So I haven't been on my blog because every spare minute of my life has been absorbed by making art and writing my thesis. I figured it was time to post some form of update. I've decided to try to make this semesters posts informative in regards to the thesis semester process for my future self, and for others that may be curious about the program.
My first week back I tried to take a few days off, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it...until I got sick. So while I was sick I brainstormed and decided instead of doing a ceramic insert for the flag box I am completely going to redo I am going to do a knit flag. The only problem was I didn't know how to knit. So I took my sick down time to learn to knit.
The following week I was functioning mentally and physically again so I began reading for thesis. I read all day every day ALL WEEK LONG. At the end of all that reading I rewrote my thesis outline to include what images I wanted. I also had a Skype meeting with my mentor to try to figure out the balance for the semester. She recommended I get some help with the massive workload. I decided to take her advice, and the following week I hired a studio assistant.
I spent 7 days writing my first draft thesis to include the bibliography, images, citation, but not the abstract. I turned the draft into the writing tutors and waited 3 days for feedback. I then made the necessary changes to grammar and sent it off to my lovely editor, Lindsey Schmitt with a deadline. She returned it with content comments. After editing a second time I sent it to my mentor who graciously did a quick turn around so I could edit for her comment suggestions and get it turned in to my adviser. First thesis draft done I began focusing on studio work.
With my assistant I have removed all the rebar from the boxes, patched, painted, and varnished (thanks for the tip Kevin Blake) them to completion. I had her cut all the quilt squares for my replacement quilt piece, cut out the shapes for my resource scrapbook, and put all the boxes back together. I have knitted the knit box insert, constructed the quilt box insert, and redone the military medal and ribbon insert. This required I rip the other box inserts apart and put them back together with the new surfaces. I've been putting in between 50 and 70 hours a week. The only reason this is possible is due to my ability to stop living since my boyfriend is on deployment. I have tendinitis in my right arm, eating has become an after thought, my pets feel neglected, my house is filthy, and I'm running out of clean socks and underwear. I don't recommend this normally. Normally I try to stick to the 25 hours a week in the studio to maintain sanity and my health, but I have to meet the catalog photo deadline, and I want my new project in the grad catalog. So that means I'm going to kill myself and my assistant with studio hours until the deadline is met.
With that said. After averaging the hours from February and half of March over the 18 weeks that make up the semester it works out to roughly a little more than 20 hours a week. Crazy right?! I know. I don't know if I'm going to post pictures of this project because I would like everyone to be surprised. Don't worry Sunanda, I will send you pictures so you know I'm on track.
I will, however, post pictures of whatever new endeavor I attempt after I complete the requirements for this flag box project.
