Artist Resume (and artist statements)

[winger]

I've recently been asked to submit either an artist resume or statement for a show. I've seen some pretty, um, interesting artist statements and I think I might be able to write something that doesn't sound too inane, hokey, or whatever (though I doubt anyone really wants to read them). But how do you write a resume? I found this - http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/resume - but it assumes you've gone to school for art. If you have a degree in something else, should you still put it on it? What about classes you took at museum schools (fairly small ones) with maybe 5 different instructors over the years and you can't remember all of them? If you took photo I and II back in undergrad (cough, 25 years ago cough cough) and it was with a "known" photographer, should you put that even as long ago as it was?
My forensics-related resume basically only has been used to give lawyers an idea of my experience before I testified and it was pretty easy to write. It has the facts, just the facts. Every class the MSP sent me to and what my job duties were. Format has changed over the years, but that's about it.
So how different is an artist resume?

[AgX]

(though I doubt anyone really wants to read them)

Let me just tell you that these artists statements are still uncommon over here. You seem selfassured enough to skip something you quite not see what to begin with and what use you doubt.

[eddie]

Bethe- If you've already been invited to show, don't bother with the resume. Just write up a nice statement instead. If you've shown before, add a"Selected Exhibitions" list at the bottom of your statement.

[batwister]

If you look at any artist resume, they will only ever include these sections: education (in art), groups shows, solo shows, galleries who have collected their work, and published work. This seems to be the 'standard'.

Just a couple of examples from minor photographic artists:

http://www.sallygall.com/html/SALLY%...UME%202010.pdf
http://www.paul-kenny.co.uk/info.html

If this is one of your first shows, you obviously don't need one.

For your statement, try this - http://www.artybollocks.com/

[Vaughn]

My two cents...just write a 'statement'. Put everything you can think of in it -- your situation, experiences, why you do what you do, what you like people to get from your work...everything. Don't worry about length nor grammar, etc.

Then start eliminating stuff...distill it down to what you want to say and to what people will actually take the time to read (perhaps 2 or 3 paragraphs of 2 to 4 sentences each).

I spend a lot of time on mine...some approach poetry. But no one has every commented to me about any of my statements. I write them for me, now. It is a good exercise.

Vaughn

[Bill Burk]

If you like, we could write one for you...

Bethe explores the world as if she is looking through the eyes of a hundred years' worth of photographers, taking the best of their traditions and adapting them to classic and personal images...

[spijker]

Try this: Artist Resume (and artist statements)

[winger]

If you like, we could write one for you...

Bethe explores the world as if she is looking through the eyes of a hundred years' worth of photographers, taking the best of their traditions and adapting them to classic and personal images...

LOL - thanks!
I think I will write a statement - though I'm not sure what relation, if any, it will have to the pieces that got accepted into this show. At least this show gives me something to put on a resume if I ever need one.
Vaughn - I'll likely do it that way - thanks!

[desertratt]

I was a photojournalist for many years and now, being retiired, I am exhibiting large photo prints in art galleries. I do not have an arts education background or a photo education for that matter. I have taught photography but never attended photo classes. I just wrote up the things I thought were important. Who do you want to impress with this? Art majors or other folks? Write for the people you want to reach and don't worry about it.

[Dan Henderson]

Bethe, I think you got some good advice: go with the statement, since you have a choice. Just write some from-the-heart thoughts about why you made the photographs that you did. And write in the first person.