Much Needed Extension for Zine Project

 Hello Everyone,

One of my Writing for the Arts sections met today, and nearly every student expressed a desire (maybe more like a need) for additional time.

For students in my three sections that meet tomorrow, your goal should be to have a solid start on your mini-pages. Please pay close attention to details in class tomorrow. You might be a student who doesn't need more time. That's great. You won't have any homework for our next class meeting on Monday or Tuesday.

Please remember that your zine needs to feature some of your writing. I got the feeling in my section today that 90% of the energy was dedicated to making the images, and the text (your writing) was an afterthought. 

Here is the link to the blog: WftA. The two posts under this one have lots of great information, links, and examples that will really help.

For our first class next week (either M or T), you will need to bring 6-8 finished mini-pages to class. This is your assignment. If you don't know what a mini-page is, please consult the blog. All of the information is there. 

Feel free to write me with questions, but also don't forget to read the blog carefully and ask your classmates. 

csmith@dcad.edu

Zine Links

Here is a link to a great article with all of the basics: How to Make a Zine.

And here is a link to an article that sketches the brief history of the genre: Chapbooks to Zines.

Lastly, here's a link to eleven Cool Artist's Zines. 

The Wikipedia page on Zines has loads of great links.

If you find a great website about zines, please send me the link and I'll share it with the class. Thanks!

DCAD Zine-Fest: March 1, 12:30, in the library

 

This is a three-class project. On Monday/Tuesday of this week, we introduce the project, brainstorm, and make a plan. On Wednesday/Thursday we make the zine. Next Monday/Tuesday we read, enjoy, and critique each zine. Yeah!

So, you might be asking, "What is my zine going to be about?" Good question. The door is wide open. You just need to supply the text (your writing) and the images (your art). Your text and images should work together.

You can write a poem or a series of short poems. You can write a fictional (or real) diary. You can write a miniature biography of someone important in your life. You can write a love-letter, a short book of recipes or jokes. You can write ____________ (fill in the blank). The only thing you can't write for this assignment is fan-fiction. You also can't recycle old writing. 

As for the images, they can be drawn, photographed, collaged, etc. You can use color or you can leave it black and white. 

The word "zine" is an abbreviation of magazine, so it's pronounced zeen not zighn.

Why do people, especially young people, make zines? Sure, it's fun, it's cheap, and it's immediate. In this respect, zines are kind of like blogs: they are spaces of radical freedom. They give voice to marginalized and under-represented people. Check out this article to see what I mean. 

There are dozens of ways to make a basic zine, but we are following one particular format. All you need is copier paper, a copier, glue/tape, staple/thread.

To make your zine, you will need 6 to 8 "mini-pages" measuring 4.5 inches by 5.25 inches. On these "mini-pages," you will tape or glue your art and your writing. You will then tape or glue your mini-pages into the book form. This is not as complicated as it seems, but it does require patience and concentration. Yes, you can choose to make your zine directly in digital format, but the old-fashioned way tends to work better. 

On Wednesday, March 1, at 12:30 you are invited to an informal zine launch program in the library. Your attendance is encouraged but not required. 

Optional workshop: Wednesday, February 23, in the library.

Questions:  csmith@dcad.edu

Use This Checklist Before You Upload Your Three Documents

 This module or unit ends this upcoming Monday, February 20, at 9:00 am. Upload your three PDF documents (bio, statement, and resume) to our Populi Assignments page.

Before uploading, go down this checklist. If you can answer "yes" to all of these items, you're probably in good shape.

Questions?  csmith@dcad.edu

1.  ____ Have I made PDF files and named them appropriately? (Example: csmithbio.pdf)

2.  ____ Have I proofread my documents carefully? Have I had someone else take a look?

3. ____  Are all of my documents aligned with the "me" of 2033?

4. ____ Have I eliminated references to my experiences before college? (No high school stuff.)

5.  ____ Have I written and sent a professional email message to the curator, Casey Smith, letting him know that my documents have been submitted? (csmith@dcad.edu)

That's it. Please spend enough time on revision and editing. Your documents should reflect the full quality of your work on this unit. 

Resume Scavenger Hunt

In groups of two (also called a pair), search the internet for an example of a wonderful and smart artist's resume and also an abysmal and dreadful example. Copy and paste the URLs into a discussion board box. Be prepared to comment briefly on both.

Please don't use any examples that have already been linked on this blog. This should be a fun and useful exercise. This should take about 20 minutes. 

Resume Week!

Hello Students!

This week you'll be working on your Artist Resume. Like the Artist Biography and the Artist Statement, your resume is an exercise in creative imagination. Remember: You are around 30 years old, the year is 2033, and you have experienced success in your chosen art and design field since you graduated from DCAD in May of 2024. 

Your resume in 2033 will not mention experiences you had when you were in high school. Time moves on.

I think these examples from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh are good, if not inspired, models of successful art-field resumes. 

Your resume needs to fit one page and it can't include a headshot or depiction of what you look like. This is for HR and diversity reasons.

Some people in creative fields use "creative resumes" that don't follow the basic look and feel of a traditional text-based resume. You should be aware of this approach, but for this assignment, it is probably smart to go the traditional route. These are very time-intensive design projects. Take a look.

Writing the Artist Resume: Guidelines

 

The College Art Association (CAA) is a professional group that represents college and university art and design professors. These guidelines are truly excellent, but I wish they would have included an example of what it actually looks like.  Here is a link to a website that does include actual examples, but feel free to explore the internet for a format that fits your proverbial vibe. When it comes to layout, remember that less is more. Don't clutter it up with inessential stuff. You want your resume to be like a snapshot of you as an artist or designer.

A finished draft of your artist resume is due next Wednesday or Thursday. You might want to get started early.

Remember that for this exercise you are ten years older and have had a successful career. The year is 2033. This means that you'll have to use your imagination to project this future "you".

Questions?  csmith@dcad.edu