What Now? | A Post-Grad Recap
On April 14th, 2017, a year's worth of my research, planning, crying, and photographing was showcased in Point Park University’s Senior Thesis exhibition. The project, Rust: Documenting the Steel Valley was shot over the course of a year and edited down from almost 300 photos to about 36. The work took about 10 hours to hang and I was in the gallery until 2 am. Seeing it as a finished body of work on a wall was a trip, as I’d spent almost a year agonizing over this project. The show was phenomenal. I had friends and family come to see my work hung next to my many talented peers (hi, nerds.) My heart was very very full this night.
My finished project, Rust.
The exhibition, titled f(x) was held at the Mine Factory.
On April 29th, I walked across a stage, accepted a very expensive piece of paper, and dove headfirst into post-grad existence!
On April 30th, I panicked. I needed a job and a place to live. I tried to stretch the post-grad dream of eating ice cream for dinner and only wearing pjs on for about a week.
Since then, I’ve been making it work. I’ve been doing freelance graphic design and photography and working in a local art gallery. I’ve applied to, at my last count, 97 photography and design jobs since May. I’ve had 4 interviews! No one hired me! Which is okay, because I’m making it work.
I had my own solo exhibition at the Space Upstairs and have had a few projects accepted into local art shows.
My solo exhibition on some very tall walls.
Nice hat, nerd.
Post-Grad existence is hard and also really, really fun. I haven’t picked up my camera for personal work since April. I worked 50 hours in one week and forgot to buy groceries on my only night off because I was too tired. I got a car (that I’ve only locked my keys in once!). I found a place to live with a dear friend in a great part of town and watched an entire paycheck disappear into a rent payment. I’m surrounded by very supportive friends and family. I get to make my own schedule, though some weeks are a lot lighter on work than others. See? Hard and fun!
I’m not sure what’s next but I’m excited for the next adventure (please hire me).