Looking Ahead Joe Harjo

LOOKING AHEAD

JOE HARJO

PROFESSOR AND CHAIR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AT SSA

Harjo holds an MFA from The University of Texas at San Antonio and a BFA from the University of Central Oklahoma. Harjo is a 2020-2021 Harpo Foundation Native American Residency Fellow and a recipient of the 2020-2021 Blue Star Contemporary Berlin Residency hosted by Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Germany. Recent exhibitions include: High Visibility: On Location in Rural America and Indian Country, Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND; The Only Certain Way, Sala Diaz, San Antonio, TX; We’re Still Here: Native American Artists Then and Now, McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, TX; re/thinking photography: Conceptual Photography from Texas, FotoFest, Houston, Texas.

What does your position at SSA involve? Like my faculty colleagues, I am engaged in writing and developing curriculum, fulfilling committee assignments, teaching courses, mentoring students, maintaining the photography studio and equipment, and helping bring new and talented instructors into our community program. One of the aspects of my position that is motivating, and one that I am most grateful for, is that I am encouraged to maintain an active studio practice, seeking opportunities to further my career as a working artist. It has been absolutely invaluable to be in an environment that encourages artist residencies, professional development, and other research opportunities without hesitation.

With the merger between SSA and UTSA having recently been finalized, what are you most excited about moving forward? The merger creates a new dynamic for the students of SSA, positioning them into an environment that integrates both BFA and MFA studio instruction alongside a robust Art History program. I am encouraged by the initial choice to include much of SSA’s current curriculum into the new model once the schools are fully merged. It gives me a sense that we are advancing upon the years of development and innovation of which many of us had a hand in building. Seeing the further growth and development of an SSA-modeled curriculum within an expanded department is encouraging, as are the opportunities to work with an expanded faculty and student body. I know myself and my faculty colleagues have unique perspectives on art, practice, and life that we can bring along with us.

What does this merger mean for the future of arts education in San Antonio? SSA has been a long-standing advocate for arts education, a hub for communitybuilding, and a proponent for arts accessibility in the San Antonio region. We have partnered with organizations and businesses in our community to strengthen the quality of work being produced by both our BFA students and those in our community programs. I am hopeful that the merger can enable a larger impact with greater resources for more students.

What advice would you give to any SSA student trying to find community and settle in at UTSA? A part of the success in our model as a school of art is that we are able to have a low student-toprofessor ratio. This has been incredibly beneficial to the students we have guided through our program so far, and we know that this change in numbers and environment might seem stark. My best advice for SSA students is to find positivity in change, think of this as an opportunity to experience something new, with a new perspective, and with a new set of peers. To take care of yourself and well-being, be present, be focused, and always be helpful to others. Myself and my colleagues included will be a resource for all students from both schools who are coming into this new situation needing assistance in finding their place within this transition.

Do you have any additional thoughts/feelings you’d like to share about this endeavor? I am hopeful that we can build upon each other’s strengths to create a space where growth and expansion is central to each student’s experience. This is a chance to combine our scopes of excellence and create a powerhouse art and art history school in a top-tier institution that benefits generations of makers, thinkers, and innovators. This endeavor is bigger than any one of us who are working hard to make it happen; it can be a huge and positive step forward for students who deserve the best of our collective efforts, now and in the future.