My Reply to Gary

Gary -

I believe the current disconnect between the administration and its understanding of MFA-V pedagogy is clearly made visible by your response.


First, calling my efforts polemic is to claim that I am not invested in, or indeed a product of, the pedagogy of the program.
For me, activism falls directly under the category of rights and responsibilities which we are asked to uphold when the MFA degree is conferred.
The pedagogy of MFA-V embraces an art practice that encourages an active questioning of institutional power and resulting critique.
In short, it seems you are placing my efforts into an oppositional relationship with the pedagogy.
Whereas, if you had a firmer understanding of the pedagogy, you would recognize my actions as that of placing our pedagogy into practice.

Second, suggesting that a new printed piece of marketing material could ever serve as evidence of a commitment to the program’s pedagogy is disturbing.
As you know, pedagogy is more then just words in print. Pedagogy is putting education in motion in very specific and carefully crafted ways.
The MFA-V pedagogy is crafted in a way that incorporates self-discovery, self –actualization, and an understanding of social context.
To date, I have seen nothing from the administration that offers this learning model during the current transition period.
In fact, the way in which the staffing change occurred is a gross offense to these important values of the program.

I have offered three distinct opportunities and suggestions to you and Tom for ways in which you might demonstrate your commitment. None of which have been acted upon.
As a reminder, they include: directly answering my three questions; writing a mission statement for the MFA-V program in collaboration with faculty that includes the founding pedagogy; appointing alumni and students to the search committee for the new Director.

Regardless if you decide to act upon my suggestions or not, I implore you to put the pedagogy of the program into your daily practice of providing administration to the MFA-V program.

Also, in case it is not easily available to you, I have attached a pdf copy of two important essays from of G. Roy Levin
and Steve Kurtz that explain the founding pedagogy of the MFA-V program.

Regards,

Craig