3 Introduction Chloe Briggs
4 - 5 Locating Us
6 - 9 Matt Prutnik
10 - 13 Jasmine Mcduffie
14 - 17 Johan Mazhindu
18 - 21 Ella Middleton
22 - 25 Tora Mree
Cover Artwork: Johan Mazhindu
CONTENTS
WORK
AND WORDS
INTRODUCTION
This was a view from my window in Paris; when looking up at the sky I think about the scale of the world. It is amazing to me that it is now possible to teach, learn and connect with students thousands of miles away. The virtual space is still relatively new to me. The Pathway to Paris: Online Foundation program is just four years old, but I still feel the excitement of discovering its potential for the first time.
What can be achieved in art and design in the home space with limited tools and resources does not cease to impress me. Nor does the quality of exchange between students: how they generously listen to, support and learn from each other.
This group have brought their distinct personalities, visions, culture and experience to their creative work. A very special mix of energy that you will see in the work published here and read in their words,
Chloe Briggs Head of Pathway to Paris: Online Foundation
U.S.
Students have taken part in the Online Foundation course for different reasons. Some transition into the in-person program in Paris after five weeks, others in the second Semester, and some students complete the whole year online. This is a picture of where we all are in the world, where we work and where we connect to Paris from. France
U.S.
WHERE WE ARE IN THE WORLD
Matt Prutnik
Jasmine Mcduffie
Johan Mazhindu
Ella Middleton
Tora Mree
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh
MATT PRUTNIK
Matt is a mult-disciplinary artist based in Nice.
“...maybe the plan that you had at the beginning of the year is going to be completely different to the one that you had at the end....you should be open-minded and try everything, you may discover a different part of your art that you have never seen before. “
Chloe: If we could think about the Online Foundation being a journey. What kind of journey has it been since last September when we first met?
Matt: It has definitely been very experimental and has pushed the students into new places in their artistic journey: coming out of comfort zones, and also identifying what you do best.
It also helps you with deciding on what you would like to show through your art and how you want to show it because it gives you more material experience. It is easier to express yourself if you have more abilities with different materials.
CB: It is extraordinary your practice – it is so full of energy, passion and dedication. Can you describe a discovery that you have had, because I think you came to the course already with lots of things discovered!
MP: thank you. I guess I discovered that a lot of my personality shines through my work. I also discovered that I probably do want to do something more fashion orientated, which I always had
an interest in but I was always more focused on painting or drawing, and I assumed that I couldn’t switch to something so different. However, exploring more materials and different themes I think I am more comfortable pursuing more varied things than I did in the past.
CB: I have an intuition that some of that discovery or confidence in that approach comes from the support of your peers on the course and how they have responded to what you have created each week. Can you describe what that is like?
MP: Yeah! It is very comforting. Even though we don’t hang out outside of classes, because of course it is online, I feel like with every lesson you get to know each other a lot better and so by the second semester I already had people’s aesthetics in my head, I could almost predict the color palettes of the work they would create. And everyone is very supportive with my work as well – saying how it reflects me: my brain, my personality…
CB: It is reassuring, isn’t it?
When it feels that the work is authentically who you are, and that it is being seen. If you could give advice to young artists and designers thinking about dedicating a year full-time to art and design what would have to say to them?
MP: I would say be open-minded about the possibilities in front of you. I feel like treating this year as experimentation – a way to figure out what suits you and what you like best. So maybe the plan that you had at the beginning of the year is going to be completely different to the one that you had at the end. And so not doing strictly what you think you are good at, you should be open-minded and try everything, you may discover a different part of your art that you have never seen before.
CB: That is great. One last question, if there was nothing holding you back and you had any possibility, what kind of creative set-up would you love to be in?
Because we have got to know you in this amazing bedroom that is stocked full of materials and collections of things – an archive of your bits of colored hair for example! If you could have access to anything, what would your dream be?
MP: I am of course content with my set-up as it is because you need a crazy set-up to make crazy things, I guess. So maybe just times-ing everything I have by 10. I would like to have access to every single resource. If I decided to archive everything I collected at a certain age – sea-shells and rocks and anything I thought was cool. I just wish I had a big enough space to keep everything that I think is useful for my art creation.
CB: For you it is simply storage isn’t it! I think you could create wonderful things in whatever size space you had available to you, because we have seen what you have made possible this year.
JASMINE MCDUFFIE
Jasmine is a Fashion student based in the U.S
“I hope to have my own brand. I want to have really strong, core values lined out. And I hope that my brand, the intentions behind it and its consumers all align with those strong values.”
Chloe: If you could describe the Online Foundation as a journey, what kind of journey has it been for you?
Jasmine: I think for me it has been a cyclical journey, something where I started at a point of motivation and creative expression being really high, and then have had more highs and lows and ended up back to the start of motivation and more creative expression to go higher next time.
CB: I don’t think your circle has met at the same point, maybe you could think of it as a spiral? Do you think you have learned quite a lot about yourself then? How you work? What motivates you?
JM: Yes definitely.
CB: Can you describe that? What is the recipe you need to be working well?
JM: I think this year has taught me a lot about how to have discipline with my work and not to rely solely on my creativity to lead me to places. I have learned that I have to carve out time, sacrifice things in
my personal life, to get somewhere with the art, as far was where I am supposed to be at in relation to the course. It has taken a lot of sacrifice but it has also paid off.
CB: And from where I am standing, seeing you with a smile is a very good thing! We witness each other’s ups and downs don’t we? You have witnessed your classmates every week, they don’t always have a high. Creativity it not like that. What skill, or approach to making, or experience stands out for you: something you did not know before but you do know now?
JM: Definitely drawing. It was something that I did before, just doodles here and there, but through the course I have really learned the art of it: sitting down, intentionally looking at something. How to transcribe what you are seeing on to paper. I guess I saw drawing as very 2-dimensional before and now I see it as really 3-dimensional, you are really just rendering life around you and trying to use the best of your ability to recreate it. I didn’t think of drawing being like anything else in the art world, for example: painting
or imagining a garment and describing it – I didn’t see drawing as that but now I do.
CB: I have not seen you as happy as last week with the ‘Imagination’ drawings, maybe because it had so much fun in it? And less pressure maybe?
JM: Yes definitely.
CB: Your work has always circled around clothes and styling and fashion. Could you share, where you would like to be in your dreams in this field in the future?
JM: I hope to have my own brand. I want to have really strong, core values lined out. And I hope that my brand, the intentions behind it and its consumers all align with those strong values. I want it to be more of a personal creative expression for people wearing my clothes. And I hope
for me as a designer to never stop growing and pushing my limits, putting different elements into creating things that haven’t been done yet.
CB: I think what I have been impressed by you, and by your classmates is how courageous you are with starting from a personal place. I feel that you have supported each other in that. You seem to recognize each other’s personalities and celebrate who they are. I think what people are celebrating in our group presentations is when someone is being their authentic self, would you say that is true?
JM: I agree, I see that a lot too. And I appreciate it. I am sure that there are spaces where that is not the case in a lot of creative schools.
CB: Like is a competitive fashion school?! Oh no! You have built resiliency this year through all the challenges so that has put you in good stead.
JOHAN MAZHINDU
Johan
is a Fine Art student based in Zimbabwe
“The course has enabled me to see my work less as a hobby and more of a career.”
Chloe: How has being connected up with other artists and designers around the world in the Online Foundation influenced, or shaped your work, and how you think about it?
Johan: I have done different art studies in the past but I guess it has not been as focused purely on art as it is now. It being the main focus has put a lot more stress and passion on it at the same time and being with other people is intimidating but urges something in terms of inspiration and competition. I feel like everyone in the class always gets better, you can track their progress, so it is definitely like a push that I also needed. It has pushed me to have such regular communication with the others and having to comment on their work. It makes me see where I am and how I learn from others.
CB: And what has been a particular discovery for you? What has improved? What have you achieved?
JM: I think in terms of actually getting the work done and being consistent over time. The course has enabled me to see my work less as a hobby and more of a career. And overall the conceptual qualities and – at least when it comes to digital media – technical qualities have improved.
CB: I agree – I am witness to this professional attitude towards time management and it has definitely improved, which is great! This is part of the learning, isn’t it? Not necessarily the funniest part! Would you say that you have to be incredibly self-motivated online compared to an in-person course?
JM: Oh yeah! It builds self-accountability, which I was lacking going into this. Yeah, not having someone there in person, not having the same – I guess – obvious pressure, but there is the same expectation: the five hours of class time. You have to work on it yourself. And if you are not inclined to that in the first place, it definitely encourages you to get your act together.
CB: I would say that is one of the strengths artists and designers come out with from this course, the students are self-motivated and independent. What advice or insight would you give yourself when you started the course?
JM: Maybe, I would say, you are only drawing leaves for now (laughs)…it is going to get better! And you are going get more conceptual freedom and focus on the things you really like; you just have to get through the fundamentals… and you are going to be grateful for having done more of the fundamentals!
CB: You don’t like drawing leaves??? What is wrong with drawing leaves? (laughs).. I can’t think of anything better! That is funny. But it is true what you say, the freedom comes in the second semester and it is exciting to see how everyone becomes more themselves. Can you describe what the second semester is like?
JM: In the Spring semester you get a feel for what everyone is good at in
terms of drawing, or poetry, or textiles, photography…I think people in this program have got a lot more comfortable with the open-ended questions, I think the difference between the first project, ‘Earth’ and the ‘Body’ project was substantial and people becoming more confident with expressing themselves and being given no limitations to do so. The projects are more unique to each person.
CB: Yes! More personal. And I have a last question: what are you going to be in the future? If there were no constraints, where would you like to live and work and what would you like to be doing?
JM: Wow, I guess geographically – as long as I am able to do art full-time – I don’t really mind as long as it is something I am passionate about. I would say, in terms of a career – I will let you know when I have figured that one out! I think something where I have some form of control over what I am doing and expressing and not being forgotten in the final product would be important to me so whether that is exhibiting or working for a studio…
I miss you and the turn life takes when we are together. All this. All this gold valued at the highest
ELLA MIDDLETON
Ella is a Poet and Singer based in Paris
“recently I have been writing my own music and performing with my partner. I feel that when I write my own music, I am finally able to express myself that I can’t in any other medium.”
Chloe: How I would like to start our conversation is about you moving from in-person Foundation to online and how that has been beneficial or not to your working practices?
Ella: I have enjoyed it. I like having time to do other art forms outside of school – I have been able to do more of my writing, I have been able to perform more and work on my French.
CB: How has the weekly connection with your classmates around the world been useful to your practice?
EM: I have enjoyed that too. I am looking forward to meeting them in person, I hope that everyone does come to Paris! I feel that I end up seeing more of someone’s personality, we end up presenting more work. Because of the nature of the online format, we present the work and all the process as well.
CB: I agree with you about seeing the person more clearly. As a teacher I feel that I get to know the online students more in depth in this format. Maybe there is something about seeing each other’s faces so closely? And people are open to sharing, aren’t they?
Can you describe why that might be for you?
EM: Yes, I think it is because it is a small group too. In small groups you get to know people a lot better. People get more of an opportunity to talk during class and you provide a space where people can share more which has been nice. I don’t think I have ever learned this much about other people’s art. I think it is about having more time and a different platform to present: you see so much more of the process and what people are thinking.
CB: And what have you discovered about your own work?
EM: This year has been about a boiling down of the art I want to make… I can’t think of the word!
Chloe: Distilling?
Ella: Yes! Definitely realizing how important performing is to me, I didn’t realize how much that is part of my art. How much more I can convey in that form rather than
visual art. Also, with photography. I didn’t submit any photography in my portfolio for PCA, it was only drawing and painting, which is now, something that I would not even consider as my identity as an artist. Not that is it bad, or that I don’t like it! It is just not where I am heading. I think this year, especially being in Paris there are so many things that are happening that like ‘Holy Shit’ this is crazy, I am meeting other artists, able to work with other people. And as someone who is from a small town in Wisconsin, this is not where I thought my life would be heading. It was the plan, but I did not expect it to happen.
CB: That is great! So, this is the last question, with that in mind –what you just said – where would you like to be in the future?
EM: Definitely performing…I have been singing a lot more. It was something I did quite seriously when I was younger and a bunch of bad stuff happened and it made me not want to do it anymore. And recently I have been writing my own music and performing with my partner. I feel that when I write my own music, I am f inally able to express myself that I can’t in any other medium. I would like to be doing that and have a steady citizenship.
CB: Magic, I think when we say our dreams out loud it puts them in the world, and these things happen.
I know little things.
I know day-to-day beauties.
I know the magic in the ordinaty
TORA MREE
Tora is an Interior Design student based in Bangladesh
“my three words to summarize this year would be: imagination, a sense of freedom, and zestful!
Chloe: If you could give me three words that summarize this year what would they be?
Tora: It is a very interesting question, my three words would be: Imagination, a sense of freedom and zestful!
CB: Do you think you have changed this year?
TM: In what respect?
CB: In terms of courage to make things, in terms of confidence about sharing your ideas. I feel that you have changed – I have been witness to it, but I want to know if you have perceived this?
TM: Yes, I’ve noticed that I now possess greater subtlety in my art. I can convey more depth through my works. Overall, I’ve undergone a transformation and am evolving.
CB: What processes and what projects and exercises on the course have excited you the most?
TM: I believe the Materials and Dimensions course was the most enjoyable, as it allowed me to physically explore and create what’s in my thoughts. It was enjoyable to explore the colour palette in surroundings for the Earth project.
CB: What do you hope to go on to do after this year?
TM: After this year, I am hoping to explore Paris and new environments, and of course, pursue a new major. I am excited to experience everything, both good and bad, am quite optimistic about it. Additionally, I want to develop my skills further.
CB: that is great. Can you tell me what you have learned this year from the other students?
TM: I’ve learned so much! Despite lacking confidence in my some of the projects, the positive feedback from peers is incredibly encouraging. Witnessing their works and ideas has significantly broadened my thinking as well.
CB: And can you identify things in the others work that has inspired you?
TM: I think everyone’s work is different, but the fun part is, I believe they are all very talented in their own way. Matt’s work always inspires me, Johan’s filming, Jasmine’s ideas with textile and Ella’s writing, photography. All of them have inspired me in different ways.
CB: that is a good answer! And if you could give yourself some advice, if it was possible to meet Tora at the beginning of the course last year what would you say to her?
TM: Don’t get distracted – focus on your work. It will be fruitful for you at the end of the semester.
CB: It is true: the more work you put in, the more you get out of it: it is as simple as that! I think you have to be very self-motivated online, you have to establish and be strict about working patterns, organizing time…
I think you should all be very proud of what you have achieved!
With thanks to all the artists, designers, teachers, mentors and guests that shared our Zoom space in the past year.
Akil Carter, Drew Eisenhauer, Taylor Holland, Ioi Choi, Joe Johnson, Simba Kamuriwo, Jo Lewis, Lucas Maethger, Barbara Montefalcone, Kalyani Mukkudakattil
Artwork Left: Sparsh Jain
@pca.pathwaystoparis
