Students

Maintaining artistic practice involves swallowing stage fright

Andrew Maclean (b.1980, Kirkcaldy) graduated in 2007 with MSc Electronic Imaging from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, and in 2003 with BA (Hons) Fine Art from the same institution. In 2004 he became a committee member of the Dundee-based artist group GENERATORprojects, serving as Chairperson from 2005-06. He is currently a technician at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. 

Andrew's work is concerned with notions of inherited identity; most recently he has been looking at issues surrounding gender identity. He can be: a video artist, performance artist, passive curator, aggressive curator, encourager, technician, collaborator, deadline enforcer, distributor - he enjoys playing and sharing.

Maclean launched, and is chief editor of, the quarterly collective fanzine Yuck 'n Yum.

www.yucknyum.com
Andrew on Artists talking

In brief, what have you done since graduating?
After graduating with BA (Hons) Fine Art in 2003, I became involved with GENERATORprojects, an artist-run space in Dundee. I volunteered at first: helping invigilate and hang, install and de-install shows, and everything that entails. I became an official committee member, eventually becoming Chairperson.

I returned to art college to study for an MSc in Electronic Imaging in 2007. Since graduating with my postgrad, I have become a technician at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, where I studied for both degrees. I also launched the art 'zine Yuck 'n Yum, which became a regular quarterly 'zine in 2008.

Why have you stayed in the same city where you studied?
I had a lot of friends who instantly moved to Glasgow or Edinburgh after graduating; some even expressed disdain at me remaining in Dundee. I felt, however, that as I was involved with GENERATOR - learning a lot, meeting interesting people and enjoying it all immensely - it wouldn't make much sense to move, just to start from scratch with one of the other artist-run spaces in Glasgow or Edinburgh. I was also very much committed to GENERATOR and I wanted to complete my full two years on the rolling committee.

Of course, there are a whole host of personal reasons for staying, but I do enjoy Dundee's arts community very much. It's friendly and people help each other out. Favours for favours and a sense of camaraderie were, and still are, a very real part of the Dundee art scene.

Dundee is not too far from Edinburgh and Glasgow, and like most people I use the internet to seek out opportunities further afield, so I never feel like I am missing out.

What did you perceive you might do after college, is this divergent or convergent with what you are doing now?
I would be lying if I said that I'd planned to become a technician at the same institute that I'd got two degrees from! But I am happy that I've been able to find regular employment in an arts environment, while still producing my own work and collaborating with other artists and friends.

I did, however, think that I would eventually get rid of my stage fright by continuing with live performance... this has not been the case - I still can't conquer those nerves, but I am encouraged by the fact that I still perform!

What seems to give you that drive when you feel there is a distinct lack of inspiration, where do you look?
I applaud any creative person, be it a musician, comedian, film maker or artist, who started making work because they felt the kind of music, comedy, film or art they wanted did not exist. I try to remember this whenever I start complaining about the lack of something.

What is the most rewarding thing that you have done since graduating?
I am proud that Yuck 'n Yum has become a regular 'zine and has managed to attract funding and excellent contributions. I'm grateful to all those who contribute and help, particularly the rest of the Yuck 'n Yum team, Gayle Meikle and Ben Robinson.

I started Yuk 'n Yum on an ad hoc basis and funded the first three issues myself: I think it helps if you 'just do it' sometimes. Just make it happen and show it. Make sure everyone knows it's happening.

What is the worse job you have done since leaving full time study, and what is the best thing that you took from this?
I was a call centre agent and I truly believe working in a call centre is the worst job you can do. It drove me mad, to the point that I couldn't repeat myself without my eyes twitching! (Please, when you phone a bank, have a piece of paper and a pen handy to write the answers down, instead of repeating the same 3 questions in a different order for eternity!)

Given that the bank was dealing with people's finances, I would get furious customers shouting, screaming and swearing at me down the phone fairly regularly: someone's yet to react to my artwork in such a way, but if they do, I am ready for it!

When you were studying, what advice / support did you feel was missing, can you provide any advice to students that are completing their Degrees within the next year?
I have had a few disagreements recently with friends who studied art. They felt that some students didn't get the support they needed during their studies. I have always felt that at my art college, the tools and support were always available to those who wanted access to them, but I would concede that not everyone has the characteristics to make it happen.

So I suppose I would advise all students to make sure they make the most of their time. If you feel you aren't getting enough tutorials or crits, make an appointment with your tutor... ask them. If you feel you're lacking in a technical area, ask the technicians or tutors for advice. It's up to you to ensure you get the support you need and you gain the knowledge you need for your professional life.

Volunteering is a very real way to gain experience; it's not merely a CV filler. It, like anything, can be misused by a minority to exploit others, however a lot of small groups, artist-run spaces and charities rely on volunteers to stay alive. I truly believe the experience of volunteering for such groups would help any student.

Is there any advice/support that you did gain whilst studying that you would pass on the people studying arts based degrees now?

• Keep a diary.
• Do what you say you will.
• Don't waste time applying for opportunities that don't suit your practice.
• Use what exists and what you have.
• Become a director - it's not always feasible to become the master of all crafts involved in one project.
• Make friends with a good photographer!

If you had only one sentence in providing an encouraging tip for newly-grads what would you say?
Don't just sneer from the sidelines and complain, get involved and improve things.

Look out for other Professional profiles upcoming on Students community: they are intended as informative yet short pieces of content for you to make use of and gain inspiration from so let me know if they are working.

richard.taylor@a-n.co.uk »

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Manchester based ceramicist CJ O’Neill tells us about her symbiotic career in teaching and contemporary craft making, filling us in with what has driven her to where she is now. Read on »

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Artist and coordinator of ‘People and Place’, Maria Bojanowska tells of the toils of volunteering and coming up trumps (in the space of a year). Read on »

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Richard Taylor

Richard is an artist/writer living in Edinburgh and online editor on behalf of a-n The Artists Information Company, for the Degrees unedited and Students community sites.

www.rich-taylor.co.uk

First published: a-n.co.uk July 2009