Submitted by Andrew Oechsler on the 2017 summer session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Art and Design …
This week we presented another real brief for Jay Walter Thompson and I felt a little more relaxed about this one compared to our one two weeks ago with RGA. The feedback we got from them is something that I will cherish and hold onto in the years to come. They said to us that our work was right on par and that with a few tweaks it would become an excellent portfolio piece. They complimented our art direction and concept. It was remarkable to know that our idea was one of their ideas, and really puts into perspective that UD is preparing us for the real word and even though classes are tough they are shaping us into professionals.
We presented a piece of writing for Wendy Scott today which I was extremely nervous about. As I mentioned on the first week, writing is not my strongest suit and I dread public speaking. However, Wendy created an environment that I felt comfortable sharing in and although she said my writing was depressing (in a good way) I felt better about how I write and how I see the world. I don’t always see the world as a wonderful place to live and I often notice the most saddening things, but I know that these views I have are personal and unique. I plan on using my views and humor in the future as a tool in my work to really adjust it and push it forward.
Currently I’m sitting in the British Library, enjoying the peace and quite. If you haven’t been yet let me highly suggest that you go. The magnitude of the library is incomparable except maybe to the Library of Congress, but even that is a maybe. I say this because while I was there I ran into the director of the Library of Congress and she herself looked impressed, and for good reason. It is one thing to learn about various artifacts and manuscripts but too see them in person is another story. In one room stood the original Magna Carta, Gutenberg Bible, DaVinci drawings and other poems, books and scores from Shakespeare, Jane Austin and Mozart. It was a surreal experience to stand beside all that history, and just hope that I find my place among it all.