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Inside Oxbow

Who Are You?

04/13/20

OBJECTIVE: Organize your thinking into a typewritten art proposal that consists of 2-3 different project ideas that are possible with the materials, resources, and supports you identified in your list.

WHY WRITE A PROPOSAL?
Artists write proposals to present their ideas and earn support for their work. A proposal is often part of the application process for exhibition opportunities, funding, studio space, and technical support. For this project, you will be writing a proposal for a new artwork. It will help you determine your goals and it will guide the beginning phases of your work. Keep in mind that as you progress, your ideas and processes may evolve. You are not required to simply execute your proposal. Often, the richest and most rewarding projects evolve in response to new information.

COMPONENTS OF A PROPOSAL
• TITLE / HEADER: Include your first and last name, the date, the course, and the title of the assignment: “Who are you?”.

• INTRODUCTION: Describe your current surroundings and experiences. Put them into a global context of the current coronavirus pandemic and social distancing protocols.

•SUMMARY OF RESOURCES: Describe what you have learned about making art in your current circumstances. What are your challenges and strengths? What did you learn from making the list of your materials, resources and supports? What research will you need to do? What supports do you anticipate needing? How might your creativity help you cope with your current situation?

• PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Describe your specific project ideas and include sketches, diagrams, inspiration photos to illustrate your thinking (label each image). Be sure to answer the following questions:

What materials / process will you use?
How will the project challenge you artistically?
What is your artistic inspiration?
What artists are informing your thinking? Name at least one artist and describe what aspects of their work interest you (include an image of this work). Feel free to revisit the class slideshows, videos, artists websites to research artists, and explore museums and art collections virtually. You may also want to contact your studio teachers for additional recommendations.

• CONCLUSION: Summarize your inspiration for this project. How might this project help you cope with your current situation?

HOW DO YOU PRESENT A PROPOSAL?
A proposal is a formal piece of writing. To this end, it is important that the written request is typed, proof-read, uses clear language, and shows commitment for your ideas. This proposal will be especially helpful to faculty so that we may support you.

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If at any point Oxbow doubts the good it does, I just want to reassure you all that you’re changing the lives of young artists every semester.

— Colin Davis, Fall 2009

Oxbow opened me up to what was out there in the world to go out and grab, and gave me so much that I take with me everywhere I go, with everything I do.

— Nina Palomba, Spring 2008

In the year leading up to Oxbow, I became obsessed with the program, I was entranced with reading testimonials and researching interdisciplinary learning styles. When I arrived at Oxbow I was never disappointed, despite my endless expectations. I will forever cherish the time I spent at Oxbow and the connections I made there. Through Oxbow I was able to hone into the ideas I was thinking about, to refine my artistic process and to see the world in a new light every day of my life. I'm not going to say that without Oxbow I wouldn't be the person I am today, but I will say that without Oxbow it would have taken me at least four years to become who I am after one Oxbow semester.

— Phoebe Dubisch, Fall 2018

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