Welcome to American University
- Sep 24, 2017
- 3 min read
As I walk into my studio everyday I yell out “Morning boys, how are we doing today” but no one answers me. Most likely because their mouths are painted shut. Washington gazes at me stoically while Ben-Boy Franklin gives me a confused look when I don't have a box of wine in my hand-- that’s okay though, I usually paint him interacting with hookers. In my white box of a studio, I always have my boys around for good measure.
I'm having a blast thus far here in Washington. Early this month I moved to Arlington, Virginia. It's a small commute to school (without traffic) and I’m just now learning my way around which includes many wrong turns and typically an additional ten minutes onto my commute. I'm pleasantly surpised to see a ton of wild life. I saw a fox run past my apperment and a few deer on the commute home from school.
It’s overwhelming living in a city. It’s also liberating living in a city. Here in the city of suits I, Bryan McGinnis am wearing flower shorts and fun hats. I stick out like a flamingo in a herd of zebras but that's okay, I’m an artist.
The first few weeks of graduate school consisted of me yelling a lot. I’m screaming at places like the grocery store and the gas station because everything in D.C. is sooooooooo god damn expensive. The other half of my time is me yelling at bicyclists. There’s just so many and I’m positive they fall from the sky as if I was on the set of Mario Kart. School itself is exciting. As of now I am focused on finishing up loose ends for my solo show at Converge Gallery, located in Williamsport, PA in December. Soon I will dive into my first year thesis. I have a teaching assistantship for a photo I course which is incredibly fun! I will give my own lecture soon and take part in assisting students with their cameras, printing images, help formulate ideas and critique their projects. I find myself learning a great deal and having my mind set as a teacher/student rather than a student is refreshing. I’ve realized no matter what position or experience I have it will always be one that is formed around learning which is the ultimate goal in life.
It’s about time for the development of a new collection to visualize. Starting a new portfolio isn’t easy. The process is never truly clear and it always requires little sleep. For Man Made, my undergrad senior show, I wanted to grow into myself as a man. I wanted to define my masculinity as a homosexual male. I needed to convey my masculinity through art. With this process, yes I painted, but it was more of a mental transformation. The use of earthly materials such as wood, ceramics, sand and rock-like substances, I was able to achieve what I set out to do. Creating Man Made was one of my favorite learning experiences. Because of Man Made I was able to create by examination of myself. I have ideas brewing in my head for what is to come and they are making their way to paper, but if you want a preview of what there is to come, think gold and as always, have history in mind. :)
There’s always something going on in the studio but one thing never changes and that's my enthusiasm to go and create.
Cheers.
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