Without Borders

Intermedia MFA Program

Silkscreen created by Georgina Grenier

Recently, I learned more about the Intermedia MFA program at UMaine, Orono. Dr. Owen Smith is the program director. The philosophy of the program is that one should avoid the well-known paths of art production and invent new ones, or combine old ones to find new, untraveled ways to work. This may mean using new technologies with no element of hand-making at all, but not necessarily so. This program has profoundly changed my ideas about art education, the role of art and the purpose of artists in general. Some students work with sound, light, electronics, biology, socially engaged art, science and art integration, data imaging and more. It is still a fledgling program but has so much potential.

I received an email asking me to participate in her culminating artwork for her program. Information below explains a bit of her project and includes a request from those of you interested and with time to make it happen.

has extended the request to each of you to participate.

Borders that separate art disciplines can sometimes fence us in, and lead us to produce work that may add little to our knowledge, even if we love to paint one more watercolor, make one more clay pot, or sing a much loved song one more time. “Without Borders”  is the culminating exhibit for this year’s graduates from the Intermedia MFA program at the University of Maine, Orono. It is work that fuses disciplines, or even creates new ones without borders. This exhibit and the program it represents are an open secret at Orono, an emerging program that will feature some of the most intriguing artwork in Maine, and I am humbled to be part of it this year. Watch for the final date, yet to be decided in May.

I am asking for help in a collaborative art project which will be a part of  “Without Borders”  in May. I am collecting anecdotes and insights about truth-telling, or lie-propagating, depending how you see it: We have all been lied to, told a lie ( even a little one!) and perhaps been hurt by indifference. We have also had joyful occasions when we heard the news we wanted, or told someone we truly love them.
I would be very grateful if you could  send me a few lines, more if you have a longer tale to tell, about how much truth-telling matters to you, and experiences you have had with the business of honesty. These will be included in a set of fifty handmade books. The first fifty respondents will have one of the books sent to them so that all the collected anecdotes and wisdom can be shared. All information will remain anonymous, and author’s names will NOT be revealed.

My hope is to receive your (truthful) responses by early March. Please e-mail them to Georgina Grenier, gecgrenier@myfairpoint.net