Been there, done that, Day 252

The first day of one of the last classes I will teach at CU. It felt bittersweet. I never wanted to turn into one of those burned out teachers and I was definitely starting to feel a little burned out. I have 16 weeks to get used to the idea of saying goodbye.

Steps to take, Day 109

I am back to my everyday life teaching in the classroom at CU Boulder. In my first class today I had my art students make a list of one month, one year, 5 year, and 10 year goals related to making art. They had to list five under each category and then write one step they need to take to make each goal happen. It's a good exercise, especially recognizing the steps. Here is my list:

Within One Month:
-Apply to Morris Graves Museum for solo show...finish and mail application.
-Make piece for show in Oaxaca....photograph.
-Start romance novel mandala...start folding book pages
-Complete boxes for Naropa...get back into the studio.
-Learn how to use my video camera...read owner's manual and shoot.

Within One Year:
-Travel to Colombia for my solo show in August 2010...save $
-Finish book business website...shoot photos, edit, write text
-Create personal website for my art work...find a template and start loading info
-Finish 39+ project...keep photographing everyday, no matter what!
-Have a book commercially published...submit project to publishers

Within Five Years:
-Quit teaching as an adjunct instructor...apply for tenure track jobs.
-Go to Bali and make art, learn language, and travel...Make more $ and save
-Live in Croatia for an extended period of time...Make more $ and save
-Travel to Vietnam and work on my war memorial project...find grants and save $
-Get a grant to produce an artist book edition...research and apply for grants

Within Ten Years:
-Have my 3rd book commercially published...keep making art
-Get a Fulbright and move out of the country...apply
-Get tenure at tenure track job...keep making art
-Make most of my money from my art...keep making art
-Build a home and studio that are completely off grid...find the right piece of land then give $ to husband and son to build it

Group shot, Day 84

It has been a whirlwind of a week. Everyone in the class has been working non-stop on the many processes and book binding techniques that I have shown. It's wonderful to work so closely and intensely with a group of people. I have been greatly inspired by what the students are producing and their work ethic. Although I am operating on very little sleep, I am feeling energized as well. Tomorrow I am up around 5 a.m for our final day.