Spring 2007

Dear Reader,
The graduating MFA students in DOVA, the Department of Visual Arts at University of Chicago, are creating a website in conjunction with our Thesis Exhibitions.

In my work, I am interested in exploring how ideas and media affect social identity and self-perception. For my contribution to our website, I am working on a web project focusing on the idea of the AVANT-GARDE.*

*As defined, in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avant-garde

For my project, I am interested in using email to collect your impressions, ideas and thoughts surrounding your understanding and perception of the AVANT-GARDE, and subsequently, on its relationship to your studies and your autobiography; for example:

What does the term AVANT-GARDE connote for you intellectually? Does it recall a specific field of study, artist, author, or an article or piece of writing? Has the idea of the AVANT-GARDE had an influence on your studies? What do you believe is the relevance of the idea of the AVANT-GARDE to contemporary life, if any? Conversely, do you believe that it is a solely historical concept?

Do you believe that a manifestation of the AVANT-GARDE can be viable in the intellectual, cultural and social climate of today’s society? (Examples are welcome.) If so, what would characterize or make this work or idea successful? How would it be different from and how would it conform to the historical definition and qualities of the AVANT-GARDE?

What personal implications does the term have for you? How, if at all, has the idea of the AVANT-GARDE, and/or your experiences with the specific sources that you described above, affected your life?

If applicable, I am interested in how your overall perception of yourself, as well as your everyday choices regarding social identity, such as clothing, taste, perhaps behavior and mannerisms, etc., have or have not been consciously informed by your impression of the idea of the AVANT-GARDE.

I am writing to solicit your reply to this letter, which I would like to use as part of a project on the MFA Thesis Exhibitions website, which will be linked to the University of Chicago Department of Visual Art webpage. Please send your reply to: AVANT.GARDEproject@yahoo.com.

I appreciate all kinds of contributions, including text, non-text, images, sound, etc. I will try to post all of the responses, anonymously by request.

I hope to hear from you and I appreciate your participation in my project!

Many thanks and sincerely,

HL, a.k.a. Ms. VB
AVANT.GARDEproject@yahoo.com

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