Student Spotlight: Ruth Borgenicht, MFA Studio Art
After earning an undergraduate math degree twenty five years ago from Rutgers University, Ruth Borgenicht fell in love with clay. While Ruth held numerous jobs, working in the art world and teaching art was where her passion was placed.
The MFA program here is very intensive on theory, criticism and paradigm development. A remarkably educated, driven and personally invested faculty expects a commitment and professional level of working. They all commute from New York City and incorporate and share their NYC art world networks into the classroom. The geographic proximity to New York City, combined with the faculty’s many connections to the NYC art world, allows for many field trips to museums, artist residency programs, and gallery visits.
What were the reasons you chose Montclair State for graduate study? How has your experience been as a graduate student within this program thus far?
I chose Montclair State for a number of reasons. There’s something to be said about its location, not just its proximity to my home and NYC, but also as a New Jersey resident there’s a connection and investment to the school and state. While I don’t live in Montclair, I’ve always been very interested in the connections the school has to local art institutions, specifically the Montclair Art Museum, and how to foster that connection to benefit students and NJ residents alike. I’ve learned so much since starting here in the fall of 2014, and thus have a desire to reciprocate the school’s investment in me by giving back in some way. It’s such a privilege to be able to go to school here at MSU, especially for the opportunity to attend so conveniently close to home.
How has this program helped prepare you for your current career, and how do you think it will help you in your future career goals?
We have a professional development course in which we write proposals for real art opportunities and also learn to formally document our work and how to present it professionally. Through off-site visits to various venues in the art world, from artist residencies to museums and art centers to meetings with art professionals, we have a sense of different career trajectories, as well as establish an initial contact for the MFA students.
I had been teaching art classes and workshops at various locations before starting the MFA program. Teaching at the college level requires having an MFA. I had been teaching at another university, which hired me on the strength of my professional experience. It used to be that universities would hire professional artists to teach, such as published poets or professional musicians, a degree of any kind was less important than professional accomplishments. That is no longer the case.
What are some career paths artists can pursue from their training in the MFA Studio Arts program at Montclair State University?
Teaching is the primary career path, though there are a limited amount of positions available. Most universities now have few full-time faculty positions, the majority of postings are for adjuncts with little job security. It’s the dream of most artists to sustain themselves through their art practice.
Any specific area(s) of study within the arts field that interests you in particular? Are there any current projects or exhibitions you’re working on?
The department is very interested in networking with local institutions. After our faculty met with Montclair Art Museum (MAM) staff, the MFA students were all invited to submit proposals for works that could be presented during MAM’s first Thursday events this spring and summer. This opportunity gives us some real world experience by necessitating us to write a formal proposal that is in keeping with the museum’s mission and exposes the work to both art professionals and the public.
My socially engaged work harnesses the interdependence of people, place, architecture, and economics. The events that I organize often include food and collectively make or do something and often harness local resources. I'm currently working on a proposal for the Montclair Art Museum as part of their public First Thursdays event. My proposal is to give guests the opportunity to use non-disposals plates when buying dinner from the two food trucks at the event. The plates will be sourced from second-hand stores or other secondary economies like Craigslist or Freecycle. The plates are free to borrow during community events and will have the MAM logo on them. They could also be taken home as souvenirs for a donation.
Given your busy schedule, how do you like to spend your free time?
What free time? It doesn't quite exist when you are a full-time student, have two children, and maintain a house!
Montclair State University offers an MFA program in Studio Art. For more information on this program, contact The Graduate School at Montclair State University at gradschool@mail.montclair.edu or 973.655.5147.