Last Day with Naomi - field trip to SFMOMA

Naomi Perry, my SPARK apprentice and I took a field trip to SFMOMA on Tuesday. This was our last meeting for the summer and since she was pretty much done with her work that will be presented at Discovery Night on Thursday, i wanted to treat her to a museum visit. She was immediately taken by the art. After our little lunch in the museum cafe, we went directly to the rooftop sculpture garden where i took a photo of her inside the Louise Bourgeois spider. She enthusiastically took photos of just about everything. Some of her favorite artists included Claes Oldenburg (with the apple core), Roy Lichtenstein, and Frank Stella.
After we returned to the studio (3 hours just barely covered the Fisher Collection show "Calder to Warhol), i wanted to have a final review with her. I typed up a "report card" which basically recapped our sessions together, explaining my goals and what techniques and exercises we did but i also wanted to give her feedback on a personal level. I thought i would approach this like a performance review, just like in real live work situations. I wanted to make it clear though, that throwing paint around does not an artist make. It is a great beginning but there comes a time when one must take the next step. I wanted to stress the importance of a good foundation in drawing, art history, and studying from masters. Naomi has a wonderful personality and i really enjoyed out time together.
Now, if only i could get some of my colleagues interested in becoming mentors. I won't be able to participate next semester as i start back at CCSF and i might also be traveling in the fall.


Naomi looking adorable, peeking through the gold beaded curtain, holding onto her Felix Gonzales-Torres poster.