Taking Criticism is Cake, Everything Else is Hard

So I had my first of two long overdue critiques with professors outside the photography department yesterday. Mark Shetabi, a well known painting teacher here at Tyler, accepted my invitation to look at the work I have been producing this semester. I was pretty excited considering I have critiqued other works with him during our Interdisciplinary Crits, but they were always with other artist works and they were mostly paintings. This time, however, got to me. I had about 8 pieces up, all of them I worked sincerely hard on, and he strolled through them the way pedestrians stroll through posters at subway stops. Out of the eight he examined 4, and in those 4, he liked 1 piece. Phew, I mean to me this was fucking great. Working excessively and within constraints I really haven't had a thorough examination of my works as much as I would of liked to from other professors.

Steve Berkowitz, a professional photographer and teacher here at Tyler's BA program, once told me when he would have shows and the only feedback he would consider in his little guest book was the page that had "This shit sucks" scribbled. Berk said, "There's the man I want to talk to! Of course he didn't leave his name and number". I couldn't agree more with Berkowitz's realization that the most interesting feedback on work is the harsh criticism that puts the artist in a particular spot of where and what to do now. "What could I communicate better to this person!?"said Berk.

Sure the statement "This shit sucks" is moronic, but it can also serve as a more simplified version of real criticism. This is what I got from Shetabi yesterday. I wouldn't say he went as far as saying "This shit sucks", but the fact that not all of my works was addressed, and no concepts were derived, speaks to who I am communicating to and who I am assuming is my audience. There was much to think about, and I was happy that he did enjoy my one piece that is also my favorite of the eight. Whenever you get conversations like this, at first it may seem very discouraging, but in fact it's the opposite. I am now more determined to flesh out my ideas more then ever. To encompass not just the likings of other photo students, but of the art world, and more importantly the general public. Sure it was a smack in the face, but now my face is beat red with more motivation then what I have obtained over this whole semester. I leave you with a sunset/sunrise to help you remember that the sun doesn't really rise or set. Always stationary, its a constant reminder that we are the one's always moving and ever-changing. It's an uplifting thought (at least I think so).