Galleries Give Gratification.

Alexander Brest Gallery opening! Featuring Dylan Collins and Jason Lee, Boss Combo.
Tonight I spoke with five people in regards to art, their day to day life, and the fine arts program. I realized that I didn’t really have a process in which I socialize with people, I just walk around and it seems that people with mutual interests seem to gravitate towards each other.
I realized that through this process many of my colleagues struggled with this assignment because they couldn’t confidently interact with others.

Illustration major#1

We spoke about her love for sculpture but how she had a feeling of not being good enough to do it. She told me about her fashion line she created where she paints art on vintage clothing such as jeans jackets and old shirts/ jackets.
She’s a sophomore from Jacksonville.
Illustration / sculpture major #2

We talked about her process of making her art and her vision of the sculptures she creates. I asked her which she preferred more, illustration or sculpture, she thought for a second and said “which ever one pays more”.
The three of us spoke about how art is a tough field to be in unless you take a hold of the reigns and go for it right away. Learning how to network yourself if a great tool to have when being in the field of fine arts. You also have to know how to talk to people and know what they want to hear.

Next I spoke with Jim Benedict (assistant professor of sculpture)
Benedict was a very interesting man from the moment he started speaking. He was very thoughtful with his words and phrasing, he was also very clear in his thoughts which was very refreshing. We talked about how Jacksonville University brings artists to our school and the formula in which the visual art faculty follows as guidelines to do so. Benedict also shared the hopes in which they would like the students to follow from each artist they bring. The visual arts department wants their students to emulate different aspects from each artist and what they have to offer. It was very nice to hear about the different side of the Fine Arts department.

Dylan Collins, one of the two artists who presented their works this evening had some great insight about his process in creating. He spoke loud and clear without a microphone, showing his ability to project as any artist in our field should be able to master. One thing I took away from his experience was that he he gets inspired by something, he starts to create his art, and in time it becomes something completely different than it initially was intended. The story changes from what it once was, a very interesting concept. We do this in music, you may start to solo on a jazz tune with one story or thought in mind, and it morphs into something new.
Collins told the audience that his sculptures came from a number of different animals and materials.

I briefly spoke with the Aramark workers who shared their experience with serving a mass amounts of people and how they were treated by different individuals. Their experiences were partially good, some experiences not great, they were just happy to be getting paid and meeting new people.

At the end of this experience I realized that I was extremely lucky to be as open to new things as I was in this scenario. Being able to so willing to talk to new people and make new experiences was an amazing feeling.