pay attention

Here's an excerpt from an essay i wrote to get into grad school in milan, italy. i won 3rd prize in the scholarship essay contest, theme was Pay Attention:

“Pay attention” is invaluable advice for any aspiring artist. We are inundated with media, signs, ads, technology, art, and inspiration everywhere we go. When I began my undergraduate studies in 1995 at Cornell University, working towards a bachelor in fine arts and new media, I could not have predicted the influence art and technology would have on my life. My timing was perfect and upon graduation in 1999 I headed to San Francisco, where the Internet boom was in full swing and the entire city was filled with energy and excitement about new technology.

Before heading to San Francisco, I spent my time consciously and subconsciously absorbing by paying attention to everything around me, all while fostering my innate talent and love for art and design. I was inspired by my surroundings and colleagues to develop new ways of thinking about and experiencing art and design. To further my education I spent a semester in Rome, where I fully immersed myself in ancient art and culture. And then I held exciting internship positions in New York City art museums and alternative spaces, where I was constantly surrounded by the merging of art, design, and education, through a variety of outlets and new media. I highly valued these experiences and realized that I was the happiest when fusing art and technology. Upon graduating, I experimented in web design, began to supplement my traditional fine art and multimedia background with tech classes, and quickly acted on my new passion — web and interaction design.

During the past nine years, living and working as a designer in the cultural hubs of New York City and San Francisco, I have been able to surround myself with technology and art, and ultimately — pay attention. Whether working at a high-tech startup, an ad agency, or industry leaders such as Apple, I realized that subconsciously or otherwise, I enjoy fusing technology and art as a way to learn, share, and create. The collision between technology and art has led to immeasurable impact on design, business, strategy, and interdisciplinary thinking. It’s a chance to bring people with diverse backgrounds together with art leading the way, while offering solid solutions to business and innovation challenges.

Whether I am working on web sites, installing exhibitions, or teaching others about various art techniques, I feel I have gained a strong understanding of aesthetic appeal and the impact of technology and art of our time as viewed in many different outlets. These diverse positions have enabled me to utilize my knowledge of both traditional and new media, and have called me to pursue a career in the art and technology world.

©allison chapas 2008