February 23, 2009

Expressive Mark Making

I had my first day of Massey yesterday. Although I can't remember what the first day of primary school felt like I would imagine it would be how I felt yesterday. Nervous, anxious, sweaty palms and all the rest. 

I made sure I got there in good time to find my way around. I must have looked like a lost little sheep awkwardly carting around a huge A2 pad.  

My weird girl magnet working in full force a random orange haired girl, face covered in charcoal came up to me and very quickly mumbled "Can I scab a text". Dumbfounded I say "Sure" and hand her my phone. She sends her text and sits with me for the next half hour waiting for  a response. We start chatting about what we're doing and I confess that I'm more than a little nervous about my drawing class as I have no idea what to expect. She points out that there are examples of last years class in a cabinet a couple minutes away.  

I go to have a look, I get there and my eyes dart from one project to the next, gobsmacked...cue the nausea,  a panicky sweat starts to take over and I say to myself "There's no fucking way in hell I can do that". 

Class finally starts and all I can think off is making some lame excuse and then leaving never to return but I tough it out. Our first brief is given - turning maori place names into abstract images using expressive mark making.... (expressive what???).

 At the break I relay my concerns to the teacher who advises me that was "the best of the best in the cabinet" and "not to worry, you might suprise yourself". 

So with a little confidence restored, I think I'm going to try suprise myself and stick it out. 

One of the most embarrassing things was losing my sheet of 15 maori place names within 5 minutes of leaving class. Not a good start? 




Next move: find out more about Jackson Pollock, Cy Twombly, Andre Massen & Jean Miro.

February 9, 2009

How old do you have to be to qualify as a mature student?

So university starts on Monday 23rd February. I have to admit that I’m a little nervous, excited and if I’m completely honest; a little scared…. I sound like a first year (although maybe first years are a bit cockier because they are too stupid to know better of their youthful, naivety. I guess the question I’m really asking is: How old do you have to be to be considered a mature student? Well according to Wikipedia I fall into the category.

I remember being sitting at the back of the lecture theatre first time around and wincing everytime a mature student raised their hand to answer a question or worse: to question a lecturer. I remember rolling my eyes at the mundane recollection of this older person’s life example in front of full audience of couldn’t careless commerce students.

And now its come full circle – I’m going to be the mature student, more than likely given a hard time by the cool kids at the back of the class.



I’ve always wondered if there was a Mature Student’s Handbook. – A Guide to University Life, featuring topics such as:

  • Sitting at the front of the class – Ways to attract the lecturers attention.
  • Raising questions demonstrating that you have read the optional suggested readings
  • Asking questions that you then answer in your own question.
  • Using your real life experiences ad nauseum to illustrate your point.

So here’s my lofty, ambitious goal for the year:
I will not be a typical mature student!

In saying that I don’t intend to repeat my first year antics – you could not pay me to consume Tui in the same quantities as the first time round.

Ok FUN stuff now! 

So in preparation for uni I have invested in my first ever Mac - and am now finding that every other screen I look at now is dull and lifeless and is having an adverse affect on my eyes. 

Click here for BBQ madness (Simon you need to come home for a holiday so we can try this) that J found.