What benefits lie within an art school education

Before I enrolled at the University of Toledo’s Theatre & Film department to pursue my dream of motion picture making, I had a debate with myself regarding the importance of an art school education. For artistry, it is not exactly essential to have a degree to pursue that creative passion. At the time of my high school graduation I had attained, in one way or another, most of the essential tools and outlets for motion picture making on my own: a digital video camera, boom microphone, editing software and nothing but time.

“Having the arts as part of an undergraduate experience is necessary because the arts inform the wider consciousness of people,” said Angela Riddel, promotion specialist for UT departments of Theatre & Film, Music and Art. “It explores how we think about things and address certain issues.”

According to Riddel, the three visual arts are a necessary part of learning how human beings connect.

“As far as the University’s structure, it offers three visual and performing arts departments: Music, Theatre & Film and Art,” she said. “It’s essential to teach and expose that to students. If they are only exposed to whatever their major is, they won’t see their interconnectedness to other parts of life. The arts help with that immensely.”

Andrew Makadsi is a senior majoring in film and communications. For his Film I project, he directed a surreal film called “Stax.” Makadsi has also done reporting and anchor work for UTTV and currently does graphic design for UT:10.

“It’s so easy to go to New York or California and be artsy or see art,” Makadsi said. “In Toledo, this becomes a challenge as an artist. It’s difficult to see art in Toledo, which makes me more creative. It makes me stronger when I have to search for art and the things people don’t usually see.”

“When I go downtown, I see art,” he said. “I see beautiful opportunities for film and art. The old West End is one of the most beautiful places in Toledo with all of the Victorian houses. Take the museum, for example. As a filmmaker, I’m very inspired by a lot of things they have there.”

Makadsi claimed to find inspiration and a better outlook on his work within other artists.

“However, you don’t have to go to museums to get your inspiration,” he said. “You can be in a hallway and be inspired. But, getting in contact with artists and seeing what other people can do helps you shape your perspective on art and appreciate it.”

“We create art; art is not found,” he said. “We make art, we discover it from the given things in life.”

“Can you imagine yourself without movies, television or art?” he said. “The answer is ‘no’ because we’re human; we want to look at things, listen to things and feel things. That’s art.”

Megan Sciarini is a senior majoring in film. She spent a portion of her summer interning at Cannes Film Festival in France where she was able to share some of her film work.

“Cannes was interesting. I was introduced to it at school,” she said. “When I got there, it was not an art festival or a traditional film festival. They are there as a market; it is purely and simply all marketing. It was an experience that taught me a side of the film industry I had never seen.”

“When you go to art school or someplace like UT to study art, you can’t really expect art to be taught to you,” she said. “You can teach technique and new technology, but you can’t instill in someone what it is to be an ‘artist.”

“I went to art school because I wanted to discover different art and new ways of thinking,” she said.”

Sciarini emphasized how some of her teachers profess not to teach art but rather teach by expanding the thoughts of students and pushing them into newer ways of thinking. Pushing creativity, for example, may be beneficial in helping students understand that going to college will not promise them the life of an artist.

“You should be [an artist] by the time you get [to college] or at least have the passion for it,” she said.

“You have to realize that you have to start doing stuff on your own, not only in class. Even though these assignments are meant to push us in the way of techniques or ideas, you have to realize that you have to find your own voice to pursue art.”

“All the arts and humanities have different elements to help us,” she said. “The cool thing about UT is that we have all these different things to help us. Being an art student here is a little bit more challenging because you realize, ‘Well, I may not need to major in this subject because I already know how to do it.”

“Some kids who have that ungodly ability to motivate themselves and are actually talented, school may not be the right place for them,” she said. “For me, without going to school I would not have made it; I would not have progressed.”

“I don’t think I would consider college a waste of our gusto; college motivated me to become more independent,” Sciarini said.

Sciarini also shot the videos used in “Machinal” the Department of Theatre & Film’s latest stage production.

“[Machinal] is not traditional theatre at all. UT is pushing more contemporary theatre right now.”

Frankie Teuber, a junior majoring in Theatre, designed the set for “Machinal” and previous UT productions such as “Coronado,” for which she was received merit of honor.

“You become an artist at a young age,” Teuber said. “It’s always something you’re aware of.”

“You have to have a passion if you want to go to art school,” Teuber said.

“I chose theatre because it’s a practical way to get my art seen,” Teuber said. “To put an abstract idea and transform it into a sculpture or installation and have it function as a theatre piece is amazing; to make something that is not just for the purpose of looking pretty but also can send a message to people.”