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Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over
Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over | Nell Irvin Painter
"Old in Art School is a glorious achievement--bighearted and critical, insightful and entertaining. This book is a cup of courage for everyone who wants to change their lives." --Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage and Silver Sparrow "I was used to juggling my self-perception and other people's views of me as a black person and as a woman, from within and without. But now what I took as me seemed almost inconsequential as my essence shriveled into my age." How are women, and artists, "seen" and judged by their age, race, and looks? And how does this seeing change, depending upon what is asked of the viewer? What does it mean when someone states (as one teacher does) that "you will never be an Artist"--who defines "an Artist," and all that goes with such an identity, and how are these ideas tied to our shared conceptions of beauty, value, and difference? Old in Art School represents an ongoing exploration of such questions, one that ultimately honors curiosity, openness, and joy--the joy of embracing creativity, dreams, the importance of hard work, and the stubborn determination of your own value. Nell Irvin Painter's journey is filled with surprises, even as she brings to bear the incisiveness of her insights from two careers, which combine in new ways even as they take very different approaches--one searching for facts and cohesion, the other seeking the opposite. She travels from her beloved Newark to the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design; finds meaning in the artists she loves, such as Alice Neel, Faith Ringgold, or Maira Kalman, even as she comes to understand how they are undervalued; and struggles with the ever-changing balance between the pursuit of art and the inevitable, sometimes painful demands of a life fully lived.
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LazyLimaLife
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Pickpick

I‘ve been wanting to read this for a while now. It‘s the memoir of Dr Nell Painter who leaves the comfort of her academic career to pursue a degree in art. There‘s a lot of story packed in here. Personal stories about her family mixed in with defining art and with the passive-aggressive racism she dealt with at RISD. I listened to the audio, but just ordered the hardcover to re-read. Enjoyed this a lot!

8 likes1 stack add
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Hoopiefoot
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I feel like today was really 3 days long. Finally relaxing on the front porch with a brew and a good book.

valeriegeary That drink looks refreshing! 5y
8little_paws I've felt that way about every day lately! Ughhhh. 5y
68 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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RebeccaH
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Pickpick

I liked this a lot! I listened to the audio, read by the author, and it was good, but she‘s a slow reader and that might not work for some people. But the book was great and her voice was good company. Interesting observations on race, age, and the art world.

suzisteffen Slow readers are why we have variable audio listening speeds. 😂 Looking forward to this one! (In print.) 5y
25 likes1 stack add1 comment
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RebeccaH
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I started both these books today and I‘m loving both and they are exactly what I need right now.

27 likes1 stack add
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WanderingBookaneer
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SW-T That‘s on my TBR! Eager to see your review 😊 5y
MicheleinPhilly Interesting coating on the rim. 🤔 5y
Pricel101 Love the hashtag! 📖🍹😂 5y
94 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
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Packed my bag full of books.

@BookishMarginalia , bleary-eyed and sleepy, mumbles, “Where are you going?”

“Outside.”

Puzzled look.

“To the living room,” I clarify.

Seeing that my wife was still puzzled, I added, “It‘s #24in48 . ”

“Ah, “ she almost sighs as she fell back into sleep.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awww 😊😊😊 5y
kspenmoll 😃😃 5y
See All 6 Comments
Jee_HookedOnBookz Is that a sloth pillow?? It's soooo cuuuute!!! 5y
WanderingBookaneer @Jee_HookedOnBookz : Indeed it is! Sloths are @BookishMarginalia ‘s spirit animal. We got the pillow at Target a while back. 5y
Jee_HookedOnBookz Looks like I missed it :( I lurrrve sloths too! They're just too cute! 😊❤️😍 5y
110 likes6 comments
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MallenNC
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Mehso-so

This was just ok for me, more because it was different than I expected not that it was bad. It is much more academic and very art focused as opposed to a personal memoir of what it's like to go back to school at an older age. There was some of that, but not as much as I wanted. #nonfiction2018

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MallenNC
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Reading this for our at work book club! We meet next week, so I better get these pages turned. #nonfiction2018

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KarenUK
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#NoFemmeber #creator @Cinfhen @Billypar
Just added to my TBR, this memoir sounds very inspiring....
Personally, as an Art school graduate (back in the day!), I have a current crippling fear of the blank canvas/page etc... I‘m hoping it will give me a little courage...
I also love this Joss Whedon quote..... the kitchen is definitely where my creative juices are channeled right now!

Cinfhen I read a review about this book. It‘s meant to be very good 5y
Redwritinghood I often find that the hardest part is getting started. Once you start, things take off. 5y
batsy I'm interested to read this, too 5y
52 likes1 stack add3 comments
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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
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Pickpick

I am purposefully doing lots of bibliotherapy & this was a perfect choice. The story of another black woman who has been able to inspire me greatly without us ever being able to meet in person. This is the ultimate power and magnificence of reading, when I am able to find the right books. As she says, “I can‘t corral my thoughts & feelings within a fence of race”; I identify with her journey on so many other levels. “Do something new” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mimi28 Interesting... stacked!! Thanks!! 👍🏽😉❤️ 6y
26 likes1 stack add1 comment
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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
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Bibliophile Ecstasy: When you find a book that is perfect for you on many different levels.

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Booksnchill
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Back to my Sunday Morning reading about all things art I have these 2 great new releases. Nell Painter is a noted author and historian who decides to get her art degree at age 64. She wrote the tagged book about her experiences. The Masterpiece follows Clara, a teacher and illustrator at the Grand Central (as in terminal) School af art in the 1940‘s and Virginia a divorced mom in the 1970‘s who gets a job at the Grand Central info booth.

SilversReviews LOVED The Masterpiece. 6y
Booksnchill @SilversReviews great to hear! 6y
86 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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celtichik
Pickpick

Currently loving this book about a 64 year old who decides to go to art school.

67 likes1 stack add
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spinesvines
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#DiverseSpines | Day 8 Cover Love

How are women, and artists, "seen" and judged by their age, race, and looks? And how does this seeing change, depending upon what is asked of the viewer? What does it mean when someone states (as one teacher does) that "you will never be an Artist"—who defines "an Artist," and all that goes with such an identity, & how are these ideas tied to our shared conceptions of beauty, value, and difference? #spinesvines

15 likes1 stack add
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Liberty
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Here are a few of today‘s new releases! I also HIGHLY recommend THE GREAT BELIEVERS by Rebecca Makkai. It‘s so good, I nearly lost my mind. And there‘s a new book about Warren Zevon‘s music out today called ACCIDENTALLY LIKE A MARTYR, which I also recommend because ZEVON 5EVA. 📚❤️📚

Janmah Great recommendations. I really want to read The Great Believers. The other two sound good too. 6y
146 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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Erynecki
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Books that other people are reading that look interesting to me

Cinfhen Love this post 🤗 6y
Suet624 I love this post too. 6y
Janmah Growing Gills, what a great title. 6y
21 likes3 comments