Vol. 2 – Students
April 4−18, 2016 CURATED BY RICHARD FLETCHER GEOFFREY HILSABECK, DANI LEVENTHAL, BRETT PRICE, LIZ ROBERTS, GEORGE RUSH, SUZANNE SILVER, RYLAND WHARTON, AND CARMEN WINANT Project funded by the Ronald and Deborah Ratner Distinguished Teaching Award
Suzanne Silver Semaphore: ERROR wood, muslin, felt, porcelain, paint, crayon, colored pencil, thread 2016
Carmen Winant and Geoffrey Hilsabeck The Model School mixed media (research material, correspondence, assigned reading, photographs) 2016
George Rush Five ďŹ gures, sometimes acrylic paint, ink-jet printing, cut and pasted paper 2016
Ryland Wharton Anarchy, Community, Politics, Liberation, Resistance (Figs. 1, 3, 7-8, 10, 13) mixed media 2016
Ryland Wharton Anarchy, Community, Politics, Liberation, Resistance (Figure 11) found stencil, photograph, foil 2016
Liz Roberts Ass Gas or Grass: Nobody Rides For Free turfgrass sod, Woodlawn Promised Land paint 2016
Dani Leventhal and Brett Price THROUGH chapbook edition of 33, installation; voice recording, projected altered photograph, wood, fake fur, paper, plexiglass 2016
Greeting from the Myths Academy! This is the second volume of the catalog for the exhibition Myths of the Academy and while you can find our views and perspectives as the Myths Academy Faculty in the selected source-file images and statements in the first volume, everything that you will encounter within these pages (aside from the map on the facing page and this brief statement) has been created by Myths Academy Students. Each visitor to the exhibition Myths of the Academy, which took place between April 4-18th, 2016 in the Hopkins Hall Gallery at Ohio State University and was made possible by a generous Ronald and Deborah Ratner Distinguished Teaching Award, became instantly enrolled in the Myths Academy – without fees or an entrance exam. But what exactly is the Myths Academy? How did it come about? Who or what founded it? And what was it like being a student there? We addressed some of these questions during our ‘Report from the Myths Academy’ as part of a Symposium on April 8th, 2016 (supported by a grant from the Humanities and the Arts Discovery Theme). In our ‘Report’, which was attended by both members of the public as well as students from the Myths Academy Apprenticeship Program, we offered our accounts of the foundation and purpose of this mythical educational institution which advocated for placing artists and their work at the center of the contemporary research university. However, to get a better sense of the Myths Academy as a whole, we have put together the present catalog comprised of photographs from the Myths of the Academy exhibition, personalized student cards and unique mythical narratives, all created by a selection of Myths Academy students. (To see a larger selection of photographs, cards and narratives, you can visit: http://minusplato.com/category/myths-of-the-academy). We want to extend our thanks to all of the students from the Myths Academy, as well as to Kelly McNicholas – for creating our logo, participating in the Symposium, and for designing both volumes of this catalog. If you have any questions for us about any aspect of the Myths Academy, please do not hesitate to email us at mythsacademyfaculty@gmail.com. Myths Academy Faculty
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The Myths Academy is another world created by Zeus for the purpose of education. In this world, people can observe exactly the same features and situations that happened in the “real world” but at a higher level. For example, it shows the large real Oval with plants, squirrels, and people’s activities in a miniature version, and people who visit the Myths Academy are able to look over the whole thing. This new perspective provides an opportunity for the visitors who were confused by what the Oval looks like when they were walking on it as a small creature, so that they could get an idea of the Oval’s whole structure without exaggeration. In contrast, it can be seen that on the Oval, some students from a geography class are working on their assignments: drawing the Oval based on their footprints through the space. And they are so puzzled by their perspective, because they are relatively small in comparison to the Oval. Zeus allows people who are eager to discover the nature of the world to visit the Myths Academy and communicate with other visitors, showing them how to look at the world as a philosopher. The Muses also introduced the education of art, music and architecture into the Myths Academy. They asked the artists to make sculptures and maps on the wall derived from the real world outside. The Muses suggest recording the scene of students’ talking with their professor on the wall with different colors, in order to tell people that art is from everywhere and every moment of life In the Myths Academy, I was looking at the maps with marked locations on the wall. Those maps emphasized a higher level perspective on the earth and I saw my home so far away. Suddenly Odysseus’ voice asked me, “How do you feel about leaving your home on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, year by year? Especially when you were in your geology field camp for two months in Utah and Nevada?” Yuyu Li
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Before the Myths Academy came into being, there was no order to the way things were done. The topic and validity of written works was up to the author’s discretion, the arts were jumbled, indistinguishable from one another, and man had no sense or understanding of rhetoric and fine conversation. Those who founded the Myths Academy sought an answer to these dilemmas, and acted as they saw fit. Rooted in Platonic ideals, the founders of the Academy believed that all knowledge, whether of the arts or science, has an origin in myth. Stories open the hearts of the young and attune them to learning. Stories appeal to the minds of the wise and provide perspective otherwise unattained. The Academy is for those young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor, proud and humble. The fee to enter the Academy is only the agreement to remain open-minded and inquisitive throughout the term. The Academy employs all and instructs all, and only requires that no student is enrolled against their own free will. The Academy is a place of freedom and learning; in order to be successful, success must be desired. No student will prevail unless their thirst for better understanding is pure.
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Learning through myths is acceptable no matter the discipline. The founders of the Academy knew this format would reach far and wide, attracting many to the Academy and ensuring its continued popularity. To this day, the Myths Academy produces some of the most eloquent, successful students the world has ever seen. Hanna Erickson
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Ova, daughter of King Thomp of Cbus was out playing in a large field when she came upon what looked like a statue of a lion holding a book. Ova approached the statue curious, forgetting about her father’s warning to leave anything she encounters in the field alone. She got close enough to be able to touch the nose of the lion statue with her own nose. She reached out and touched the lion’s mane and she was surprised when it felt like real fur. Suddenly, the lion began to move as the metal surrounding the lion started to melt away, Ova became scared and started to run towards her home. The lion chased her through the field, Ova took sharp turns to try and outrun the lion. When she finally made it to the other end of the field she ran straight back towards where the lion was a statue and as she came upon the spot where the lion was, she suddenly transformed into a building. When her father came looking for her, and when he saw the building and the paths through the field that were made from the lion chasing her, he knew what happened. The King smiled because his daughter tossed aside her fear and dove into her curiosity to touch the statue to see what would happen. He decided honor her by promoting curiosity by creating a Myths Academy on the field he named Oval for her in front of his library, Thompson. Lynn Barnes
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The student, unaware of what to expect, walked into the Myths Academy on that bright spring day. Immediately, the transparent walls and simplistic design captivated his interest before approaching Plato’s assistant at the desk to gather the necessary equipment for the journey ahead. Upon entering the Academy, the student was puzzled where to begin appreciating the art and myths that began to surround him and come alive as he walked into the center of the room. The bright green grass was a treacherous path to take, but he took it anyways, until he arrived at the great stand with gods and goddesses facing out in each direction. The student paced around the stand and studied it closely until he was drawn by the will of Zeus, himself, to the colorful five figures who seemed to be contemplating the student’s own existence. The student became humbled and inspired by the figures as the bearded god, deep in thought, drew closer. After what seemed like an eternity, the student, with a new inner tranquility, continued his journey and arrived at the wooden board filled with objects of various materials that seemed to be jumping out of the wooden base. The student, perplexed by the art, looked up to see other students staring back, not realizing the true transparency before them. Having made it this far, the student continued his journey of discovery as he admired the wall covered in myth until he was forced to end his journey as a new one was just around the corner. Dylan Rajendram
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The student walked into the exhibit and immediately their consciousness expanded. All of the pieces spoke to them, some even in the form that their god (artist) had created them for. The works of art said things such as;
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“This is how a Utopia should be. Make your world like this,” Sang Apollo. “The error in your soul make you complete,” Lectured Athena. “The beauty of perspective greatly outweighs the superficial norms,” Swooned Aphrodite. Of all the calls to come and examine the works of art, the error in the flag piece was what screamed out to the student. Athena appeared above, her wisdom spilling from her like water from a fountain. The student saw this and at first felt confused. They did not know what to think of the spectacle before them. Athena reached out and touched their forehead, spreading her Wisdom to the student so that they may understand the true beauty behind the art work and what it truly stood for. All of a sudden the students mind exploded. Vivid scenes of failure and success spilled out before them. Athena drew them close and cradled their head in her arms, as if keeping them from losing all control of their mind. Finally the student realized what Athena was trying to convey. Each failure or error that appeared before them ended in a lesson learned and a skill procured. Each success brought not but the same results each time. The student saw into the depths of the art and learned that with failure and error comes lifelong lessons and essential skills for making you a better person. Cole Hutzel
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The journey began with an open door, transparent with sunlight beaming in… With a scribbled name on a paper and a folder full of information Names and art, wood and paper, an open mind full of anticipation followed. Hannah ventured into the room, expecting blank walls and blank art. What she saw was very different as the gods and goddesses, heroes, and stories emerged from the various pieces. Athena arrived in the green labyrinth. She wisely guided my eyes through. Carefully, Hannah treads through the green oval, watching for hints of myth and mystery. She watched as Achilles climbed to the top of the tower racing after Hector. Hector approached the tower of blocks and swung at Achilles, he missed. Achilles caught up and slayed Hector. Achilles celebrated as Hector fell into the books. Hannah moved forward and approached the low-laying table of objects, she envisioned: Odysseus sails through the rocks and boulders, avoiding every obstacle in his path. His wife and son on the other side waiting anxiously, he had to travel fast as the suitors were threatening his family. Odysseus dodged Scylla and Charybdis. He skillfully avoided object after object and arrived to his wife and son. The black curtain hid the booming voices of the gods as they gave their advice and demanded glory and vengeance. As Hannah walked through the rest of the exhibit she saw heroes and gods both. The artwork and stories combined to tell one tale and the characters overlapped. Every anecdote that had been taught was now displayed. In the Myths Academy, there’s more than art… there’s a story behind the art, you just have to look close enough to read it. Hannah Daugherty
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I, Plato, sit dauntlessly in disguise as the back wall of the Myths Academy. Aimlessly waiting for my students’ arrival. What will they think of me? Will I inspire their mind, spirit or aspirations? As the first student arrives I can’t help but recognize the curiosity on her face as she mumbles, “What is this place.” I restrain myself from telling her about my home, telling her about my greatest accomplishment because I know the Academy will spark an imagination she never thought she had. As she circles around me, stopping at each piece of art, her forehead crinkles and inside her mind she relates my works to herself, to humanity and to the world. Stopping for a long duration, she stares at the patches of grass on the floor at their familiarity. She recognizes it for what it’s worth but consciously looks beyond the surface of her knowledge. She thinks, “This is more than just the Oval−this is me. This is my life.” As I’d envisioned, she too describes these patches of grass as the obstacle course of life. You can take that one single path across life or you can explore your opportunities and try new paths. Initially, you might not get where you imagined, but you’ll see things you never knew were there and still have the knowledge that your desired path remains possible. As she makes her way behind the curtain, she’s inanimate like a statue. It’s a dark room with a pregnant woman projected. The curiosity quickly leaves her mind as she registers that this is the beauty of life right in front of her eyes. As she closes the curtain behind her, I can’t help but notice the blank stare on her face. My aura and juxtaposition have left her speechless allowing for my expectations to be met. The beauty of life remains within me, within my Academy. Katelyn Mountain
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