Goodbye to Bozeman
by Curtis James Shore
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF APPLIED
ART in Art
Montana State University
© Copyright by Curtis James Shore (1975)
Abstract:
Most of the time during the past seventeen years, I have labored fairly happily in the womb of
academia. In the last five years, of that time, I haye been able to isolate, in my works some of the
inklings that were inside me apd to make explicit to myself (and to others) what I was capable of. I had
freed myself somewhat from external authority and was able to grapple with some of the internal
absurdities that make working worthwhile. Whether the works are in fashion or not, I found is
completely beside the point. I found also that the critical authority is often trapped behind the word
"aesthetic" and that posterity can sometimes be a liar. I realized that what once had been in me an
enormous responsibility to "BE A SCULPTOR" had changed in that five years to an inward
responsibility to simply do my own work. I can look, back and see that my early work reveals an
awareness of becoming, and now, it seems fair to note, my present work is an awareness of being. STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO COPY
In p r e s e n t i n g t h i s
thesis
paper
in p a r t i a l
f u l f i l l m e n t o f the
r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r an advanced d e g r e e a t Montana S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , . I
agree t h a t
t h e . L -I br ar y s h a l l
I f u r t h e r agree t h a t
for scholarly
h i s a b sen ce,
make i t f r e e l y a v a i l a b l e f o r
in spection.
p e r m i s s i o n f o r e x t e n s i v e copyi ng o f t h i s
thesis
purposes may b e . g r a n t e d by my m aj o r p r o f e s s o r , o r , , i n
by t h e D i r e c t o r o f L i b r a r i e s .1
a ny. co pyi ng , o r p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s
not b e , a l l o w e d . w i t h o u t my w r i t t e n
thesis
It
is u n de rs t o od t h a t
f o r fin ancial,
permission.'
gain shall
GOODBYE TO BOZEMAN
by
C u r t i s Shore
A t h e s i s s u b m i t t e d in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t
o f th e requirements f o r th e degree
of
MASTER OF APPLIED ART
In
Art
A p p ro v e d :
Chai r man,
Exami ni ng Committee
Headiy MaJxfr Depar t ment
G r a d u a t e (Dean
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozeman, Montana
June,
1975
ii I
IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
me f o r
I would l i k e t o t h a nk my p a r e n t s and dan f o r p u t t i n g up w i t h
t h e l a s t two y e a r s .
Most o f t h e t i m e d u r i n g t h e , p a s t . se ve n t e e n y e a r s , I have l ab or ed
f a i r l y h a p p i l y in t h e womb o f acad emi a.
In t h e l a s t f i v e y e a r s , o f t h a t
t i m e , I haye been a b l e t o i s o l a t e , i n my works some o f t h e i n k l i n g s
t h a t w e re i n s i d e me apd t o (nake e x p l i c i t t o m y s e l f (and t o o t h e r s )
what I was c a p a b l e o f .
I had f r e e d m y s e l f somewhat from e x te rn a l ,
a u t h o r i t y and was a b l e , t o g r a p p l e w i t h some o f t h e i n t e r n a l a b s u r d i t i e s
t h a t . Ipake w o r k i n g w o r t h w h i l e .
Whet her t h e works a r e in f a s h i o n o r n o t ,
I found is c o m p l e t e l y b e s i d e t h e p o i n t . ' I found a l s o t h a t t h e c r i t i c a l
a u t h o r i t y Is o f t e n t r a p p e d behind t h e w o r d ' , " a e s t h e t i c " and t h a t p o s t e r ­
i t y can sometimes be a l i a r . ' I r e a l i z e d t h a t what once had been In me
an enormous r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o "BE A SCULPTOR" had changed in t h a t f i v e
y e a r s t o an inward r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o s i m p l y do my own w o rk.
I can
l o o k back and see t h a t my e a r l y work r e v e a l s an awareness o f becoming,
and now, i t seems f a i r t o n o t e , my p r e s e n t w o r k is an awareness o f
being.
Thank you.
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