These past four years have flown by so quickly, but I expected they would. I've been dreading graduation since freshman year knowing that this university would become a favorite place to be and to develop as a person and as an artist. I've met many great individuals who've become my closest friends and it's also the place where I was first introduced to my love, George. The University of Hartford had many firsts for me: first acceptance into a juried show, first time traveling abroad, first experience doing laundry, and first time staying awake all night to finish work to name a few. I will miss the faculty and staff who've helped me develop who I have become today and will continue to guide me as I fly off from my undergraduate career. Graduation was a rush. With such a packed family weekend with a wedding the day before and health problems to attend to of someone close to me, I barely had time to comprehend what was going on. Line up. Roll call. Here! Walk. Sit. Stand. Get your diploma. Shake the hand of Tom Bradley, the Assoc. Dean of the Hartford Art School. Graduated. Graduation is not the time or place to properly say goodbye to your friends. With the crowd of family members from every graduate in the lawn and faculty dispersed throughout, I know that I didn't get to give hugs to some people before they left for who-knows-where. I've know some friends for my entire four years here and some of the faculty have also become some of my best mentors, valuing their guidance and advice like religious scripture. I'm still waiting for the moment when I fully comprehend graduation.
Although my time here at the Hartford Art School has sadly come to a close, I'm looking ahead to my future. I want to continue making art and meeting new people. I never want to stop learning or stop creating. Things will not be easy as an artist, I know that, but I welcome the challenge. Something that I've picked up at the H.A.S. is passion and drive with a side of confidence. I will work hard for for something greater, always trying to make the next piece better than the last. Through mistake and failures comes education and success. Even if I don't make it to where I want to be right away, I will not be deterred.
In the near future I'm looking for positions within ceramic programs that I can become a part of or finding an art related job and continue to produce work at a local studio. I'll be moving to Boston in September and trying to make it. Boston is a tough city for arts since there are many old rich families here that already have their homes filled but there is a small new market that perhaps I can fit myself into. I don't know how long I will be in this city but I plan on making the best of it. What else can you do?
