Hot Spring Ave. toward the Montezuma, you'll come to the castle. It's the World College. This place has tons of history. Take the tour and see the prayer room and take a dip in the natural hot springs that are at the foot of the castle. Make sure you have water to drink or if it's a cold night some hot coco with a little something special in it. Wink Wink!

There are tons of fun things to do while in Las Vegas when the time gets closer I'll let you know what's going on. Just so you know this fun town celebrates almost everything. During the summer they have tons of fiestas. I'm sure there will be on going on while you're visiting.

Side note, if you miss it or if you can be here while the have the Rough RIder Rally check out the city museum. It's "rally" cool.

Great place to eat, besides the Traveler's Cafe, is Charlie Spec and Spin, wonderful tortillas. Plaza Burger, get tons of their curly fries. El Fidal Restaurant, very fancy. The one thing you do need to know is when the waiter/ess ask you "do you want red, green, or christmas" their asking what kind of chili you want with your meal. We always ask for our chili on the side otherwise they smother it all over the dish.

I hope that helps in getting you started on the planning part of your trip. I hope we will still be here and we can show you around all these wonderful places. If not, I know you'll enjoy it and have so much fun.

See you soon.

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Enjoy!