To BFA/MFA or not to BFA/MFA, that is the question.......

[Michelle Pajak-Reynolds]

Ok, so I've just had this really interesting dinner conversation with a friend of mine about the pro's and con's of BFA/MFA programs. And it really got me thinking about education as a whole and all of the different really expensive pieces of paper that one can accumulate in the pursuit of self-improvement.

While I've gone the BFA route and have no regrets, I'm curious what self-improvement path you've taken and why? Where did you learn your skills? What was your experience like? Did you pursue a degree or certification? What doors have opened because of your degree or certification? What doors, if any, are closed to you? How did you go about selecting a school/teacher/mentor? If you could go back and do it over again, would you attend the same program and study with the same teachers? If you could create your dream program, what would it be like? If you could study with anyone in the world, who would you chose and why?

[Paul Bierker]

MFA is a terminal degree- really as far as you can go in any studio program- Thus more of a badge of honor and a symbol of dedication to your craft and learning more-

For some reason it is also a requirement to be on the staff of most universities- Every one I ever knew that sought their MFA was for this reason- It sort of annoys me that in order to become a professor one must spend a few more years in college exploring often intangible ideas with respect to creativity and product development- As a professional jewelry designer and craftsman for the last 22 years or so I have contemplated going back to acquire My MFA as I want to give back through education. This will harm my progress so often it is a fleeting thought. I know I have a lot to offer

My best advice would be - First define what you are- Then define what your goals are- Work full time in your craft for at least 5 years before go in back in- Then do what makes you a living and happy.

If I could study with anyone else in the world I would probably return to my old college in Buffalo and learn and share more with Steve Saracino....(no MFA program though)

[Roberta Warshaw]

Back in the day, I was not allowed to pursue a degree in art by my parents. I got my degree in early childhood education, hated it, became a hippie and started painting. Woke up every day, painted, made things, created. I have never stopped making art. Even when I have a full time job.

Maybe if you are teaching or somehow involved in academia it may look better to have that on your resume. But if you are just a maker.....not necessary in my opinion.

[Carolyn Tillie]

I've been thinking a lot about this topic lately and I am still on the fence about it. I only the BA in 1993 and then got my MFA in 1998. I never wanted to teach and almost immediately after getting my MFA, I went to cooking school. I abandoned my metals craft for a decade, working in the food-and-wine industry instead.

Perhaps it was my decade away from the community, but starting from scratch has been a learning process itself. Ten years ago, there was barely an internet community of artists and craftsmen. My MFA show was built as a website, but I had to find someone to do it for me, scanning the photographs because digital cameras were prohibitively expensive. I recall being one of the first in my class to put my exhibit out there on the 'net.

Now that I have re-entered the crafts world, my MFA means nothing. Quite frankly, I realize now how ill-prepared I am for the business side and in talking with other MFA students and grads, there is no real-life instruction given in the business of art. In that regard, I am part of a local group starting a Business Development Roundtable Salon to support and educate each other in the business of being an artist. We advise each other of shows we are doing, which ones to avoid, galleries to target, etc...

Given the support of local organizations and schools like Revere and Scintillant in San Francisco, knowing what I know now, I am not sure I would pursue the MFA.

[Michelle Pajak-Reynolds]

Hi Carolyn,

I really appreciate your frank comments and I feel the same way about my business skills. With everything that has transpired over the past year or so, including the economic meltdown and losing my "day" job, I have re-evaulated my career path and the business decisions I've made over the years.

A lot of my choices were pretty good ones and others...well, they weren't so great. I've realized that I've been putting my work and my name out there without any real plan. My successes have pretty much happened due to a lot of luck, the "right" person seeing my work etc. I've become one of the 95% of creative people in the U.S. who don't make a living on their work and I'm tired of being a statistic. Things have got to change.

I need to know what the rest of the business world knows. In order to survive whatever the future holds, I MUST make better business decisons, especially when it comes to branding, finances, and strategic planning. So much of what we create as artists comes from a very subjective and emotional place. The business world is very objective and result driven. I know I can find a balance between the two and use this information to help others.

I've decided to pusue an MBA instead of an MFA in order to achieve the career and financial goals I've set for myself. I'll begin the program in Jan 2010 and posting a lot of what I learn on my Crafthaus page......stay tuned

[Harriete Estel Berman]

Actually,right now I know tons of M.B.A. without a job.

[Michelle Pajak-Reynolds]

Sadly, that is very true for numerous degree holders. I hope things get better for everyone very, very soon.

[Brittany Søndberg]

I did receive a BFA from East Carolina in 2004. Ever since then I have been debating the MFA decision. I am not interested in teaching. I teach local workshops/classes at Sawtooth in Winston-Salem, but do not wish to make it a full time career. Over the past few years I have been building my own business, with the goal of being able to make a living off of what I love doing...fashion/jewelry/art, being my own boss. I loved my undergraduate experience, though, looking back I know I could have squeezed much more out of it, I worked under Bob Ebendorf, I would love to work with him again, he is just awesome. I also had Tim Lazure, Linda Darty and Mi Sook Hur as professors. They were all amazing and I definitely wouldn't ever regret doing the BFA thing, its the only reason I am doing what I am doing now. Like I said, if I could go back I would have only absorbed more and more of their know-how. I struggle with the question of how much better could I be by following the MFA route, not for teaching, just for self improvement. I now am full time doing my own thing and I love it, but find myself being strangled by production work, MFA would be a nice break from that along with a being a serious building block...I think. While its still thoroughly enjoyable to make and sell, I love love one of a kind work and that isn't nearly as common in this economy. That was just a rambling of my thoughts on this subject. I also agree and appreciate Tod's and 2roses' replies. Perhaps i ought to seek out an apprentice, to help me fill in the skills I know I lack and screw the MFA :)

[Michelle Pajak-Reynolds]

Have you ever considered hiring assistants to produce your production work???? It would give you more time to focus on other pieces and even create your own version of a MFA program, similar to what 2Roses described.