Description of Work

Trip Drawings - Collage

Student Images - Polaroid Film

Artist's Statement

For the twenty plus years I have taught art at BGSU.  A large proportion of my art making has involved others—especially students.  My art-making practice has evolved over the years from solitary work to small collaborations to large community murals.  In every case collaboration with students has been key.  

The drawings presented on the far wall are what I refer to as “Trip Drawings.”  For most of my 20 years at BGSU, I have gotten into a van with students and driven across the United States.  During many of those trips, we would create a daily drawing in the van.  Each person in the van would participate and add to the collaborative drawing, experiencing and reacting to what others had drawn before them.  These drawings have never been seen by anyone other than trip participants.  

The vast majority of the 3,096 instamatic camera photos on display are past and present students I have had in class, sprinkled with some faculty and friends I have collaborated with over the years.  Recording images of my students is something I have done since I first started teaching at BGSU in 1999.  Though this is not a complete record, I estimate this collection documents 95% of the students I have taught during my tenure at BGSU. 

The camera I first used for the photos was a Polaroid Instamatic camera, but when film costs increased, economics forced a change to the less expensive FujiFilm Instax Wide, at a dollar a shot.   While documenting the students I have met along the way has not been free, I am grateful that I maintained this commitment and priority in my life. 

Is life art?  In my case, I believe so. 

About the Artist

Education

1994, AA San Diego City College

1996, BFA San Francisco Art Institute

1999, MFA Bowling Green State University

Employment

Teaching Professor

Bowling Green State University

1999 to Present—BGSU