g. James daichendt D a i ARTIST c h e n D t SCHOLAR Reflections on WRiting and ReseaRch Artist Scholar: Reflections on Writing and Research is part history, introduction, and A discussion for artists and designers entering, R graduating, and employed by the contempo- T rary art academy in the United States. The I S evolution of art education in the university T continues to expand in the 21st century as the variables of craft, skill, technique, theory, his- S tory and criticism shift and expand as the per- C spective of arts-based research is introduced H into this professionalized environment. Given O this context: what can M.F.A. students do to improve their understanding of writing and L research without sacrificing their commitment A to their studio art process? Through a series R of essays, the text argues for better writing at the M.F.A. level with the purpose of becoming better artists. By contextualizing art practice in the university and providing a foundation for future artist scholarship, it serves as an g. James daichendt invitation to artist scholars to push their work further and develop the confidence to situate ARTIST their art in the university context. SCHOLAR ISBN 978-1-84150-487-2 0 0 Reflections on 9 781841 504872 WRiting and ReseaRch intellect | www.intellectbooks.com This work is indispensable to any artist, inside or outside the academy, who wishes to understand the historical and cultural roots of the contemporary view that research and art making are inextricable. What makes Daichendt’s argu- ment potentially generative for artists is that it is centered in the author’s belief that research and writing can be powerful ways of strengthening and deepen- ing artistic production. The reader will find a broad range of clear and usefully provocative insights that frame research not a substitute for art making, but as a tool for better art making. — Nick Jaffe, musician, teaching artist, Chief Editor of the Teaching Artist Journal “In Artist Scholar, Daichendt makes a genuine break through in the discourse of art and artists in education and is by the far the most useful book yet in helping to articulate and map this previously under researched area of art education” — Diarmuid McAuliffe Artist Teacher, Master of Education Programme Leader University of the West of Scotland, UK As an artist, scholar and educator, Daichendt draws upon his research and per- sonal experiences to present the importance of reflective writing in graduate visual art studio programs. His insights about how the MFA candidate can use visual and verbal scholarship methods to enhance their own and others un- derstanding of the art-making process make a significant contribution to the literature about university art education. — Judith W. Simpson, Ph.D. Director of the MA in Art Education on-line program Boston University Artist Scholar provides fuel to the artist who functions in an academic setting to support their work in the studio as a type of research and scholarship. It is refreshing to read Daichendt’s affirmation of the deep and intrinsic connections the artist can make in their studios and how MFA students may harness this knowledge though observing, thinking and writing. — William Catling, MFA Director, MFA in Visual Art Azusa Pacific University “This book will be of value to anyone interested in the position of graduate-level art study in U. S. universities, especially to those who desire a stronger relation- ship between art, writing, and scholarship.” — Margaret Lazzari Professor, Roski School of Fine Arts University of Southern California Artist Scholar (cid:52)(cid:72)(cid:69)(cid:0)(cid:52)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:0)(cid:48)(cid:76)(cid:65)(cid:89)(cid:83) AWrthiys Wt eS Mchakoel aArrt: at why it is taught Reflections on Writing and Research by G. James Daichendt by Richard Hickman (cid:27)(cid:156)(cid:152)(cid:202)(cid:47)(cid:213)(cid:204)(cid:204)(cid:143)(cid:105) (cid:94)(cid:99)(cid:105)(cid:90)(cid:97)(cid:97)(cid:90)(cid:88)(cid:105)(cid:1)(cid:55)(cid:103)(cid:94)(cid:104)(cid:105)(cid:100)(cid:97)(cid:33)(cid:21)(cid:74)(cid:64)(cid:21)(cid:16)(cid:1)(cid:56)(cid:93)(cid:94)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:92)(cid:100)(cid:33)(cid:21)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:54) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Daichendt, G. James. Artist scholar: reflections on writing and research / G. James Daichendt. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-84150-487-2 (pbk.) 1. Art in universities and colleges. 2. Art--Study and teaching (Graduate) 3. Art- Research--Methodology. 4. Art students. I. Title. N345.D24 2011 707.2--dc22 2011011407 First published in the UK in 2012 by Intellect, The Mill, Parnall Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3JG, UK First published in the USA in 2012 by Intellect, The University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA Copyright © 2012 Intellect Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Copy editor: Macmillan Cover photo: Kent Anderson Butler Cover design: Holly Rose Typesetting: John Teehan ISBN 978–1–84150–487–2 EISBN 978-1-84150-606-7 Printed and bound by Hobbs, Tatton, Hampshire, UK For Rachel, Samantha, Trey, and Logan vii Artist Scholar viii Contents Preface: Scholarship and Art’s Ambiguous Objects xi by John Baldacchino Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Artists and Scholarship 5 Basic language on research and the arts 11 Universities and arts research 16 Playing the cello in a marching band 18 Artistic scholarship 21 References 23 Chapter 2: The Professionalization of the Visual Arts 25 A history of art education 25 The foundation of university art departments and the art major 25 Growth in university education 29 Origins of the American art department 31 Intellectualism of art making 35 Teaching to research 37 The M.F.A. degree 39 Art history lends a hand 41 References 44 Chapter 3: The Status of Artistic Scholarship 47 Research through practice 47 Going forward with M.F.A. scholarship 50 Practice-led research 54 References 57