The fall semester of my second year as a graduate student went by quickly, but was full of a variety of experiences including co-teaching BFA Thesis Exhibition with Design Professor and Undergraduate Director, Gerry Beegan. This class spans two semesters and includes senior BFA students in all areas of the Visual Arts including Design, and over the fall semester we gave students a new opportunity within the class structure: BFA seniors had the chance to get some curating and installation experience with the BFA Annual: Water for practical experience in preparing for their thesis exhibitions in the coming spring. Coordinating 70 students so that they had an equal chance to participate and work in teams to create a mock layout of the show; install the exhibition of more than 140 works within the 4 hour class period; and then when the show came to a close, to de-install and patch and paint the walls, again within the 4 hour class period, was amazing to witness and orchestrate. The show was in tandem with the campus-wide theme of water, and the ambitious Water exhibition at the Zimmerli Museum on campus. The BFA version was quite a success, and awards were given to several works in the show, juried by Donna Gustafson, the curator of the Zimmerli Museum.
Photo by Maria Giancola
In addition to teaching, I took three fantastic classes during the fall: Painting and Studio Problems with painter Stephen Westfall, Current Issues in Art Practice with painter Suzanne Joelson, and Art Criticism with poet and art critic John Yau.
During the semester, Tyson and I enjoyed hosting my parents for a visit to NJ and NYC—a first for my dad! We made sure they had the delicious Indian food experience of Delhi Garden in Edison, a visit to Princeton with lunch at Triumph Brewery, as well as a trip to the shore and a tour of the campus. We had a family gathering in Pennsylvania at Nancy and Keith’s—we all really enjoyed visiting with everyone in one room! We went to the Met and Central Park, MoMA, Grand Central Station, Times Square and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge among other adventures. We look forward to the next visit!
Tyson and my parents on top of the Met with the Starn Twin's "Big Bambú"
Bamboo overlooking Central Park
The web of bamboo, recycled to an oyster farm after it came down!
Tyson and my mom having fun with art at the Met
For Tyson’s birthday in November, we hosted a BBQ Chicken & Waffles, breakfast for lunch party. I whipped out the Belgian waffle-maker and Tyson covered the BBQ to welcome several of my classmates and Tyson’s cousin Travis. I don’t have any pictures, but here’s a memory watercolor/gouache of the trees in our back yard that day. The weather was perfect.
For Thanksgiving, Tyson and I cooked chicken and gravy with stuffing, mashed potatoes, fresh cranberry sauce, and Brussels sprouts with bacon. Luckily my classmate Travis Coatney was able to join us to help us feast! The following weekend, we visited with my relatives for Thanksgiving #2 in Allentown, PA--a delicious meal hosted by Barb and Art Hoffman. The next day, my wood-working relative Keith Sandberg invited me to his woodshop for the day, and we worked together to build the stretchers and panels for my thesis exhibition. It was amazing!!! I'm now busy stretching and prepping in between painting.
An end of the semester highlight was afternoon tea with painter Lois Dodd. Here are a couple of her paintings that I admire and a shot from our visit with her.
Lois Dodd, Night Sky Loft, 1973
Lois Dodd, Night House, 1975
From left to right: Caetlynn Booth, Liv Aanrud, Eileen Behnke, Lois Dodd. Photo by Gabbe Grodin
I’m also happy to say that I completed my application and the interview for a Fulbright Scholarship to Berlin for 2011-12—now I’m waiting to hear if I’ve been accepted, and will find out for sure in May. Gulp!
Other good news to report is that I’ve received a 2011 CAA Professional-Development Honorable Mention in the Visual Arts. I had applied for the fellowship, and although I wasn’t selected for that award, they award five Fellowships and five Honorable Mentions, so I am happy with this success. I will be featured in the next CAA News and am looking forward to attending the conference in NYC in February.
In addition, my work has been selected for publication in New American Paintings again this year, this time juried by Randi Hopkins, Associate Curator at The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. I will keep you posted about when this issue will be released in the spring of 2011.
And now, a visual update of recent paintings…
Panels built in Keith's woodshop, 24" x 120" each
In progress...
The Bridge diptych on panel, finished 48" x 120"
Two paintings I made yesterday, referencing the Bridge diptych
The larger painting: Sunrise Container, oil on linen, 45" x 92." I may show these paintings together...
Deck Symmetry, oil on linen, 16" x 16"
Top Deck Emanation, oil on linen, 12" x 12"
Transformers, oil on panel, 12" x 24"
Exterior's Interior, oil on panel, 12" x 12"
The Maze, oil on linen, 72" x 48"
Sunset with Two Trees and Pampas, watercolor & gouache on paper, 20" x 14"
Sunset with Four Trees and Pampas, watercolor & gouache on paper, 14" x 20"
Treetop with Roofpeak, watercolor and gouache on paper, 14" x 20"
Studio Portrait, watercolor and gouache on paper, 14" x 20"
To view my latest work and a selection of paintings from the past few years: www.caetlynnbooth.com
Over this winter break, I am busy painting and getting ready for my thesis exhibition that I install at the end of January. Unfortunately, the thesis exhibition schedule meant that I couldn’t make a visit to CA this winter, but I am getting some really good work done. I’m also doing a lot of reading and writing for my thesis paper, due a little later in the spring. I’m enjoying researching and further contextualizing the work I’ve been making.
We just had our first real snow-storm (blizzard) of the season. Here are a few snow-shots. Hope to see you soon in 2011!
XO
Looking down from the 3rd fl. at White Cloud in the parking lot the night of the storm...
Our neighbors shoveling the sidewalk
Our neighborhood
More snow all over everything!!!
