Seeing as I have no intention of going to college for art, Portfolio Day did not have the same meaning for me as it did for other art school bound students. I did not spend the weeks prior to Halloween preparing my artwork for critiquing, nor did I anxiously wait in line for a review from the college of my dreams. As a matter of fact, I didn’t even show any artwork at Portfolio Day. Yet for some reason, I had a sense of dread in my stomach as I walked into the Convention Center without a single piece of artwork in my hands.
I was only at Portfolio Day for about half an hour before I left. During this time, I walked around the perimeter of the room, walked through the lines, walked by all the tables proclaiming the names of art schools across the country. I could tell the popular schools from the unknown schools simply by the number of people lined up behind each table. I saw all kinds of artwork, from sculptures to paintings to drawings to abstractions and everything in between. I could also see the expressions on each students’ face as they waited in line, and they all screamed out the same thing: PLEASE LIKE MY WORK!!!!
I applaud each and every student who showed artwork at Portfolio Day, because I sure didn’t have the guts to do it. It takes a certain kind of bravery to go up to a complete stranger and ask ” so what do you think of my work?”. But honestly? I didn’t like Portfolio Day at all. Granted, It was fascinating to see all the different artwork of students across the area, but I couldn’t stand to watch everyone line up in front of RISD’s table and Tyler’s table, wondering if they’re good enough to get into that school.
Good enough? Wait a minute… what? Isn’t the entire basis of art that there IS no good and bad? That there is only opinion? And the opinion of one person really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of the art world? Well, if that’s the case, does it really make sense to have art students line up and wait for hours in order to gain approval from someone who may just dismiss their work? In my opinion, that is the problem with Portfolio Day. I know a few students who’s artwork was completely dismissed because the reviewer didn’t like it, and I don’t think that’s fair. If an art student puts their heart, soul, and hardwork into their art, then I think their art has merit.
I realize that one person’s opinion isn’t going to change the art world. Especially since this person isn’t even going to art school. But, I put my heart, soul, and hardwork into my art, so I think my opinion has merit. And I think that Portfolio Day could br improved immensely from what it is now.
